Genesis 5  This chapter gives us the 10 generations from Adam to Noah.

Adam

Seth

Enosh

Kenan (also spelled Cainan) 

Mahalalel

Jared

Enoch

Methuselah

Lamech

Noah

I find it interesting that Moses was given the ages of each of these men.. when they had the son mentioned.. and what ages they were when they died.  In fact, a while back I did some calculations and discovered that their lives overlapped quite a bit since they all lived such long lives. 

Adam was 869 years old when Lamech, the father of Noah was born.  He died when he was 930 years old,  just 121 years before Noah was born.  Seth was also still around to see the birth of Lamech and died just 14 years before Noah was born. 

Enosh lived to see Noah, but died before Shem was born.  His son Kenan also lived to see Noah, as did his son Mahalalel and his grandson Jared. 

Enoch was 365 years old when God took him. This was 69 years before Noah was born.  But, Methuselah saw the birth of Noah, his grandson and Shem, his great-grandson.  Since he was 369 when Noah was born and Noah was 600 when the flood came.. it appears he died the year of the flood.  

Lamech died 5 years before the flood at the age of 777.  Which means he was around to see Noah building the ark.  Verse 29 tells us that Lamech said this about Noah, " This one shall give us rest from our work and from the toil of our hands arising from the ground which the Lord has cursed." 

All of these men had "other sons and daughters".  They were responsible for the people that were multiplying "on the face of the land".  Ten generations.. from Eden to the flood.  The only ones who are said to know the Lord, after Adam,  are Enoch.. and maybe Lamech. But, then came Noah. 

Father in heaven,  Your word is a lamp for us to walk by.  You have a purpose for the record of these lives that we can learn from.  We live much shorter life-spans in our generation.. knowing only our grandparents or maybe our great-grandparents ( for some).. We often don't know their backgrounds, whether or not they were believers, or what they knew of their ancestors.  But, we do know how important it is that we teach our children and grandchildren.. and if possible our great-grandchildren.. about Jesus!  We don't want to fail at this, Lord, which is why we pray that You would open their eyes and their ears.. that they would put their faith in Jesus Christ and be saved.  Help us to be faithful to share Your Word at every opportunity You give us.  We ask this in the powerful and precious name of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.