Genesis 4:25-5:32
“Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.” (Genesis 5:24, ESV)
As parents, one of the milestones in the lives of our children is when they take their first steps. Usually, we help them along until their legs are strong enough, and they have developed a sense of balance. Then we let go and watch them try it on their own, standing by in case they fall. We know they were made for walking.
Enoch was the seventh generation from Adam. When he was 65 years old, he fathered Methuselah. After Methuselah was born, Enoch walked with God. Truly, the birth of a child profoundly affects many people. Suddenly we are given this amazing gift of life to shape. How do we do it? Where is the owner’s manual? Perhaps this was the reason Enoch began walking with God. After 300 years on his own, he knew that He needed God’s help.
In addition, Enoch lived in the years before the Flood. Methuselah means “when he dies it will come”, and in the year that Enoch’s son died, the Flood came. Why was this significant? Because at this time the wickedness of man was great, every intention of his heart was continuously evil, and violence filled the earth (Genesis 6:5; 6:11). These were dark days–not unlike our own. Was it possible to live without corruption and compromise in such an environment? The only way, both then and now, is to walk in continuous fellowship with the Lord.
“But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7, NKJV)
As Enoch walked with God, he also prophesied about the end of the world and the Second Coming of Christ.
“Listen! The Lord is coming with countless thousands of his holy ones to execute judgment on the people of the world. He will convict every person of all the ungodly things they have done and for all the insults that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” (Jude 14–15, NLT)
Enoch walked with God for 300 years, and then he was no more, for God took him. Perhaps one day God said to Enoch, “Let’s go to my place.” And poof! No more Enoch!
Enoch is a type or picture of the church. For those who walk in fellowship with God, one day the trumpet will sound, and we will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air! (1 Thess. 4:16-18). We believe that this will happen before the Great Tribulation (Rev. 3:10).
Fellowship with God was Enoch’s protection in dark times. What spiritual practices help you maintain continuous fellowship with the Lord? If someone watched your life closely, would they conclude that you with God?