Noah and Enoch

In Genesis 4:16-17 we find that Cain, leaving the presence of God and of the land of his father Adam, went East to get away from the memories of his experience with Abel and to keep away from the influence of his family. He founded a city and named it after his first born son – Enoch. The name Enoch can mean dedicated, beginning, initiated, instructor or set apart. Cain apparently wanted to have a new beginning apart from God. Through this experience Cain did something that had never been done in history, up to his time, and that was he established a city – an environment of concentrated people at some distance from the country living that God had ordained by placing his family in a garden/farm.

In Genesis 5:21-24 we are introduced to the second Enoch the son of Jared, the 7th generation from Adam. It is this writer’s opinion that Enoch, as the representative of the 7th generation of mankind was to epitomize what God wanted to do with mankind. The tenth generational representative would be of Noah, the representative of the world of mankind.

It is interesting to note that both Adam and Seth were both alive at the time of the birth of Enoch and both may have had an opportunity to share their experiences and insights with Enoch. It would appear that Enoch, through decision making, genetics, and training was to be a set apart individual for special things from God.

Our first intimation of a special quality about Enoch was that when he had his first recorded son Enoch named that child Methuselah. The marginal reference indicates that the name Methuselah means – At his death the sending forth of waters. That Methuselah died in the same year of the flood would either be a coincidence or God, speaking through Enoch as a prophet, would have given a time prophecy. That from the time of Methuselah’s birth there would be a special event in 969 years. Jude 14 also confirms that Enoch was a prophet as well. Enoch was granted a picture of the second coming of Jesus and was granted the awareness of the judgment on the wicked, the violence of the final events, and the resurrection of the saints and all of the events that would transpire at the second coming of Jesus. These events would solidify the fact that Enoch was a special man with a special calling of God. These messages, along with the revelations of God granted to Adam, Abel, Seth, and all of the followers of God would make us the messages that Enoch would share with mankind.

Enoch has the blessing of being with the Sons of God – those who followed God by faith in Jesus. John 1:12; Genesis 4:26; Hebrews 11:5,6. Enoch must have had the opportunity to go to the gates of Eden and see the angels standing guard over the way to the Tree of Life and pray for the opportunity to one day be restored to the Garden that His grandfather Adam had once been able to participate in. What a wonderful heritage to be able to see this structure and to hear of the personal interactions that Adam had with Jesus, the Creator of the World. We can assume, by faith, that those special times with God, as he worshipped with his fathers, that the Holy Spirit was working wonders on his mind and heart and he must have decided to follow Jesus at a young age and to start his walk with God. Genesis 5:24. It is recorded in Hebrews 11:5 that he pleased God so we also know that he was a commandment keeping son as well. In addition he must have wanted to share his experience with others, both bad and good, for that is what Jesus did and what all of His children would do as well.

We know that after Enoch had Methuselah he lived another 300 years and he had more sons and daughters. So it would appear that Enoch was a good father and a consistent father as well as any God fearing father would be who walked with God. Enoch’s care for his children would also help him to have an appreciation for how much His Father in heaven wanted to care for him.

One of the tragedies of life that Enoch had to deal with was that the great patriarch Adam died during the life of Enoch. What a tragedy to see this great hero of God finally pass to his grave. But with the vision reported in Jude 14 what a comfort Enoch must have been to tell all of the people that God would take care of His own at the second coming of Christ.

As Enoch continued to walk with God, God testified that Enoch pleased Him. Hebrews 11:5 This testimony would indicate that Enoch knew of the laws of God and that he was willing to surrender to them. He did not treat the laws of God as His great uncle Cain did. We do not know for sure but it is possible that Enoch talked with Cain and may have discussed Cain’s experience and learned from him directly and seen the mark of Cain that God had placed upon him. But we do know that Enoch was steady and followed God in all of His commandments.

After 365 years Enoch’s walk with God produced an unusual response. God translated Enoch to heaven to be with Him forever. This must have been a shocking and a confirming experience for those left behind. To have Enoch translated would confirm again that God was real and that He has special plans for all of His children. These special plans will be manifested now, or in the future, but all of those who walk with God will receive His special blessing. Enoch would be a blessing for his experience testified that by faith God will take all of His children home with Him.

Praise God for such wonderful stories as that of Enoch. May we each learn from him and by faith hold on to the promises of God.