Doing An Enoch

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As sin increased after the fall of Adam and Eve, longevity decreased—with a few notable exceptions.

Enoch’s father, Jared, lived 962 years, longer than many of his time, but Enoch was a different case altogether, in more respects than simply his lifespan.

“When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. And after he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether Enoch lived 365 years. Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away” (Genesis 5:21-24).

Curiosity hitting me once more, I wondered about the phrase: “…after he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God….” Did the responsibility of parenthood trigger a need to get on a right basis with God? Some think so. Benson comments: “Enoch walked with God — A Scriptural phrase for eminent piety. He set God always before him, and acted as one that considered he was always under his eye. He lived a life of communion and intercourse with God in his ordinances and providences. He made God’s will his rule, and God’s glory his end, in all his actions. He made it his constant care to please God in every thing, and to offend him in nothing, and was a worker together with him. Reader, go thou, and do likewise. He walked with God after he begat Methuselah — Which seems to intimate that he did not begin to be eminent for piety till about that time.”

But notice how the commentator defines what to “walk with God” means: “eminent piety. He set God always before him, and acted as one that considered he was always under his eye. He lived a life of communion and intercourse with God in his ordinances and providences. He made God’s will his rule, and God’s glory his end, in all his actions. He made it his constant care to please God in every thing, and to offend him in nothing, and was a worker together with him.”

The Scriptures are full of “walks” with God. Here are a few:

Jeremiah 7:23—“Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in all the ways I command you, that it may go well with you.”

Micah 6:8—“He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

1 John 2:5, 6—“This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.”

January in Canada makes for treacherous walking. Sidewalks are not always salted or sanded, or even cleared. There are lots of slippery spots that could cause falls, and all their consequences! Good boots with good grips are essential. I had a friend who used to include ski poles as required equipment when she walked in the winter. Spiritually, walking with God is something that requires good equipment as well. If we want to walk like Enoch, and avoid the pitfalls of the sinful society in which we live, we have to be prepared.

As we start out this new year, and hopefully a renewed commitment to walk with God, polishing up our spiritual armour, and wearing it well, becomes essential to avoid the slips and falls.

Ephesians 6:10-18—“…be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes…so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth…the breastplate of righteousness, your feet fitted with the gospel of peace…take up the shield of faith…take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. And pray…”

Walk well. Walk carefully. Walk with God. Do an Enoch.