In our worship on Sunday, we will be studying Hebrews 11 – which lists a bunch of guys with faith! You may have heard of Abel, and Noah, and Abraham (and Sarah), but Enoch is also mentioned. Here’s the verses –
Hebrews 11 – 4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain’s. Through this he received approval as righteous, God himself giving approval to his gifts; he died, but through his faith he still speaks. 5By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death; and ‘he was not found, because God had taken him.’ For it was attested before he was taken away that ‘he had pleased God.’ 6And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 7By faith Noah, warned by God about events as yet unseen, respected the warning and built an ark to save his household; by this he condemned the world and became an heir to the righteousness that is in accordance with faith.
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. 9By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old—and Sarah herself was barren—because he considered him faithful who had promised. 12Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, ‘as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.’
And so, I am writing this blog because it’s not very often we get around to Enoch. He’s obscure. He’s mentioned in Genesis, but not much.
Genesis 5:21-24 New International Version (NIV)
21 When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah.22 After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 23 Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years. 24 Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.
So, why did the author of Hebrews think Enoch important enough to list in the “Heroes of the faith” list given to believers who were struggling in the first century. I’ve been saying that the book was written to the “so, what?” generation of Jewish Christians. They are at a point in faith where the unpleasantness heaped upon them for being Christians is not feeling ‘worth it’. Ever feel like that? Well, these folks did. And so Enoch.
Enoch was part of the family tree of Adam and Eve. After being expelled from the garden (for messing up pretty bad), Adam and Eve raised a family, and generations followed. Seven generations down we encounter Enoch. (Spoiler alert – God will send the great flood in Noah’s generation – the 10th generation from Adam! By then, the depravity and sinful nature of man has grown to a level that requires God to destroy the world, except for Noah and his family, and start over!)
Enoch, however, embedded in generations of people who struggle with sin is an exception. Enoch walks faithfully with God. I have pictured that phrase to mean a literal walking- there’s Enoch walking in his garden, and God is walking with him, chatting about important things. And then, Enoch was no more, because God took him away. The author of Hebrews offers us this image – God loves Enoch, and Enoch loves God, and so Enoch does not have to endure death. He is simply taken away to be with God. It’s a tiny story in the bible, but, as you and I encounter so much death in our lives, it is an amazing possibility – skipping death, and going straight to God. If you are like me, you might think that sounds pretty good.
But how can we learn from Enoch, to make our own lives better? I am afraid I find this pretty obscure, and far from concrete, but still I am encouraged by Enoch – in a time of much sin and struggle, he was able to find a way to be with God.
Friends, the journey for those who love God is a journey from despair to hope. Perhaps you can visualize, with me, the man Enoch, walking with God, and draw hope for your own life, taking time to walk with God in the midst of busy times, in the midst of hard times, and in the midst of frightening times. Hold on to Hope, friends, and be like Enoch, walking with God.
Pastor Patricia+