ENOCH<o:p></o:p>

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Genesis 5:18-24; Luke 3:37; Hebrews 11:5; Jude 14<o:p></o:p>

²² After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God for 300 years and had other sons and daughters. ²³ Enoch lived a total of 365 years. ²⁴ Enoch walked with God; then he was gone because God took him. Gen 5:21-24 (GW)

There are several people in the Bible that are not frequently mentioned. One of these intriguing people is Enoch. He is mentioned four times in the Bible, Genesis 5:18-24; Luke 3:37; Hebrews 11:5; Jude 14. The words that really stand out are, “Enoch walked with God…�?/SPAN> This means that Enoch had a very close relationship with God, he was very devoted to God. This is in no way meant to believe that Enoch was sinless rather he enjoyed a blessed fellowship with God; he was at peace with God. Enoch was a man who daily surrendered his life unconditionally to God. He fought temptation as any Christian does today, he faced his fair share of challenges and obstacles and yet his faith and love for God never wavered. The era that Enoch lived was during the pre-flood of Noah’s day. Not all humans were godly in Enoch’s day many desired to follow the ways of the world as they possibly did in Noah’s day. There would be those who were lawless and lived by their own codes. Greed, corruption, murder, theft, idolatry, adultery, rape, assaults, etc... Enoch may well have been ridiculed and persecuted for his devotion to God, yet he stood firm. Then we read “�?SPAN>then he went because God took him.�?/SPAN>  Then one day as Enoch may have been out walking, or maybe he was praying in some quiet place God took him into His holy presence. Enoch never experienced physical death<o:p></o:p>

In Hebrews 11:5 we read 5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God translated him: for he hath had witness borne to him that before his translation he had been well-pleasing unto God: 6 And without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him Heb 11:5-6 (ASV)

Enoch daily demonstrated his faith in God through his life, the things he did. Each day Enoch greets His Lord, seeking ways in which to serve him. He would share his faith unashamed, boldly proclaiming God to be the one true God and those who placed their trust, their faith in Him would be blessed abundantly. Enoch demonstrated his faith in God by not allowing him to be drawn into the world of corruption, idolatry, immorality of his day; he did not become part of the status quo. Because of Enoch’s faith he was found to be righteous in the sight of God. In Jude 10 - 14 we read, �?/SPAN>10 but these men say evil about such things as they have no knowledge of; and the things of which they have natural knowledge, like beasts without reason, are the cause of their destruction. 11 A curse on them! They have gone in the way of Cain, running uncontrolled into the error of Balaam for reward, and have come to destruction by saying evil against the Lord, like Koran. 12 These men are unseen rocks at your love-feasts, when they take part in them with you, keepers of sheep who without fear take the food of the sheep; clouds without water rushing before the wind, wasted trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots, 13 Violent waves of the sea, streaming with their shame, wandering stars for whom the darkest night is kept in store for ever. 14 The prophet Enoch, who was the seventh after Adam, said of these men, The Lord came with tens of thousands of his saints, 15 To be the judge of all, and to give a decision against all those whose lives are unpleasing to him, because of the evil acts which they have done, and because of all the hard things which sinners without fear of God have said against him. 16 These are the men who make trouble, ever desiring change, going after evil pleasures, using high-sounding words, respecting men's position in the hope of reward. Jude 1:10-25 (BBE)<o:p></o:p>

Verses 15-16 would support my earlier comments of problems, the ungodliness that existed in his day and which I am sure extended to Noah’s day. <o:p></o:p>