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"Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are
made after the similitude of God" (James 3: 9).
The true intention of Gen. 5: 3 is expressed by translating the original as follows:
"And begat a son in this likeness, after this image"--it being understood that the
reference is to the opening verse of the chapter. It is true that Adam fell, and that all men
are fallen creatures, but it is also true that all men without exception are made after the
similitude of God, and in His image (I Cor. 11: 7).
When man sinned and was subjected to vanity, two courses were open to him--either
meek acceptance of the new circumstances, with hope in redeeming love as providing the
only just and real solution, or a rebellious breaking away from the path indicated by the
Lord, and an attempt to palliate the effects of the curse by means that would be but an
extension of the temptation, "Ye shall be as God".
The right spirit in this connection is exhibited by Noah's parents. They evidently felt
very sorely the effects of the curse, but instead of casting about for some temporary
measure to alleviate its immediate consequences, they looked beyond and named their
son, Noah, saying:
"This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the
ground which the Lord hath cursed" (Gen. 5: 29).
Lamech did not live to see Noah's typical character fulfilled, for he died 595 years
after the birth of Noah, at the significant age of 777. He (Lamech) did, however, look
forward by faith to the true solution of the misery brought about by sin, for the ark and
the salvation that it sets forth is a type of the divine method, not only of alleviating, but of
delivering from, the curse and all its accompaniments.
In contrast with this is the action of Cain. Being driven from the presence of the Lord,
instead of meekly accepting the judgment pronounced, he begins to introduce what would
now be called "civilizing" measures. He builds a city (Gen. 4: 17), and his posterity
introduce the harp, the organ, and working in metals (Gen. 4: 21, 22). The practice of
having several wives also originated in the time of Cain. While cities, organs and metal
working may be innocent innovations in themselves, they are deadly if they are
introduced to take the keenness off the edge of God's judgment. From Cain's day
onwards to the present time, man has gone on adding layer upon layer of this veneer.
Each layer modified and soothed for a time, but the curse upon the earth made itself again
and again. The groan of creation will never be hushed, though cities be magnified out of
all recognition, and music be "on tap" from morning till night.
It is fairly safe to say that, should the reader maintain the view expressed above in the
presence of any half-dozen people, one at least of the company would point with
triumphant finger to man's "inventions". These "inventions" are not forgotten in
Scripture. The following is the comment of inspired wisdom, as recorded in Eccles. 7::
"God hath made man upright, but they have sought out many inventions" (Eccles. 7: 29).