Genesis 5:18 – 24 “When Jared was 162 years old, he became the father of Enoch. And after he had become the father of Enoch, Jared lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. So Jared lived a total of 962 years, and then he died.
When Enoch was 65 years old, he became the father of Methuselah. And after he had become the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. So Enoch lived a total of 365 years. Enoch walked with God, and then he was no more, because God had taken him away.”
One of the baffling things about Genesis is the number of years these people allegedly lived. Leaving that question to the side, we have the fascinating mention of Enoch.
In many respects, Enoch is a frustrating figure. We know nothing about Enoch’s profession; did he herd sheep and goats? Was he a farmer raising crops? Was he a merchant? Who knows? We know that Enoch fathered Methuselah, who turned out to live longer than any other man. We know nothing about the rest of Enoch’s family. We don’t even know how Enoch prayed or worshipped. All we do know is that God took Enoch straight to heaven without Enoch suffering through death pangs.
Why would God choose Enoch for such an honor over any other person? Why bother even discussing Enoch? Evidently, from the time Enoch was young, Enoch knew God and had an intimate friendship with God. Hebrews 11:5 tells us, ”By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, and was not found, because God had taken him; for before he was taken, he had this testimony, that he pleased God.”
Enoch was one of those guys who was simply fun to be around. You could hear Enoch coming before you would see him, for he was always singing or whistling something cheery. Enoch had pet nicknames for all his friends. Children and animals loved Enoch-dogs and cats followed him, donkeys brayed at him, horses nickered to him, and he had a kind and gentle touch for every living creature. When you were with Enoch, the sky was a brighter shade of blue, the birds sang more sweetly, and you felt hopeful and encouraged. Enoch had a lovely sense of humor and could make jokes about himself that brought smiles and laughter. To be with Enoch was to be with someone who loved you and who would support you.
“But you never knew Enoch,” you might react. “How can you possibly say all these things about him?” I can say these things because Enoch pleased God and the attributes I have just described are Godly attributes. 23 tells us that tthe fruits of the Holy Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. For Enoch to please God, he must have exhibited all these qualities in abundance. How did Enoch learn all these things? He walked with God and God taught him. Enoch imbibed so much of God’s nature that God couldn’t stand to be parted from him for an instant.
Romans 5:1-2 says, “ Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Did Enoch ask God to take him to heaven? I don’t think so. I think one evening, Enoch was walking and talking with God, and God was so pleased with him that God gathered him up and took him to heaven. The only other people honored in this fashion have been Elijah and Jesus. Moses and all the other prophets died and were buried. All the apostles and all believers since died and were buried. Enoch went to heaven because he was justified by faith and had peace with God.
Enoch’s story is important because he stands as a testimony to what happens when someone pleases God completely and has peace with God. How can we have that kind of relationship with God? Ask God for help. God wants to be in close relationship with us and will give us His grace and His peace if we will ask.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to lives of peace and grace so that we will always please You as Enoch has done. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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