Genesis 5:21-24 (NKJV)-21 Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah.-22 After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters.23 So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years.24 And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.
I have always enjoyed going for walks. As a young boy, I enjoyed the adventure of walking in the woods near our home. I would be gone for hours. I’m sure at times my mom had no idea where I was. Maybe she did. Mothers know everything. Even though I didn’t know God on an intimate level until I was in my early twenties, I believed there was a God. After some forty years of being a Christian, I always look forward to spending time with God, my heavenly Father, walking along some forest path. I especially love to pray during these times. The solitude, the quietness, the sounds of nature, and the flowing streams. You feel such a closeness to God.
When I read this account of Enoch, that he walked with God just amazes me. Can you imagine having this kind of relationship for over three hundred years? Here is a man who lived 365 years and had this testimony. Moses recorded these stories as they were passed down from one generation to the next. Enoch was the seveth man from Adam, who was his great, great, great, grandfather. You have to realize that Adam was a great influence on Enoch and his walk with God. Before the fall, God walked and talked with Adam in the cool of the day. (Gen. 3:8-10). We know God is Spirit (John 4:24). He doesn’t have a physical body or form. Many theologians say that the person who was walking in the Garden was the Angel of the Lord, a theophany, or the Pre-Incarnate Christ. The Bible doesn’t clarify how God appeared in the Genesis account. Before He came to earth two thousand years ago, Jesus appeared at various times in the Old Testament in a physical form. These include appearances to Abraham, Hagar, Moses, Joshua (Joshua 5:13), Gideon (Judges 5:12), and the wife of Manoah (Judges 13:3). So, whether it was the pre-incarnate Christ, who walked and talked with Adam and Eve, is speculation. Yet it is a cool thought! The only other man who walked with God that was recorded before the Flood was Noah, another righteous man. Genesis 6:8-9 (NKJV)-8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.9 This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God. We, too, need godly mentors who walk with God to inspire and encourage us along the way.
There were two lines of families, the line of Cain and the line of Seth. One was ungodly, the others were seekers of God. Enoch from the line of Seth. It’s interesting that when Enoch was sixty-five, he begat Methuselah, and it is recorded that he walked with God three hundred years. Did he walk with God for sixty-five years prior? In the book of Hebrews, it says this about him. Hebrews 11:5 (NKJV)-5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. How long did he please God? Did he always walk with God? Was the birth of his son a turning point in his life, where he got really serious with God? We are not entirely sure, but as far as God was concerned, throughout his life, he pleased God. He never saw death, for God took him. He named his son, Methuselah, which means “judgment at his death.” This was to be very prophetic in nature of a coming judgment upon the earth, the great flood in Noah’s time. Maybe this future event awakened within Enoch a heart to seek God like never before. It would be good for us to have the same motivation. To seek God with all our hearts as well. We are not afraid of coming judgment, for Christ has already borne our judgment at the cross for our sin. This is true for all who have received him into their hearts as Savior. (Titus 2:11-13). Yet it is also true that those who havent received Christ will face the judgment for rejecting Christ.John 3:36 (NKJV)-36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” How did Enoch please God? The Bible tells us that faith pleases God (Hebrews 11:1, Hebrews 11:6). The good news is that you have faith! (Romans 12:3, 2 Cor 4:13, Gal 5:22).
What were the days of Enoch like? Genesis 6:11-13 (NKJV)-11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.12 So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. 13 And God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Through Adam’s sin, corruption came upon the earth. With it came all the evil we see today. Look at how God felt: Genesis 6:5-6 (NKJV)-5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. What a sad commentary on humankind. Yet God always has a remnant that is seeking him. Such is the case of Noah and Enoch and the line of Seth. We can see that life today is not much different. There is still corruption, poverty, rebellion, sin, death, sickness, and disease. Thank God for Jesus and the new Covenant. Thank God there is redemption and freedom in Christ. Philippians 2:15-16 (NKJV)-15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,16 holding fast the word of life,….
When Enoch had his son Methuselah, he lived nine hundred and sixty-nine years. Then the flood came upon the earth as recorded in Genesis 7:4-6 (NKJV)-4 For after seven more days I will cause it to rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and I will destroy from the face of the earth all living things that I have made.”5 And Noah did according to all that the LORD commanded him.6 Noah was six hundred years old when the floodwaters were on the earth. God waited that long for people to come to repentance. To turn from their wickedness. Noah, during his life, warned the people of coming judgment. He was a preacher of righteousness. ( 2 Peter 2:5, Hebrews 11:7) God truly is long-suffering! 2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV)-9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. As believers in Christ, may we diligently continue to share the good news of the Gospel of Christ to a lost and dying world. God is indeed merciful!
