Lamech: The First Polygamist

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

Steps 4, 5, 6

In this addiction story Lamech becomes the first man on earth to violate the basic command of God for one husband and one wife. For whatever reason, Lamech was a polygamist, eventually was a murderer as well. Genesis 4:23 In this story we find that the names of his wives are interesting as well. Adah means pleasure or ornament and Zillah means shade or shadow. Some believe that these two women introduce the arts of jewelry and makeup into the Bible story. In any case Lamech did not appear to learn the lessons of Cain and Abel, nor of Adam and Eve. He consulted his own desires and pressed forward with his addictive desires even at the cost of another man’s life.

Prayer for Today: God you know that many of us have unfulfilled desires. We would do them in a minute if we were not afraid of the consequences. Please help us to recognize our need of You for without You we to would be willing to hurt others to accomplish our desires. Often we do not know what the long range effects of our behaviors would do to others but we have seen enough that in the back of our hearts we know that left to our own devices we would cause harm. Forgive us today, and help us to want help.