Good morning. It’s Wednesday, March 11th, aka National Johnny Appleseed Day.

🥳 Congratulations on starting today with God, and thank you for letting us be a part of it.

— Genesis 6:3

Have you ever wondered who the oldest person in the Bible was?

Maybe you already know the answer.

It is Methuselah.

According to the Bible, Methuselah lived 969 years, the longest lifespan recorded in Scripture.

Genesis 5:27 says:

“Altogether, Methuselah lived a total of 969 years, and then he died.”

But how does his lifespan compare to others in the Bible?

Here are a few of the next longest lifespans recorded in Scripture:

• Jared — 962 years

• Noah — 950 years

• Adam — 930 years

• Seth — 912 years

In the early chapters of Genesis, many people lived for hundreds of years.

Later, however, God explains that human lifespans would begin to be limited. In Genesis 6:3, God says:

“My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.”

This statement comes just before the flood in the days of Noah, and many understand it as God beginning to limit how long humans would live.

So who exactly was Methuselah?

Methuselah was the son of Enoch, a man we have already talked about before in a previous devotional.

He later became the father of Lamech, who was the father of Noah.

That means Methuselah was Noah’s grandfather.

Interestingly, even though Methuselah lived longer than anyone else recorded in the Bible, his name only appears in four verses in all of Scripture.

You have already seen one of them. Here are the other three:

Genesis 5:21

“When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah.”

Genesis 5:25

“When Methuselah had lived 187 years, he became the father of Lamech.”

Luke 3:37

“the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Kenan.”

None of these verses actually tell us anything about Methuselah’s life, character, or actions. They only tell us about his lineage and how long he lived.

Even though the Bible only tells us a few details about Methuselah, his life still had a place in God’s story and in the lineage that led to Noah.

When you’re not sure how to pray, A.C.T.S. gives you a simple path to follow: Adore, Confess, Thank, and Ask.

Adoration: God, You are the author of every life.

Confession: Forgive me for wasting the time You give me.

Thanksgiving: Thank You for including people like Methuselah in Your story.

Supplication: Help me use my life to honor You.

In Jesus name, Amen

“FATHER’S HOUSE” by Forrest Frank

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Thanks for letting us be a part of how you start your day with God.

See you tomorrow,

Zach | Start With God