Enoch
The Man Who Walked With God
Scripture Reading:
Genesis 5:21-24
Luke 3:37
Hebrews 11:5-6
Jude 14-15
The Holy Spirit’s biography of Enoch is brief but blessed. Of only two men in all the Bible is it written, “he walked with God” (Genesis 5:22, 24). Do you know who the other man was, in addition to Enoch? The words of Genesis 5 clearly reveal that sin issues in physical death, and an almost monotonous refrain builds up throughout the chapter: ‘he lived, he begat, and he died’. However, no sooner is the reader virtually lulled by the repetition of these expressions than there is a surprising break in the sequence. While we read of Enoch that he “lived” and “begat sons and daughters,” we discover that he did not die. Rather, we learn that “he was not, for God took him” (Genesis 5:24). What was it that made this man’s life so different and so outstanding? It was simply this, “Enoch walked with God:’
In our study of Enoch’s Bible biography, we want to consider seven things about his walk with God. And in so doing, what a challenge his life and testimony are in view of the New Year opened to us. May our God and Father who deigns to walk with His children instruct our hearts more fully concerning His desire and design for us that we might walk with Him.
As to Enoch’s walk with God, note first of all
Its Start
When did Enoch really start to walk with God? We learn from Genesis 5:21 and 22 that “the first sixty-five years Enoch spent as most people do, accomplishing the common task, but in a common way, with time and sense for his horizons. He believed in God, and offered the daily sacrifice, yet, something was lacking in his life. But one day a son was born to him, and Enoch was different from that day. After Methuselah was born, his father ‘walked with God’ for 300 years” (W. Graham Scroggie).
It is apparent that God, in a special way, revealed Himself to Enoch when Methuselah was born. While we do not know the details, the name of Enoch’s son implies that God had given him a definite revelation. Methuselah means “when he is dead it shall be sent.” It was as though God told Enoch that the life of the world hung upon Methuselah’s life, for when the latter died, then judgment would come. Increased responsibilities, parenthood included, should cast us more and more upon God. It was so with Enoch, for with God’s revelation to him in connection with the birth of his son he began to walk with God, something he had not done previously.
Our Lord alone knows what this New Year holds for each one of us, and it may be that He will bring someone or something into our life to draw us out to Himself in such a way that we might truly walk with Him. Surely, “in times like these,” with the revelation of Christ’s imminent return and the coming Judgment Seat of Christ, these are sufficient in themselves — or should be — to motivate us to walk with God if we truly know Him and desire to please Him.
The second thing we observe about Enoch’s walk with God is
Its Secret
What was the secret of Enoch’s walk? For the answer to this question we must turn to Hebrews 11:5 and 6 where, first of all, we read in verse 5, “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death.” Still further, in verse 6, it is declared, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him.” It is only “by faith” that the sinner can come to God and commence to walk with Him (Ephesians 2:8-10), and it is only on the principle of faith that the believer can continue to walk with God (Romans 1:17). Stedfast faith was the secret of Enoch’s walk with God, even as whether or not we are genuinely walking with Him will be determined by our complete and continual dependence upon Him, or the lack of it, as the case may be.
As a further thing about Enoch’s walk, consider
Its Significance
Walking with God implies at least seven things, and instead of my developing them, you are invited to do this on your own.
Peace (Col. 1:20ff.; Rom. 5:1 with Phil. 4:6-7; Col. 3:15).
Purity (1 John 1:7-9).
Pilgrimage (Heb. 11:8-10, 13; 1 Pet. 2:11).
Perseverance (Heb. 11:27; Rev. 2: 10).
Patience (Heb. 10:36-37. Jas. 5:11).
Progress (Heb. 11:8-9; 2 Pet. 3:18).
Prospect (Phil. 1:23; Heb. 11:10, 14-16).
Wait a minute! Did you really take time out to look up these references and meditate on each point?
Note, also, Enoch’s walk as to
Its Spirit
Again the points are given with a view to your reflective development of them.
Pursuit after God (Psa. 42:1; Matt. 6:33; Heb. 11:6).
Submission to God (Jas. 4:7).
Humility before God (1 Pet. 5:6).
Occupation with God (Isa. 26:3; Col. 3:1-2).
Realization of God (Psa. 63; John 20:26-29).
Another vitally important feature of Enoch’s walk is
Its Separation
Enoch’s walk with God was one of complete separation from the world and all else that is opposed to God. Enoch’s name means “consecration,” and he lives up to its meaning. Regarding his separated walk, C. H. MacIntosh said, “It is very evident that Enoch knew nothing whatever about the mode of ‘making the best of both worlds.’ To him there was but one world. Thus it should be with us” (Notes on the Book of Genesis, p. 82).
Concerning Enoch’s godly life, W. Graham Scroggie has commented, “Such a life is invincible. Enoch did not cease to be a public man and a family man (Gen. 5:22). He stood in his lot and accomplished his task as before, but now from a new motive, and in a better way. Consecration does not lift us out of the world, it teaches us how to live in it.”
A sixth pertinent fact about Enoch’s walk with God is
Its Savour
For 300 years, and in an increasingly dark and difficult day, Enoch had this testimony, “that he pleased God” (Heb. 11:5). Of only two men in all the Bible is such a testimony recorded — namely, the Lord Jesus Christ, the God-man (John 8:29), and Enoch. Christ, of course, has the pre-eminence in all things, and no less so here, for He alone could say, “I do always those things that please Him.” No believer, not even Enoch, could say this. Nevertheless, we should continually make it our ambition to please God in all things (2 Cor. 5:9, 1 Thess. 4:1). A further fact about Enoch’s testimony is that the Holy Spirit has forever placed his name in the lineage of Christ (Luke 3:37). a point generally overlooked by those who trace his Bible biography.
Finally, as to Enoch’s walk with God, we note
Its Sequel
Both Moses and the author to the Hebrews tell us the joyous sequel of Enoch’s walk with God: “and he was not; for God took Him” (Gen. 5:24); “by faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him” (Heb. 11:5).
A little girl once said of Enoch’s translation that “one day they walked so far and it was such a long way from Enoch’s home, that God said, ‘Enoch, it’s getting rather late, and you’d better come home with Me.’”
Forever at home with the Lord, such is the bright and blessed prospect of all who know the Lord Jesus Christ, and it is something especially meaningful to all who, like Enoch. seek to walk with God. And it is a prospect that could well be realized in this New Year.
In God’s prophetic program, Enoch reminds us of two special events: (1) He pictures the translation of the Church by virtue of his own translation (1 Thess. 4:16-17). He prophesied the Second Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ (Jude 14-15).
A truly JOYOUS NEW YEAR to you all, and indeed it will be such if we seek to walk with God, as Enoch did in his day.