One of the generations that are mentioned in the Torah bears the curious name of Enosh, or mankind. It was in his day, the Torah tells us, that man had begun to "call out in the name of G-d" [see Bereishis 4:26]
Why did man only now begin to pray to G-d ? Didn't Adam daven to Hashem for forgivness of his sin. Didn't Cain walk the land fasting and begging repentenence for his sin ? The passuk can certainly not be understood on a simplistic level.
Rashi says that the simple reading of the word "הוחל" as "begun" is incorrect and it should be understood rather as a term of desecration "חילול". The Targum Onkelos reads it as a beginning - a beginning of the mistaken saga of idolatry - of ascribing to helpless, worthless items power that belongs only to G-d.
Either way, it is supremely poignant to note that this occurs during the generation named for Enosh. This could be the Torah's way of telling us that this is to be a lifelong battle of the condition of mankind - the challenge to overcome typical human shortsightedness and see through to the original and supreme cause of al the occurs - Hashem.
Hatzlacha !!
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