Enoch

“Enoch was 65 years old when he fathered Methuselah. And after he fathered Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and fathered other sons and daughters. So Enoch’s life lasted 365 years. Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.” (Genesis 5:21–24)

Born the son of Jared, Enoch represents the seventh generation of patriarchs mentioned in the Bible, beginning with Adam. While Genesis offers no explicit explanation for why God took Enoch away, the Book of Jude in the New Testament offers a possible clue. There, we find verses referring to the prevalence of evil in the world:

“These people are dangerous reefs at your love feasts as they eat with you without reverence. They are shepherds who only look after themselves. They are waterless clouds carried along by winds, trees in late autumn—fruitless, twice dead and uprooted. They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shameful deeds; wandering stars for whom the blackness of darkness is reserved forever. It was about these that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied: ‘Look! The Lord comes with tens of thousands of his holy ones to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly concerning all the ungodly acts that they have done in an ungodly way, and concerning all the harsh things ungodly sinners have said against him.’ Their mouths utter arrogant words, flattering people for their own advantage.” (Jude 1:12–16)

Was Enoch’s walk with God so close and fulfilling that enduring mankind’s evil caused him desperate unhappiness and a longing to be even closer to God? In Hebrews, we learn: “It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—‘he disappeared because God took him.’ For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God.” (Hebrews 11:5)

Can we “walk with God” like Enoch? Yes! Jesus revealed that when He returned to the Father, He could then—through the power of the Holy Spirit—be “with and in” His disciples and every believer to follow. We now tabernacle the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They dwell within us for as long as God permits us to walk this earth.

The veil in the temple was supernaturally torn in two the moment Jesus uttered with His dying breath, “It is finished.” This signified that we all now have direct access to the Holy of Holies! Paul encourages us to “approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). Paul further encourages us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

That throne is within us. This sounds more like a continuous conversation than an occasional prayer, and I believe that is precisely what Paul was suggesting: don’t just pray to Him now and then. Walk with Him! Adam walked with God before he turned away. Enoch walked with God. Elijah and Elisha clearly walked with God to perform their many supernatural miracles. And Jesus clearly walked with His Father—who is now our Father, too.

The fact is, we are walking with God “in us” today and every day. But are we consciously—in friendship and complete trust—recognizing and honoring God’s presence within? Do we look to Him for guidance and direction? Do we share our concerns, hopes, and joys with Him, as we would any other good friend?

Father, help us sense Your continual presence with us and in us, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Through Christ Jesus, we walk with You every day of our lives. Prompt us to converse and pray with You throughout both the blessed and challenging days of our lives. And above all, let our joy be noticed by others, to Your glory—not our own. Amen.

mgb