Lesson 7 – Lamech and Immorality

Lamech means “wild man.” Adah means “pleasure.” Zillah means “protection,” or “ringing.”

“And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.” Genesis 4:19.

“Polygamy had been early introduced, contrary to the divine arrangement at the beginning. The Lord gave to Adam one wife, showing His order in that respect. But after the Fall, men chose to follow their own sinful desires; and as the result, crime and wretchedness rapidly increased. Neither the marriage relation nor the rights of property were respected. Whoever coveted the wives or the possessions of his neighbor, took them by force, and men exulted in their deeds of violence. They delighted in destroying the life of animals; and the use of flesh for food rendered them still more cruel and bloodthirsty, until they came to regard human life with astonishing indifference.” —Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 91.

SUNDAY, MAY 7, 2023

Lamech’s family

What generation was Lamech in relation to Adam, and how many members of his family are well known (see Genesis 4:18-24)? What is the meaning of Lamech’s name? How alone could God’s grace have reached him?

Genesis 4:1, 17, first part, 18 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord….

17And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch…. 18 And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech.

“In the depths of heathenism, men who have had no knowledge of the written law of God, who have never even heard the name of Christ, have been kind to His servants, protecting them at the risk of their own lives. Their acts show the working of a divine power. The Holy Spirit has implanted the grace of Christ in the heart of the savage, quickening his sympathies contrary to his nature, contrary to his education. The ‘Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world’ (John 1:9), is shining in his soul; and this light, if heeded, will guide his feet to the kingdom of God.” —Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 385.

MONDAY, MAY 8, 2023

Who might have been a contemporary of Lamech? How different were their lives? What were two particularly sinful attributes of Lamech’s character?

Genesis 5:24; 4:19, 23 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him…. 4:19 And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah…. 23 And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt.

“To the crime of murder, in which Cain had led the way, Lamech, the fifth in descent, added polygamy, and, boastfully defiant, he acknowledged God, only to draw from the avenging of Cain an assurance of his own safety.” —Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 81.

TUESDAY, MAY 9, 2023

What phrase spoken by Lamech was used by Jesus, but in reverse? What did the names of Lamech’s wives signify, and in what way did they foreshadow the sins of the last days?

Genesis 4:24 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.

Matthew 18:21, 22 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

2 Timothy 3:1, 4 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come…. 4 [Men shall be] Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.

“Peter had come to Christ with the question, ‘How oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?’ The rabbis limited the exercise of forgiveness to three offenses. Peter, carrying out, as he supposed, the teaching of Christ, thought to extend it to seven, the number signifying perfection. But Christ taught that we are never to become weary of forgiving. Not ‘Until seven times,’ He said, ‘but, Until seventy times seven.’…

“If your brethren err, you are to forgive them. When they come to you with confession, you should not say, I do not think they are humble enough. I do not think they feel their confession. What right have you to judge them, as if you could read the heart? The word of God says, ‘If he repent, forgive him. And if he trespasses against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.’ Luke 17:3, 4. And not only seven times, but seventy times seven: just as often as God forgives you.” —Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 243, 249.

“When there is much forgiven, the heart loves much. Love is a tender plant. It needs to be constantly cultured or it will wither and die.” —Our High Calling, p. 73.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 2023

Other forms of polygamy

Although there were several polygamists in the centuries that were described in Genesis, what did the apostle Paul teach about polygamy? Furthermore, considering that the church is the bride of Christ in a spiritual sense, to how many churches is He married? Timothy 5:9; 3:12 Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man…. 3:12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses

Song of Solomon 6:9 My dove, my undefiled is but one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her; yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.

Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

“Polygamy had become so widespread that it had ceased to be regarded as a sin, but it was no less a violation of the law of God, and was fatal to the sacredness and peace of the family relation.” —Daughters of God, p. 27.

“Noah had but one wife, and their united family discipline was blessed of God. Because Noah’s sons were righteous they were preserved in the ark with their righteous father. God has not sanctioned polygamy in a single instance. It is contrary to His will. He knew that the happiness of man would be destroyed by it.” —The Story of Redemption, p. 76.

THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023

What sin is polygamy a form of? What does the apostle Paul write about it?

Exodus 20:14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Romans 7:2, 3 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. 3So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.

“Not all who profess to keep the commandments of God possess their bodies in sanctification and honor. The most solemn message ever committed to mortals has been entrusted to this people, and they can have a powerful influence if they will be sanctified by it. They profess to be standing upon the elevated platform of eternal truth, keeping all of God’s commandments; therefore, if they indulge in sin, if they commit fornication and adultery, their crime is of tenfold greater magnitude than is that of the classes I have named, who do not acknowledge the law of God as binding upon them. In a peculiar sense do those who profess to keep God’s law dishonor Him and reproach the truth by transgressing its pre- cepts.” —Counsels on Health, p. 567.

FRIDAY, MAY 12, 2023

Biblically, what should a husband or wife do, even if they have differences of religion with their spouse? What divine principle did Christ give in regard to marriage?

1 Corinthians 7:10-14 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: 11But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife. 12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. 13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

Matthew 19:4-6 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 5Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. 6 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

“My dear brother and sister: You have united in a life long covenant. Your education in married life has begun. The first year of married life is a year of experience, a year in which husband and wife learn each other’s different traits of character, as a child learns lessons in school. In this, the first year of your married life, let there be no chapters that will mar your future happiness….

“If there is any subject that should be considered with calm reason and unimpassioned judgment, it is the subject of marriage. If ever the Bible is needed as a counselor, it is before taking a step that binds persons together for life….

“Marriage, a union for life, is a symbol of the union between Christ and His church. The spirit that Christ manifests toward the church is the spirit that husband and wife are to manifest toward each other.” —Counsels for the Church, pp. 126, 115, 127.

“Every marriage engagement should be carefully considered, for marriage is a step taken for life. Both the man and the woman should carefully consider whether they can cleave to each other through the vicissitudes of life as long as they both shall live.” —The Adventist Home, p. 340.

SABBATH, MAY 13, 2023

What diseases and family problems are prevented when one is faithful to his or her spouse? What does the prophecy of the 144,000 show regarding spiritual and literal polygamy?

Deuteronomy 28:15, 22 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee…. 22 The Lord shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish.

Genesis 42:36 And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me.

Revelation 14:3, 4 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. 4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

“The results of polygamy were manifest in the household. This terrible evil tends to dry up the very springs of love, and its influence weakens the most sacred ties. The jealousy of the several mothers had embittered the family relation, the children had grown up contentious and impatient of control, and the father’s life was darkened with anxiety and grief.” —Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 208.

“Polygamy was countenanced. Idolatrous mothers brought their children up to observe heathen rites. In the lives of some, the pure religious service instituted by God was replaced by idolatry of the darkest hue.” —Prophets and Kings, p. 58.

For further study—Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar

“If God had sanctioned polygamy, He would not have thus directed Abra- ham to send away Hagar and her son. He would teach all a lesson in this, that the rights and happiness of the marriage relation are to be ever respected and guarded, even at a great sacrifice. Sarah was the first and only true wife of Abraham. She was entitled to rights, as a wife and mother, which no other could have in the family. She reverenced her husband, calling him lord, but she was jealous lest his affections should be divided with Hagar. God did not rebuke Sarah for the course she pursued. Abraham was reproved by the angels for distrusting God’s power, which had led him to take Hagar as his wife and to think that through her the promise would be fulfilled.” —The Story of Redemption, p. 80.

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