These verses go into more detail than those concerning Cain’s descendants. However, they each hold the same basic truth that the previous verses did. These people lived and died. What they did between those times – other than fathering the one child of many who wound up in the genealogy down to Noah - is only known to the Lord. However, we can glean things from these verses.
First, more information is given than just the genealogy. God the Holy Spirit still felt it important that Cain’s descendants be recorded. God yearns for all to be saved; He is very longsuffering toward us, and gives us many chances. He sees each person, even those who stray far from Him. And, He uses numerous means to try to draw them to Him lovingly; never forcing, but working in things so they see His love and receive His forgiveness.
And yet, in the end, all perish in this life. We only have this life to decide whether to choose Him. It’s as if there’s a flight coming to pick us up, and we must choose to get on board. Many don’t know that there is a flight, or that we must get on board. They must be told. However, the important thing is, this world will cease to exist someday. Our mortal bodies will wear out. The question is, have we got that ticket to Heaven? It was given freely to each of us, the purchase price being the perfect blood of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Though people could only trust that God would send a deliverer at this point, they – like Abraham – were justified by faith.
We also see that the years are numbered. God gives this information here, but not in the other line. There are a few reasons this may be; and, it is likely a combination of them.
This may be because they followed Him, so the years they had to serve the Lord were numbered, to see what each would do with them. With Cain’s line, meanwhile, if these people didn’t trust in the Lord, the clock never started ticking on what they could do for Him. This is quite plausible, as it further shows that nobody can work their way to Heaven. God only counts what works we’ve done for Him after we’re saved. Before, He doesn’t know us, and we know facts, if that, about Him. We don’t have the personal relationship with Him that lets us truly serve Him.
Another possible reason is that God, in God is detailing His plan, and the genealogy through which He was working. This explains why He shows how old they were when they fathered the next one in that genealogy which would see mankind through to the other side of the deluge. The situation surrounding each is unique – see how some sired that particular son much later than others. In the same way, each of us comes from a unique background, but we all work together to ensure that the Lord’s work continues.
This also leads back to the point about their work counting for eternity in ways that those of Cain’s line didn’t. God makes note of what we do for Him, no matter how big or small. After all, it’s ntoed that each man had sons and daughters, too; only the most prominent in Cain’s line merit mention. (See Genesis 4:22 concerning Naamah for other reasons this line may have been mentioned.)
Also, the Bible notes that these men lived. Yes, Cain’s line is mentioned as people begat others, but while God noticed them and worked in love to woo them, they became nother more than people, living and dying, most if not all with no knowledge of the Redeemer. Such is the sad state of affairs today, which is why it is vital that we get the Gospel to as many as possible.
