Hebrews 11:4-5 (KJV)  By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.  [5]  By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

Photo by Jad Limcaco on Unsplash

In Hebrews chapter 11 God wants us to know the blessing of walking with Him. God gives us a lot of examples of people – plain, ordinary, just folks – who were blessed beyond measure through faith, through a daily walk with God. You would think that God would start out with the Father of faith Abraham (Galatians 3:6-9). God spends some time throughout this chapter talking about Abraham, but He actually starts with two men that we know little about. God starts with Abel and Enoch.

Abel has the Biblical distinction of doing two things for God. First, he offered the proper sacrifice to God. He was obedient to the Lord, even unto death. Second, Abel died serving the Lord. He is the very first martyr of our faith. He was murdered by his brother Cain, a man like many Americans today who thought he could worship God any way that he wanted to do it. The Church and religions institutions in the United States are filled with people who think they can tell God what He ought to do. They think that God is their exalted Servant, and they His commanders. Truthfully this is false. Abel died for honoring God. He was martyred for his faith and walk with God. I’d love to spend more time with Abel … but God is leading me to talk to you about Enoch.

We know little about Abel, but know even less about Enoch. Let’s dig deep and see if we can learn all we can about Enoch.

The False Enoch Was “Dedicated” To Self

Let’s look at the name “Enoch” first. Jewish names have meaning. The Israelites named their children based on their expectations. “You shall call His name JESUS for He shall save His people from their sins”. The name “Jesus” is the Greek Ἰησοῦς Iēsoûs, (pronounced ee-ay-sooce’) meaning “Jehovah is salvation”. What does “Enoch” mean?

The name “Enoch” is the Hebrew חֲנוֹךְ Chănôwk, (pronounced khan-oke’) which means “Dedicated”. Enoch is mentioned before Abraham in the Book of Hebrews and in the Old Testament itself. What you may not know is that as odd as the name “Enoch” sounds there are at least two Enochs mentioned in Scripture.

The first Enoch mentioned in Scripture is the son of Cain and his unnamed wife. Right after Cain killed his brother Abel, God punished him by banishing him and by cursing his life. The Bible says “the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him (Genesis 4:15). Though God cursed his life, the LORD is often gracious to even the most despicable of people. Cain left God’s presence and the Bible says:

Genesis 4:16-17 (KJV)  And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.  [17]  And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.

How can we characterize Cain’s life? Just like the Bible said. He went OUT from the presence of the Lord. Cain lived his life without God. Every day he woke up and enjoyed the grace of God.

Cain should have died for killing his brother Abel.

God made man in His image and after His likeness (Genesis 1:27). God told Noah when he came off the Ark:

Genesis 9:6 (KJV)  Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

Life is sacred. Cain should have died, but he cried out to God and the Lord marked him with His grace, preventing Cain’s execution. God is like that. He often gives us what we DON’T deserve. That’s called GRACE. Did Cain appreciate it? No. He never repented. Cain left the presence of God, never to return. He died in his sin. Yet God let Cain live, and even prosper. The Bible tells us:

Genesis 4:17 (KJV)  And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.

The Psalmist said:

Psalms 73:3, 11-13 (KJV)  For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. … [11] … they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?  [12]  Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.  [13]  Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. ….

He wondered just as we all have wondered at times why it is that the wicked prosper. Why is it that the Cains of this world seem to build cities, to be blessed above the righteous? Why do the Cains have all the money and blessing, while God’s Church seems to struggle? Then the Psalmist said:

Psalms 73:17-19 (KJV)  Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.  [18]  Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.  [19]  How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.

Cain prospered for a time walking apart from God. God in His Grace gives the wicked one more day to turn to Him and repent – but they will not. Their riches become a trap. Cain had a child he named “Enoch” – dedicated. This child, like Cain, was not dedicated to God. He was dedicated to riches, to himself, to selfishness. He perhaps was a Philanthropist who gave millions to charity so that people could put up pictures of Enoch, pictures to worship him.

Parents, whatever way you walk – whether you walk with God or walk without God – is the SAME WAY your child will walk. “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). That is truth. But train up a child in the way HE SHOULD NOT GO and he’ll go that way too. The first Enoch was the false Enoch. He and his family did not walk with God.

After the murder of Abel by Cain we read: Genesis 4:25-26 (KJV) …. Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.  [26]  And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.

The name “Seth” is the Hebrew שֵׁת Shêth, (pronounced shayth) which means “compensation”. The line of Cain was a murderous and self serving line, a dud. But the line of Seth was distinguished by people who “called upon the Name of the Lord”. They were people who wanted to know God. They wanted to walk with God. Those who “call upon the Name of the Lord” are the saved by faith:

Psalm 116:13 I will take the cup of salvation, and CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD.

Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD shall be saved.

Those who “call upon the Name of the Lord” are thankful for His Grace:

Psalm 116:17 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD.

Those who “call upon the name of the Lord” serve the Lord:

Zephaniah 3:9 For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD, to serve him with one consent.

Seth and his family loved the Lord.
Seth had a child named Enos (אֱנוֹשׁ ʼĔnôwsh, “en-ohsh’” = “a man”).
Enos had a child named Cainan (“possession”).
Cainan had a child named Mahalaleel (“praise of God”).
Mahalaleel had a child named Jared (“descent”).
Jared had a child named Enoch (“dedicated”).
The second Enoch was not dedicated to the world, but to God.

The True Enoch Was “Dedicated” To God

Enoch loved God much more than anything or anyone else! The Bible tells us that the second Enoch, the true Enoch was a preacher of righteousness:

Jude 14-15 (KJV)  And ENOCH ALSO, THE SEVENTH FROM ADAM, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,  [15]  To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

Enoch knew that Jesus was coming again. He knew that when God came the second time that He would judge those who walked in the self serving ways of Cain (Jude 11-13) and not after God. Enoch was a flaming, fiery preacher of righteousness. He was NOT politically correct, but was Godly. He imitated God. Enoch was the seventh from Adam, of the Godly line of Seth. Seven is a holy number, the number of God, the number of the Sabbath, the number of rest. Enoch rested in his relationship with God.

The false Enochs follow the ways of the serpent. “Hath God really said that? Hath God really said that you shall not eat of every tree in the Garden?” (Genesis 3:1). Really? Of course you know that God knows the day you eat of it you shall not die, but become just like Him, a god yourself” (Genesis 3:4-5).

The false Enoch makes life about himself.
The true Enoch knows that life is about God.
True life is only found in God.

Hebrews 11:5 (KJV) By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him …

To walk with God is to hear what God says, to “walk by faith and not by sight”. “By faith” means to trust what God has said, to have your confidence in God and not in your own abilities or the abilities of another. To walk with God is to walk WANTING HIM and HIS BLESSING.

2 Corinthians 5:4-7 (KJV)  For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.  [5]  Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.  [6]  Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:  [7]  (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

This life makes us groan at times, but we trust what God has said. Walking with God is to trust Him, to do as He says. The first Enoch was a child born of the flesh, and raised by a father who trusted only in the flesh. The Scripture declares:

Romans 8:7-8 (KJV)  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  [8]  So then THEY THAT ARE IN THE FLESH CANNOT PLEASE GOD.

What does the Scripture say of Enoch?

Hebrews 11:5 (KJV)  By faith Enoch was translated … before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

The testimony of his life was that “Enoch pleased God”. He kept on having faith in God. He did what God said to do. He listened to and obeyed His Word. He “called upon the Name of the Lord”. Did Enoch ever fail? Probably. We are all sinners saved by Grace. We are all fallible. Yet when Enoch failed God HE REPENTED.

To walk with God you must practice DAILY repentance.

Pastor Jordan Standridge wrote at the site The Cripplegate: “Every sin against the God of the universe is an act of treason. Every time we sin we are choosing a thing God created over God Himself. We are worshipping the creation rather than the Creator. We are perverting a wonderful gift God gave and telling Him that we aren’t thankful. There is no such thing as an innocent or small sin.”

Enoch practiced a daily habitual walk with God. He understood that his relationship with God was the most important possession he owned. When he sinned he confessed his sin knowing God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:8-10). Enoch loved and trusted God even when things did not go his way.

Genesis 5:21 (KJV)  And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:

In Biblical times children were considered a blessing from God. In our horrible world today so many look at children as an inconvenience or a thing to be aborted. Yet the Scripture says:

Psalms 127:3 (KJV)  Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

Children are no inconvenience, but a blessing, a continuation of a person’s name on the earth. Enoch walked with God, and day after day he was without children. The blessing of God was delayed. Yet there is no indication that Enoch fretted or wondered about the blessing of God.

When we worry, we doubt God. Enoch just trusted God!

When Enoch was 65 years old (or should I say “young”) Enoch had a child that he named “Methuselah” (the Dart). Did the second Enoch run out after having Methuselah and build a city to name after his son? No. What did he do?

Genesis 5:22-24 (KJV)  And ENOCH WALKED WITH GOD after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: [23]  And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:  [24]  And ENOCH WALKED WITH GOD: AND HE WAS NOT; FOR GOD TOOK HIM.

