As far as Biblical characters go, Enoch is very much a man of mystery. Outside of this mention in Hebrews 11, almost everything that we know about Enoch comes from one chapter in the Bible- Genesis chapter five. (1) We first learn of Enoch in Genesis 5:18 where it says that his father was 162 years old when he was born. A little later on in Genesis chapter five we read this…
“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 NIV).
The wording used here seems to indicate that God just snatched Enoch right off the planet when He took him away. Now why would God take Enoch away to be with Him like this? Well Hebrews 11:5 tells us that before he was taken away, Enoch was known as someone who was pleasing to God. Ok, so what exactly did Enoch do to please God? Well, the Scripture quoted above simply tells us that “…Enoch walked with God”. In other words, Enoch moved slowly and steadily forward in his relationship with the Lord. He didn’t sprint; he didn’t stop and start- he just walked with God.
This is very much along the same line as something we read of in the Old Testament book of Micah…
“…O people, the LORD has already told you what is good, and this is what He requires: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8 NLT).
See, if you want to walk with God then you have to be where He’s going and the path that God is on includes justice, mercy and humility just as we see above. This is the road that you have to travel if you want to walk with God. Enoch was a man who pleased God by walking that path- and you can do the same.
“You can never please God without faith, without depending on him. Anyone who wants to come to God must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely look for him” (Hebrews 11:6).
As a Christian, one thing that you can offer to God that is sure to be accepted is your faith and trust in Him, even when things are not looking so good. Now acceptance is a thing that can sometimes be difficult to find. It’s common for people to feel like they aren’t accepted simply because they aren’t as talented or popular or athletic or successful as some others may be. But those things really don’t matter when it comes to God and faith. After all, how talented or athletic do you have to be to be faithful? How popular or successful must you be to be faithful?
You see, you can always be faithful now in whatever situation you’re in. So if we truly believe that God accepts and rewards those who sincerely seek Him, then we should be living that way too- by faith.
“Noah was another who trusted God. When he heard God’s warning about the future, Noah believed him even though there was then no sign of a flood, and wasting no time, he built the ark and saved his family. Noah’s belief in God was in direct contrast to the sin and disbelief of the rest of the world– which refused to obey– and because of his faith he became one of those whom God has accepted” (Hebrews 11:7).
There’s one thing about real faith- it always demonstrates itself by actions. Think of it like this: a great athlete doesn’t have to tell you how great they are- they demonstrate it on the field or on the court or in the rink, right? In the same way real faith demonstrates itself through real action and Noah is a good example of this. Genesis 6:13-14 tells us that God said to Noah, “…’I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out'” (NIV).
If you continue reading on into Genesis chapter seven you’ll find that Noah took what God said and acted on it by doing what God told him to do. Noah’s faith in God moved him to do what God told him even when it didn’t seem like anything was going to happen. Because of this, Noah was ready when God’s Word came to pass just as He said it would.
Another good example of real Biblical faith is found in the experience of a man named Abraham…
“Abraham trusted God, and when God told him to leave home and go far away to another land that he promised to give him, Abraham obeyed. Away he went, not even knowing where he was going. And even when he reached God’s promised land, he lived in tents like a mere visitor as did Isaac and Jacob, to whom God gave the same promise.
Abraham did this because he was confidently waiting for God to bring him to that strong heavenly city whose designer and builder is God. Sarah, too, had faith, and because of this she was able to become a mother in spite of her old age, for she realized that God, who gave her his promise, would certainly do what he said.
And so a whole nation came from Abraham, who was too old to have even one child– a nation with so many millions of people that, like the stars of the sky and the sand on the ocean shores, there is no way to count them” (Hebrews 11:8-12).
Perhaps the best example of faith found in the Bible was displayed by this man Abraham. The Bible tells us that God called Abraham at age 75 to leave the place where he was living and go to another land that God Himself would show him (see Genesis 12:1). Not only that, God promised Abraham, “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing” (Genesis 12:2 NIV).
Now all this must have seemed a little incredible- after all, Abraham and his wife were a little old to start a family, much less one that would form a great nation. But Abraham took God at His word and Genesis 12:4 tells us that “Abram (as he was then called) departed as the Lord instructed him…” He traveled along the merchant routes and finally reached the land of Canaan which we know today as modern day Israel.
So here we have a 75-year-old guy who is far away from his former home. He is in an unfamiliar environment. He is surrounded by hostile neighbors. He has few friends and many potential enemies. But what did Abraham have? Well, Abraham had the promise of God- a promise that he accepted and believed by faith. Because of this, Genesis 15:6 tells us, “…Abram believed God; then God considered him righteous on account of his faith.”
Even though the promises of God were so far away, Abraham believed them because it was God who made those promises. But even more than that, this act of faith on Abraham’s part has gone on to impact millions of people even to this very day! Now if you continue to look at the rest of Abraham’s story in the book of Genesis. you’ll find that God made good on every one of the promises that He made to him. God’s faithfulness to come through on the promises that He made to Abraham should really cause you to stop and think: if God could do this for Abraham, what might God do with your act of faith?
Like Abraham, you can believe the promises of God because you can believe in the One who made them!
(1) Enoch is mentioned again in Jude 1:14 . Enoch is also found within the genealogies appearing in 1 Chronicles chapter 1 and Luke chapter 3