Introduction
While only a handful of verses in the Bible mention Enoch, he stands out as arguably the most righteous man who ever lived apart from Christ.
For those who don’t know Enoch from a bar of soap, he was born 662 years after Adam.
Read Genesis 5:18-24, Hebrews 11:5-6, Jude 1:14 (Other two references are geneologies)
As you see, we aren’t given too much details about Enoch. We aren’t told his rank or profession, but quick observations show:
- He had a special relationship with God
- He pleased God
- He had great faith
- He was a prophet before man
- He had a glorious exit from earth
As we look into the life of Enoch tonight, I want to ask the questions
- What was life like for Enoch. What where his surroundings?
- What made Enoch so special?
- What does all this mean to me? How can I learn from the life of Enoch?
So lets look at Enochs background and what life was like when he was alive.
Enoch lived, Scientifically, in an Age of Progressiveness
The first few chapters of Genesis show us that man was no dummy when God made him. God made Adam and Eve with outstanding minds, and this was a trait passed down to their children.
We read of some remarkable achievements in Genesis - particularly early on in Genesis 4.
These people were very intelligent.
Imagine
- building a city when there are no plans on what a house should look like.
- How would you get the materials if there were no chainsaws to cut down the logs.
- What do you do to hold the walls up - there was no one to offer you a nail gun.
- Who would be there to stop you from building unsafe structures? (he didn’t have to worry about rain)
CAIN BUILT A CITY
Imagine:
- turning a stick you found in the bush into a musical instrument
- How do you go about making good music when no one is there to teach you
- Got that sussed? Okay, so how do you go about making a harp?
JUBAL WAS THE FATHER OF ALL WHO PLAY THE FLUTE AND HARP
It boggles my mind to think that of the other two people recorded,
- Jabal was the father of all who live in tents and raise livestock - an expert farmer, vet
- Tubal-Cain was a craftsman and engineer. He was not limited to wood. Recognised
minerals around him and used them (iron and bronze) to make tools.
In later chapters of Genesis,
- Noah built a huge boat and knew how to make wine
- Nimrod had exceptional hunting abilities
- The people tried building a sky scraper (using bricks and mortar)
- Laws and protocols were made as kingdoms established
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When I was young, about 7, I often wondered what life must have been like for my parents. I was taught at school about dinosaurs and the ancient history of man. I can still remember having stories read to us in the library at Merrilands school and wondering how did mum and dad lived when there were no houses and they had to live in caves.
Despite the wrong ideas I had about the primitive 1950’s (or was it 40’s?), I also got the wrong idea that a long time ago, man was as thick as a plank - that mankind was a bit monkey-brained at the start of life.
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But this is not so. Enoch lived Scientifically an age of progressiveness.
Enoch also lived in an age where people did whatever they liked.
He lived, Socially, in an Age of Permissiveness Where anything was accepted.
Genesis 4 talks about the spread of a godless society. Despite the scientific advancements, evil was rampant. People were controlled by their own desires. It seemed they had permission to do anything.
This godlessness was characterised in the line of Cain.
Its important to see that there are two family lines mentioned in Genesis.
* The line of Cain - noted for their godlessness
* The line of Seth - noted for their godliness
Its important that we backtrack a few years and look briefly at Cain, since he is the symbolical as well the physical head of his line. What we see in Cain, we also see in his line.
While Abel went out of his way to please God, Cain couldn’t care less, and only discharged his duty.
We are never told on our time-line as to where Cain murdered Abel. Judging by Cains complaint to God, that "people may kill him", we get the impression that there were lots of people. After all, God did tell Adam and Eve to "be fruitful and multiply".
It is possible that the murder could have been as late as the 130th year of Adam, since this was the year Seth was born. Seth was the child born after Abel was murdered, and of whom Eve said, "God has granted me another child in the place of Abel, since Cain killed him".
