Hebrews 11:5-6
This faith hero is different from the others in the fact that he only has 4 verses, besides these in Hebrews, devoted to him. Most of the other examples of faith have at least one, if not many chapters detailing their lives. Why so little about Enoch? Why include a man barely mentioned in Scripture in the hall of faith alongside major Bible characters? This is the account of Enoch in Genesis 5:21-24.
"When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. And after he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived 365 years. Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away."
At first glance, this seemed pretty self explanatory to me. Enoch never died because he walked with God. It is a precursor to Jesus and the Gospel. And that is true. Everything in scripture points to Jesus. He is the center of the Bible, the center of the whole universe. But I prayed that God would reveal to me something else about Enoch. Then, I read the next verse after Hebrews 11:5. God is a pretty effective writer, so I have to think that He ordered the Bible specifically and put these two verses together for a reason. Hebrews 11:6 could've easily fit in at the beginning of the chapter I think. Up there with the definition of faith. So why put it here?
It says that Enoch pleased God. So, by definition of the next verse, Enoch must have believed that God exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. The only problem is, we don't have any information past that. No background on how God rewarded Enoch (other than the fact that he never died). When I read that God rewards us, I often think of things that I want for my life on this earth. And that's not wrong. God wants to give us blessings while we're here on earth. But I believe the reason we don't hear about that stuff in Enoch's life is because that's not the ultimate reward to be had.
Maybe, the reason the only information we have about Enoch was that he walked with God is because walking with God is the reward.
Not a better home or job. Not a life without homework. Not a life free from trials and tragedy. Although these things would be nice, they are not the ultimate reward. Relationship with God is. Maybe that's what God was trying to show us through Enoch. That the rest of the rewards in his life didn't compare with the fact that he walked with God and then got to spend eternity with Him.
The Lord said this to Abram in Genesis 15, just as Abram was entering the promised land.
"After these things, the Word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision saying, 'Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward."
Abram followed God to a place he had never been, to a place where nothing was certain. In the midst of Abram's confusion and fear, God speaks to him the most solid thing we can ever hear. That no matter what happens, He is with us. Life is so uncertain. One day can completely change the course of your life as you know it. We have no idea what kind of blessings God is going to give us in this world or what trials we're going to go through. But we can be sure of one thing. If we seek Him, we will get our exceedingly great reward.
We get to walk side-by-side with the God of the Universe.
"When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. And after he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived 365 years. Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away."
At first glance, this seemed pretty self explanatory to me. Enoch never died because he walked with God. It is a precursor to Jesus and the Gospel. And that is true. Everything in scripture points to Jesus. He is the center of the Bible, the center of the whole universe. But I prayed that God would reveal to me something else about Enoch. Then, I read the next verse after Hebrews 11:5. God is a pretty effective writer, so I have to think that He ordered the Bible specifically and put these two verses together for a reason. Hebrews 11:6 could've easily fit in at the beginning of the chapter I think. Up there with the definition of faith. So why put it here?
It says that Enoch pleased God. So, by definition of the next verse, Enoch must have believed that God exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. The only problem is, we don't have any information past that. No background on how God rewarded Enoch (other than the fact that he never died). When I read that God rewards us, I often think of things that I want for my life on this earth. And that's not wrong. God wants to give us blessings while we're here on earth. But I believe the reason we don't hear about that stuff in Enoch's life is because that's not the ultimate reward to be had.
Maybe, the reason the only information we have about Enoch was that he walked with God is because walking with God is the reward.
Not a better home or job. Not a life without homework. Not a life free from trials and tragedy. Although these things would be nice, they are not the ultimate reward. Relationship with God is. Maybe that's what God was trying to show us through Enoch. That the rest of the rewards in his life didn't compare with the fact that he walked with God and then got to spend eternity with Him.
The Lord said this to Abram in Genesis 15, just as Abram was entering the promised land.
"After these things, the Word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision saying, 'Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward."
Abram followed God to a place he had never been, to a place where nothing was certain. In the midst of Abram's confusion and fear, God speaks to him the most solid thing we can ever hear. That no matter what happens, He is with us. Life is so uncertain. One day can completely change the course of your life as you know it. We have no idea what kind of blessings God is going to give us in this world or what trials we're going to go through. But we can be sure of one thing. If we seek Him, we will get our exceedingly great reward.
We get to walk side-by-side with the God of the Universe.
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