While reading through Genesis 4, I noticed a very interesting phrase that says, “And as for Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on the name of the LORD.”  (Gen. 4:26) Why does it say “…men began to call on the name…” when Adam used to sit in Bible class with the Lord (Gen. 3:8)?   The Lord came to him! Shouldn’t man just wait for God to come to him?

THAT is a very dangerous attitude. Remember, that while the Lord went to Adam and Eve in the Garden, they were supposed to show up at the assigned place for Bible class. It WASN’T that God went to where Adam was. That was a pre-arranged meeting place. And besides God is everywhere present, or what theologians say is “omnipresent.” There can never be a place where God is not. He is everywhere. So what does it mean that men began to call on the name of the Lord?

It’s clear that man had quickly fallen away from the Lord in Genesis four, first with Cain and then Lamech, who was a pretty callused soul (Gen. 4:19-24).  Man was multiplying rapidly and many were in a downward spiral, focused on self and living apart from God.  Lamech had taken two wives (Gen. 4:19), was verbally abusive (Gen. 4:23a), flippant about his murder (Gen. 4:23b) and was full of vengeance (Gen. 4:24). The power of sin had taken control of mankind.

Yet not all of mankind chose the path of sin. Seth’s line to Enosh chose godliness and “they called out to God” (Gen. 4:26).  God will not hear if I regard iniquity in my heart (Ps. 66:18).  But for those who call out to God and seek Him, He will be found.

Azariah the prophet warned King Asa of the Southern Kingdom of Judah to seek after the Lord. He said, “The LORD is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.” (2 Chron. 15:2) And Jeremiah the prophet wrote,

¹¹ For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. ¹² Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. ¹⁴ I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive. (Jer. 29:11-14 NKJ)

I remember several very dark and difficult days in my life some 25 years ago. The Lord wanted to work the sin of selfishness out, so the conditions of life became very difficult.  I remember crying out to the Lord like a young toddler. The response was not immediate, but the response was real and brought transformation. I’m confident the reason God worked was because I went to the Lord rather than the world.

Praise God that He never shuts down His 911 line!