Of Cain, we observe:
- He gave in to the sin that was "crouching at his door". He made no attempt to master it.
- Cain hated Abel because his actions were righteous and he was evil (1 John 3:12). Festered.
- Cain was a murderer - couldn’t wait to destroy his brother
- Cain was so angry he didn’t want to talk about his sin - even to God
- Cain was not sorrowful about his sin
- Cain only has concerns for his own safety - his feeble complaint to God suggests that he may have expected tribal code vengeance
- Cain defied Gods curse by living in a city rather than being a wanderer.
Cains violence and godlessness reflected in his family line. He probably never even bothered to tell his children what he had been taught by Adam and Eve at a young age.
In Lamech, seventh from Adam in the line of Cain, we see him marrying two women; - altering Gods plan - one man, one wife (Gen 2:22-24).
Like Cain, Lamech was also a murderer, of which he boasted about. He acknowledged God only in demanding greater leniancy in any vengeance that might come his way. - seventy seven times greater wrath against that person, as opposed to Cains seven.
The vibes are that the line of Cain was wicked in Gods sight.
Of the people who lived during these early ages, there is only righteousness found in the line of Seth. Of Seth, we only know that in his days, "men began to call upon the name of the Lord".
Again, we can only but speculate as to how many people were alive at the time of Seth or Enoch. The population growth could have been as explosive in the 400 years Israel was in Egypt (in with 75, out with 2 million).
Seth was of more noble stature than Cain, and resembled Adam more closely than did his other sons. He was a worthy replacement of Abel. Yet he inherited no more natural goodness than did Cain. While the line of Cain did whatever they liked and were godless, the line of Seth sought the Lord and were holy.
Enoch lived, Socially, in an Age of Permissiveness Where anything was accepted.
Despite the scientific advances, the wickedness of the people on earth,
Enoch was Spiritually, in an Age of Presumptousness
All around him were people who were arrogant towards God.
It is incredible to think that Adam and Eve were still alive at this time, and would have been instructing and teaching everyone about the beginning of time - the creation, the happy paradise, their time with God, the fall, the consequences of sin, Gods laws given to them, and explaining Gods merciful provisions for their salvation They would have carefully treasured what God had revealed and repeated it to succeeding generations. Yet the line of Seth was the only family mentioned specifically to give heed to his words.
The people could have been living in blatant arrogance towards God. For all we know, the tree of life and the Garden of Eden, guarded by Gods angels could have served as a silent witness even up till the flood.
The order of creation, the object of the garden, the history of its two trees so closely connected with man's destiny, were undisputed facts. And the existence and supreme authority of God, the obligation of His law, were truths which men were slow to question while Adam was among them.
Of the people who were arrogant towards God, could rightly be described by Jude (Jude 11) as "in the way of Cain"; they fixed their minds upon worldly prosperity and enjoyment and neglected the commandments of the Lord. Men "did not like to retain God in their knowledge;" they "became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened." Romans 1:21. Therefore "God gave them over to a mind void of judgment." Verse 28. Sin spread abroad in the earth like a deadly leprosy.
Three observations about man are recognised:
1. His great ability in the civilized arts
1. His love of violence and conflict
2. His recognition of a higher power
In the beginning, all three grew together, but the impression that is the strongest on the reader is that of Lamech’s savage cry. He rather than the farmers and engineers and musicians, rather even than the priests and holy men, is the true representative "man".
1. Enoch lived in Surrounding Gloom (Gen 4-6)
With all the surrounding gloom, Enoch has an outstanding testimony. One of these was:
His testimony Godwards (Heb 11:5)
Enoch, too was born with the same goodness of Cain. He too, was a child of wrath. But Enoch became a child of grace. It is mentioned that after the birth of his son Methuselah, he "walked with God". Somewhere along the way, Enoch made his peace with God. He must have come to a point in his life where he recognised his sinfulness and showed his remorse for it before God.
We don’t know what the deciding factor was. But we do know that he became a righteous man.
