Call Upon the Name of Yahweh – Genesis 4:25,26

BillyGraham.org says of prayer “is spiritual communication between man and God, a two-way relationship in which man should not only talk to God but also listen to Him. Prayer to God is like a child’s conversation with his father. It is natural for a child to ask his father for the things he needs.”  But there was a time when “prayer” was not needed because God walked among us.  It is needed now.

25 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.” 26 To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the LORD. (Genesis 4:25–26, ESV)

With the murder of Abel by his brother Cain, it seems there is no offspring of the woman who can come to the rescue of God’s kingdom by crushing the head of the serpent.  But Eve bears another son and calls him Seth.  He is “appointed…instead of Abel,” or in place of Abel.  Seth has his own line of offspring who may be, more so than Cain’s line, a godly line who will resist the warfare of the serpent’s line.

But a new development has occurred, either because of the multiplication of human beings on earth, or, more likely, because of the failure of so many people to follow Yahweh.  The way Yahweh took human form and walked among the people in intimate relationship has come to an end, at least on a frequent basis.  Now, humans must “call upon” Yahweh, upon the name of Yahweh.  Now instead of seeing Him up close and personal, people must call out to Him and will not see Him or always hear from Him.

There is a certain level of frustration in this new way of relating to God.  It is harder, it seems, to believe in Him when you can’t see Him, when you can’t converse with him in physical form.  Relationship is still possible, but you have to seek it out in a way you didn’t before.  What you hear from God is also more muted than it was before.  Certain people, we will see, will have very intimate relationship with God, like Enoch, who walked with God, or Moses who spoke face to face with Him.  Followers of Jesus may come boldly before His throne.