No one had to beg Enoch to walk with God.
No preacher had to chase Enoch to get him in Church.
No one had to send cards and letters to try and reach him.
Enoch built a godly habit of walking with God.
Enoch agreed with God! Enoch loved God!

Amos 3:3 (KJV)  Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

Two will not walk together long if they are not in agreement. Enoch agreed with God. Enoch pleased God. Enoch walked in union with God, as Adam did before the fall of man. He did not give God HIS opinion on what he thought was best. Enoch pleased God daily. Enoch kept up and maintained a holy and habitual communion and fellowship with God.

To Walk WITH God Is To Move Forward

Hebrews 11:5-6 (KJV)  By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.  [6]  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Walking is a progressive action.
You move forward when you walk.

Enoch “diligently sought after God”. He did not walk apart from God and expect God to follow him. No, he sought God and his ways. He was ACTIVE in pursuing God. You cannot “walk” in place. To walk means not to quit, but to keep on going regardless as to where God takes you.

Psalms 84:5-7 (KJV)  Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.  [6]  Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.  [7]  They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.

The “valley of Baca” is literally “the valley of weeping”. There are times when life will take you into a valley of weeping. Enoch didn’t waste time feeling sorry for himself. When God led him through the Valley of Baca, Enoch wept AND WALKED. He trusted God’s love. He kept on walking.

We have all experienced loss in our lives. It saddens us. What do we do? Do we throw our hands up and give up? NO. We keep on walking with God. We keep on living for Him. God loves us, and will see us through. God will turn the tears in our eyes into wells of blessing if we keep following Him.

2 Peter 3:18 (KJV) ….. grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Let the Word of God drive you, not fear nor the word of the world. Enoch did not have the holy Scripture that we have today, but nonetheless walked with God. We are blessed with the Scripture. Peter was blessed to stand and see Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration. He said:

2 Peter 1:19-20 (KJV) …WE HAVE ALSO A MORE SURE WORD OF PROPHECY; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:  [20]  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

Peter saw Christ transfigured, but said “we have a more sure word of Prophecy”. We have a blessing available to us that neither Enoch nor Peter had. We have God’s Holy Word, His Scripture, this precious Bible. The old time Preacher George Whitefield (who along with John Wesley founded the Methodists) said:

“If we once get above our Bibles, and cease making the written Word of God our sole rule both as to faith and practice, we shall soon lie open to all manner of delusion, and be in great danger of making shipwreck of faith and a good conscience. Our blessed Lord … was governed by and fought the devil with ‘it is written’…”

When we like Enoch diligently seek the Lord then God rewards us. We must not neglect our prayer life nor leave off the reading and study of God’s Word. The Bible says:

1 Thessalonians 5:15-23 (KJV)  See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.  [16]  Rejoice evermore.  [17]  Pray without ceasing.  [18]  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.  [19]  Quench not the Spirit.  [20]  Despise not prophesyings. [21]  Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.  [22]  Abstain from all appearance of evil.  [23]  And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

To Walk With God Is To Wait On The Lord

I heard the story once of a traveler who saw a young boy standing at the intersection of a road. The traveler stopped, and as the sun was going down asked the child if he wanted a ride. The boy said “No thank you. My father has gone into town for some business, and told me to wait here until he returns.” The traveler said “But young man, the sun is setting. You don’t want to be here in the dark.” The boy replied, “My father will be here shortly. He has never left me alone in the dark, and never will”.

Enoch walked with God on a daily basis for 365 years because he looked for God, and deliberately chose to stay with God. On the days when God seemed far away Enoch stopped his journey and waited on the Lord. The Bible commands us:

Psalms 27:14 WAIT ON THE LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Psalms 37:34 WAIT ON THE LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.

Proverbs 20:22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but WAIT ON THE LORD, and he shall save thee.

To wait on the Lord does not mean to do nothing. It means to SERVE GOD. To do the right thing.
To do what He says.

If you are the Enoch of faith, then do as he did. He was not lazy in his faith.

Romans 13:11-14 (KJV)  And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.  [12]  The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.  [13]  Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.  [14]  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.

Walk with God. Walk apart from the world and sin. Oh beloved Church, do not follow Jesus from afar off. Live actively with Him. Let Him be in your thoughts, and in your lives. Do not be as Cain was, for he would not hear the Lord. He would not repent. God told Cain:

Genesis 4:7 (KJV)  If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

We can follow sin, or we can follow the Savior. Let us be as Enoch was. Let us walk with the Lord. Let us be actively engaged in living with Him. Reject any other life. Let Christ live in you. Let Christ live through you. Let’s walk with God until we walk into Heaven!

May God touch your hearts with His Word.