One can only imagine the level of intimacy that Enoch had with God. The word "walk" gives the expression of fellowship. The communion they had with each other. The picture to me is like to two friends going for a long walk, and on the best of terms.
Walking with God infers that his heart was in harmony with God's. The idea also that they both had lots of things in common. As well as being on good terms, they had the same frame of mind.
Amos 3:3 says "can two walk together, except they be agreed?"
God was a pleasure to Enoch, and Enoch was a pleasure to God.
During his walk with God, Enoch loved and feared God and kept His commandments.
God became the subject of his meditations day and night.
Enoch did not attempt to walk alone to heaven. He walked with God. He needed God. He recognised God as being his sustainer and his righteousness.
This holy walk was continued for three hundred years. There are few Christians who would not be far more earnest and devoted if they knew that they had but a short time to live, or that the coming of Christ was about to take place. But Enoch's faith grew stronger, his love became stronger, with the passing of centuries.
Of this faith he is greatly commended in Hebrews 11, as one who pleased God.
His testimony Manwards (Jude 14-15)
Enoch’s character and conduct were a distinct rebuke to the godless around him. Jude tells us that Enoch served as a prophet, declaring Gods just judgement upon the unrighteous of his time.
Enoch’s message was one of condemnation of sin, the judgment of those in it, and the triumph of the holy ones over it. It was a message of damnation for the wicked, yet grace for the righteous.
Enoch preached without fear. He made known to all people what God had revealed to him. The visions bestowed on him concerning the future and the destinies of people were to great to be held within. He did not become a hermit, shutting himself entirely from the world; for he had a work to do for God in the world
Enoch distanced himself from the wickedness of the people of the earth. The relationship he had with God suggests that he was blameless before God and man. He did not allow himself to be influenced by the people around him who were living godless lives. He kept himself pure and was diligent in remaining that way.
The relationship Enoch had with God also suggests he was a humble man. Like Moses, who was described as the most humblest man on earth at his time, this would have been characterised by the grace he showed to those around him.
Enoch was most definitely mocked by man. The power of Gods message through his servant was felt by those who heard. Some gave heed to the warning, and renounced their sins; but the multitudes mocked at the solemn message, and went on more boldly in their evil ways.
Enoch was a godly man. His walk with God was not in a trance or vision, but in all the duties of his daily life. In the family, with men, as a husband and father, a friend, a citizen, he was the steadfast, unwavering servant of the Lord.
2. Before God and man, Enoch lived a life of Simple Goodness
The most vivid distinction between Enoch and anybody else of his time was his
3. Sudden Glory (Gen 5:24)
One can not miss this distinction as they read through chapter 5 of Genesis:
* Altogether Adam lived 930 years and then he died...
* Altogether Seth lived 912 years and then he died...
* Altogether Enosh lived 905 years and then he died...
* Kenan lived 910 years.... and then he died...
* Mahalalel lived ... and then he died...
* Jared lived... and then he died...
* Enoch lived... then he was no more... because God took him away...
At 365 days, a year for every day of our year, God took his servant directly to heaven.
"God took him", which means he did not taste death. Among the millions upon millions of men who have lived, only two out of the vast number never died - Enoch and Elijah. What awesome men they must have been!
"He was not" suggests that his friends sought for him. His loss was felt on earth. They probably searched all over the countryside like they did for Elijah. He was a missing person they could not trace.
The life of Enoch serves as a prototype for believers today. He may have lived centuries before Christ was born, but his life is a model for us.
Like Enoch, we to are in a similar society of surrounding gloom.
The scientific progressiveness that man has made in this century is staggering - the industrial age, the space age, the information age.
Despite the standard of living increasing tremendously in our country, we see the standard of morality decreasing at almost the same pace. Our society is being flooded with a tidal wave of evil. We are in an age like Enoch, people will accept anything, but are ignorant to God.