We must remember that walking with God and desiring to please Him doesn’t mean we are sinless. Just look at the lives of King David, Moses, and Abraham, and many others who walked with God, who fell short of the glory of God. Our goal is not to sin, and if we do sin, we have an advocate, Jesus Christ! There is forgiveness when we repent. (1 John 1:9, 1 John 2:1). To keep our hearts from being hardened by the deceitfulness of sin towards God. In the book of Amos, there is an interesting scripture. Amos 3:3 (NKJV)-3 Can two walk together, unless they are agreed? The amplified Bible puts it this way: Amos 3:3 (AMP)-3 Do two walk together except they make an appointment and have agreed? The book of Leviticus talks about being contrary to God that brought judgment. Thank God for Jesus, and the blood of Jesus. ( Lev. 26:23-24). Thank God for His mercy. There is an important truth in agreeing with God and His word if we are going to walk with Him. This keeps the door shut on the world, the flesh, and demonic activity. Mark 3:24-25 (NKJV)-24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. We are the temple, the house of the Holy Spirit, who can be grieved when we go against God, when we are contrary to His Word and His ways. This speaks of our relationship with our heavenly Father. Agreeing with God and His Word is a powerful thing that activates our faith and gives us hope! Despite our shortcomings and failures, we can still walk and talk with God. He will never turn us away!
We get into trouble when we walk independently from God and His Word continually. Our heart becomes hardened towards Him. God doesn’t stop loving us, but we open the door to the enemy and our flesh ( Eph 4:27) when we allow pride in all its forms to dominate us.1 Peter 5:5-7 (NKJV)-5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud,But gives grace to the humble.” 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Look at Apostle James’ words: James 4:6-7 (NKJV)-6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud,But gives grace to the humble.”7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Adam and Eve’s sin of pride brought all the corruption in the world that we see today. They chose to act independently of God. Satan’s downfall was pride as well. ( Isaiah 14;13-14). A life in agreement with God and His Word allows His grace and unconditional love to flow freely in our lives!
Pride can manifest in fear, strife, self-centeredness, false humility, and even shame (Prov. 11:2, Prov. 13:10). Proverbs 16:18 (NKJV)-18 Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 29:22-23 (NKJV)-22 An angry man stirs up strife, And a furious man abounds in transgression. 23 A man’s pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor. Operating in pride is one who hasn’t understood the love of God. 1 John 2:15-17 (NKJV)-15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.16 For all that is in the world–the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life–is not of the Father but is of the world.17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. Notice the last part of this verse: He who does the will of God abides forever. What is the will of God? Micah 6:8 (NKJV)-8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? Pride never brings honor in our lives; it only brings heartache and destruction. Proverbs 18:12 (NKJV)-12 Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, And before honor is humility (James 3:14-16).
In closing, let us examine our walk with God today. Not to bring condemnation or guilt. But to bring freedom. To receive more and more grace in our lives through humility. To be free from the struggles of being independent from God, living separate from the branch (John 15:5). It only causes us to wither. It doesn’t bring the abundant life that God desires for us! The flesh is always about pride. The “me, myself and I.” The truth is that our Born Again spirit longs to walk and be in fellowship with God. It is why we were created for Him. It is a choice we make every day to walk with God and please Him, and it is faith that pleases God (Hebrews 11:6). To trust God, His nature, character, and the integrity of His Word. The disciples, as recorded in the gospels, walked with Jesus for three and a half years. Sometimes we think, “If only I could have done that.” Apostle Paul said this: 2 Corinthians 5:16 (NKJV)-16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. We can know and walk with God by being Born Again, through His Word, and the Holy Spirit! Jesus walked and had fellowship with God, and now His Spirit lives in us and desires the same thing( John 8:29,1Cor. 6:17). I love what Jesus said in Revelation 3:20 (NKJV)-20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. The Amplified Bible puts it this way: Revelation 3:20 (AMP)20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears and listens to and heeds My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will eat with him, and he [will eat] with Me. This verse is written to the Church. That is you and me! 1 John 1:3 (NKJV)3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. Let’s go for a walk. It will always bring great joy and peace! What a blessing and privilege to walk with God in the days in which we live.
Colossians 2:6-7 (NKJV)-6 As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,
7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
Luke 24:13-15 (NKJV)-13 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem.14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.
Luke 24:32 (NKJV)-32 And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”
In Christ’s love;
Brent and Linda Bushen
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