Imagining the novel3

Just as in real life, the flow of events within the novel – to be interesting – must contain at least three major surprises and setbacks to seriously threaten the realization and goal of the protagonist (Lameck).The first - the mysterious murder of his betrothed. The second - the spiritual possession of Lameck by one of the Nephilim that threatens to destroy his family. Only through the intervention of Enoch and the small voice of faith can he be set free. He then must journey into the heart of evil, through places of great danger – a sacrificial temple, a mysterious island on which the giants are born, and a river inhabited by that great water serpent, Leviathan - in order to rescue his loved ones, and to save the human race from genetic destruction. Enoch vanishes in the process. The story ends with the restoration of a godly wife for Lameck, one he meets during his adventure, who proves her worth as a covenant companion to a conqueror. Their future son, Noah, is named.

What am I hoping to accomplish? Here was a time of intense corruption and evil, when men’s thoughts were on evil continually. Yet, a godly remnant somehow managed to maintain their walk with God and give birth to the only righteous family on the face of the earth. How did they do it in the midst of such worldwide corruption and ungodly pressure? There is a secret, yet not really a secret, for us today who would be overcomers. There is also encouragement to those who would walk with God to hang in there despite what is seen around us. Of course I prayerfully hope to produce a read that will be intriguing and well done. But, I sense that a higher goal than entertainment is God’s calling on my time and all that I do. This is to His glory and I anticipate that He will use it to bring a warning to those outside of His ark - an urging to enter - and encouragement for the believer to reach out to others and be strong in the faith. So, in a way, it’s a vicarious adventure but, of eternal importance, it’s a faith-builder. Maybe it will cause some to pick up the Bible and see for themselves what’s in it.

Imagining the novel2

The main character / protagonist is Lamech, Noah’s father. Noah would be too late. My interest is in exploring the time period before the flood, before man’s longevity began to decline, and when all the evil was so escalated that God saw no other way than to wipe it all out. To maintain historical (biblical) accuracy, Lamech is the last of the “good guys” (Seth’s lineage) and able to actually meet and talk with Adam, while he was still alive. Nine generations, Adam through Lamech, all still alive and able to compare notes and pass down wisdom and knowledge. The thought of such a gathering / family reunion is intriguing. Their life-spans were phenomenal, close to a thousand years. Lamech’s name means “conqueror”. He is not yet married even though 112 years-of-age.

There are giants also living on the earth at this time, products of strange unions of fallen angels and the daughters of man. That interpretation of Genesis 6:4 is supported by many conservative Biblical scholars, as well as in The Torah – where the “sons of God” are referred to as “Divine beings”. The fallen angels somehow selected and took those they wanted. Maybe they looked through the eyes of pterodactyls or other creatures to spot them – as Lucifer was able to enter the serpent - or simply noticed the daughters of men themselves. Angels are usually invisible to humans, so they could have done their own search and procurement, unless protective “good” angels stood in their way. However it happened, they marked certain particularly attractive women. Did they send a hunting party to surprise and seize them, or ploy them personally through their supernatural charms? Perhaps the descendants of Cain were more willing to cooperate than the daughters of Seth / the godly line. But would that not make the forbidden fruit / less available ladies seem sweeter to the “gods”?

How many seizures will it take before Lamech is righteously moved to go after them? Enoch – the one who walked with God – would certainly align his abilities and intercessions to help his grandson. Their warfare has to be different than employed by the Nephilim / giant angelic-human offspring, to come against spiritual forces. They have the guidance of Enoch’s prophetic voice and the power of the blood / prefigured through the animals, which strikes paralyzing fear into the demonic fallen spiritual beings.

Like a puzzle, bit by bit the pieces start to fit together; but a year of research and plotting would take place before story writing began.

Imagining the novel

This is one of the most fascinating periods of time that I could attempt to comprehend…the earth before Noah. What would it have been like to live at the same time and on the same interconnected land-mass as the dinosaurs (assuming a literal understanding of Genesis)? Would they stay in their places? As part of a “very good” creation, they should not be a menace to man and probably were territorial, maybe testing their perceived boundaries at times. The animals’ fear of man had not been implanted until after the flood. But with the fall of man and the curse, could the animals already have been affected? Maybe some of them were becoming predatory...like the T-Rex and saber tooth tiger. I’m also fascinated with tree houses. What an opportunity to live in one, with all the clever gadgets, passage-ways and stair-ladders. There is also the practical value of living above-ground, where who-knows-what might roam at night, not to mention the gorgeous view. And let’s be within sight of the coast and that mystical sea, where Leviathan dwells. Everything grew to giant size back then…the same basic forms of animals we have today along with many more. Some were genetic composites of the varieties we have today, like a horse/mule with zebra stripes. Some could have been small. But, generally, things were much larger, even insects. How would that have affected family life? Foot-long roaches...How would you go after one in the house? If meal clean-up wasn’t thorough, they would be attracted, along with sizable rats.

This all may be interesting, but where is the compelling story and what am I trying to accomplish?...more to come…This begins the journal of thoughts which resulted in the publication of The Ninth Generation, an adventure novel rooted in Biblical history. What value is there in such a journal? It helped me to identify my passion in writing a book and prevented writer’s block (by way of review). After spending decades writing ad copy to promote other’s products and services, I wanted to express something for my own satisfaction, and hopefully for the benefit of the readers as well.