With all the surrounding gloom, our testimony should be as outstanding as Enochs.
Our testimony Godwards
Peace with God
The bible says we are born into sin. This makes us at war with God. We might not like to think we are at war with God, but he has drawn the line and he opposes us.
Thank God for his grace shown to us through Jesus Christ, that we can come to him, ask forgiveness of our sins and that he forgives us. Romans 5 tells us that we can have peace with God and that we can stand in his grace.
Making peace with God is the start to a relationship with God. Before God we are no longer his enemies, but his friends. He would go further to call us his children. Let me make it clear that without peace with God, we are wasting our time trying to please him.
Intimacy and Harmony with God
Our desire to know God, how he is thinking and what his future plans for us are, should be within us. Our hearts and minds should be in harmony with Gods. The relationship we have with God, like Enoch should be like the best of friends - where we talk with God, and let him minister to us.
God should be a pleasure to us, and us to God.
Obedience to God, Meditation on God
Like Enoch, and as Ephesians 4:17 states, we must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. Rather than losing sensitivity and giving in to sensuality, we should be made new in the attitudes of our minds. We are meditating on God, having pure minds and a clear conscience.
The paradox of Romans 12 should be evident in us. That we are living sacrifices - living yet dead - dead to sin. We are obedient to God and are no longer conforming to the standard pattern of life. We seek to please God and not ourselves or others.
Walked with God, Faith in God
We also recognise our need for God daily. We see him as our intercessor before God. One who holds us in his grace and gives us the strength to live day by day. We walk with him, not alone. Beside him, not leading or lagging.
We are to be a people who please God; - a people of faith that grows, despite our gloomy surroundings.
Our testimony Manwards is also a testimony that pleases God
Prophesied to man, Fearless about man
We are to be the salt of the world wherever we go. Being bold and always prepared to speak on Gods behalf at the appropriate moment. We are to condemn sin, yet declare grace. We are not to shut ourselves up at Church, home, school or work, to be in one place, but to spread out and tell others Gods message.
Blameless before man, Righteous before man, Humble before man
Our testimony before man should be impeccable. No-one should be able to point the finger at us as a hypocrite. Like Daniel and Joseph, we are blameless and righetous before both God and man. We are also to be people of humility - showing a love and care that spreads beyond classes and races.
Mocked by man
Like it or not, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, according to 2 Tim 3:12. We are to expect it. Don’t let it put you off.
We are to be Godly
Regardless of our time of day, we are to be unwavering. An essential part to godliness is passing it on to our children, our friends and those around us. A godly person is always looking for a successor.
I can’t help but think what Enoch would say to the people if he was on earth today. I expect he would say the same thing as mentioned in Jude. That he is so captivated by God and his glory, that he can’t help but show that glory and encourage others to turn to God and be a part of it.
Like Enoch, we live on the verge of Sudden Glory
We know that one day, any day, God will call us to be with him, and like Enoch, we will be no more...
What a glorious day that will be. I hope you are ready and looking foward to it.
Since we don’t know that day, lets live godly lives and encourage each other as that day approaches.
Enoch was an exceptional person. A person who lived an outstanding godly life. One who God showed all people that man could cheat the curse of death, if he only but became a man of faith and righteousness.
1. Surrounding Gloom (Gen 4-6)
Scientifically, in an Age of Progressiveness
Socially, in an Age of Permissiveness
Line of Cain - known for their godlessness
Line of Seth - known for their godliness
Spiritually, in an Age of Presumptousness
2. Simple Goodness
His testimony Godwards (Heb 11:5)
Peace with God
Intimacy with God
Harmony with God
Obedience to God
Meditated on God
Walked with God
Faith in God
His testimony Manwards (Jude 14-15)
Prophesied to man
Fearless about man
Blameless before man
Righteous before man
Humble towards man
Mocked by man
A Godly man
3. Sudden Glory (Gen 5:24)
Taken by God
