First Chronicles begins with the most ancient genealogy. “Adam, Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, Noah...” (1 Chronicles 1:1–4). The inspired New Testament historian, Dr. Luke, confirms the list. “...Noah, son of Lamech, son of Methuselah, son of Enoch, son of Jared, son of Mahalalel, son of Cainan, son of Enos, son of Seth, son of Adam, son of God” (Luke 3:36–38).
In another New Testament book, Jude verified Enoch’s position in the ancestral line of Adam, stating, “Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied...” (Jude 14). Seven generations after Adam and Eve had walked with God in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:8), Enoch walked with God. “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 with God; then he was not there because God took him” (Genesis 5:21–24).
The entire biography of Enoch is recorded in those four short verses. “Enoch walked with God” is stated twice. That statement summarizes his long life and might have been a great epitaph for his headstone. However, he didn’t need a grave marker because he didn’t die.“Enoch walked with God; then he was not there because God took him.”
The Epistle to the Hebrews corroborates that mind-boggling detail. “By faith Enoch was taken away, and so he did not experience death. He was not to be found because God took him away. For before he was taken away, he was approved as one who pleased God. Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:5–6).
Enoch, living in a fallen world among sinful people, enjoyed a life-long, faith-filled union with his Creator. Just two generations later, “the Lord saw that human wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every inclination of the human mind was nothing but evil all the time” (Genesis 6:5). While his contemporaries turned their backs on God, Enoch ran headlong into the Divine embrace. Enoch was faithful to “abide” (John 15:4, ESV) in the presence of the Sovereign.
Enoch’s life is a shining testimony of faith. Remember, God was just as invisible then as He is today. Enoch didn’t skip down the path hand in hand with God as Adam had in the Garden. Enoch walked by faith. Enoch woke every morning in a cold, cruel world. But as he swung his feet to the hard floor, Enoch sought God’s presence. He might have prayed, “Lord, please reveal your powerful presence to me again today!” Obviously, God answered Enoch’s prayer.
At the end of his earthly journey, God took him to heaven. He didn’t die, leaving earth through the portal of death. Like Elijah (2 Kings 2:11), Enoch was carried away from the earth to immediately enter the presence of God in Heaven.
One day, maybe soon, those that are walking faithfully in this sin-sick world, will follow Enoch’s example. When Jesus returns to earth to rapture the saints, “the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God... then we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together ... to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17).
All Scripture quotations, except as otherwise noted, are from
Holman Bible Publishers’ Christian Standard Bible.
