Genesis 5:24 - Walking with God.
Genesis 5:24 (NIV) Enoch walked faithfully
with God; then he was no more, because God took
him away.
Genesis 5:24 (AMP) And Enoch walked [in
habitual fellowship] with God; and he was not, for
God took him [home with Him].
Genesis 5:24 (CWR) His life on earth was
much shorter than those before him. He knew God
so intimately that one day when he was walking
in the field, he disappeared, and no one could
find him because God had taken Enoch bodily to
heaven. This brought hope of eternal life to all who
loved God.
INTRODUCTION
In Genesis we read that Enoch "walked" with
God. Often we talk about our "walk." That is a
metaphor for all that makes up a life, how we think,
what we do, everything. Enoch's walk was "with
God." And that walk, testified to before all
those who knew Enoch, brought forth the comment by
the writer of Hebrews, "he pleased God." [In His
Time; Walk With Wisdom re Heb.11:5]
COMMENTARY PEARL
The Bible tells us about a man who
experienced what we might describe as a solo rapture. He
was caught up to meet the Lord in Heaven all by
himself. His name was Enoch, and hes a fascinating
character.
We can read about him in the book of
Genesis as well as in Hebrews 11, which says, It
was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven
without dying - he disappeared, because God took
him. For before he was taken up, he was known as
a person who pleased God (verse 5 NLT).
So God took him, meaning that one
day Enoch was taking a walk with the Lord, and
he was caught up to glory. Maybe as the two
were walking along, the Lord said, Hey buddy,
were closer to My house than yours. Why dont
you come home with Me? And he did.
Enoch lived in what we might describe as
the last days. His last days, however, were the
days before the flood. So Enoch was a last-days
believer in the sense that it was the time before God
sent His judgment on the earth.
In fact, Genesis tells us that people
were so wicked that the Lord was sorry he had
ever made them and put them on the earth. It
broke his heart (6:6 NLT). Yet Enoch lived a
godly life in an ungodly time.
I believe that we, too, are living in the
last days. And we have the same spiritual
resources that Enoch had. I would even say that we
have more than he did because Christ had not yet
come and died for the sins of the world.
Believers today have Jesus living inside of them and
the Holy Spirit empowering them.
Enoch walked with God, and thats what
I want to encourage you to do today. Just
simply walk with God. [Greg Laurie from Harvest
Ministries; https://www.harvestdaily.com]
COMMENTARY
I had never thought of it this way
before: God was out on His daily walk in the cool of
the day. He must enjoy walking too! Did you know
that walking is one of the best exercises
possible? It doesn't require any expensive equipment
or health club memberships. Weight bearing, it
involves all the muscle groups and is relatively easy
on the joints. If you make it a brisk walk that
is long and frequent enough, it can aid your
fitness, strength, and mood. You will also improve
your blood chemistry (such as cholesterol and
sugar) and help manage your weight. Taking a brisk
walk every day is just a good habit to develop.
Be sure to have good walking shoes that
fit well and give good support and shock
protection. Dress in loose-fitting clothes appropriate
to the weather and layered so that, as you warm
up during the walk or chill because of turning
into the wind, you can make the appropriate
adjustments and stay comfortable. It helps if you start
slowly every day to warm up, stop and stretch the
warmed muscles, and then cool down slowly with some
more stretching. In addition to a regular time to
walk, having a walking partner will keep you
accountable to the routine, but more important, you can
deepen a friendship as you improve your level of
health. I do believe Enoch had the best of all
walking partners (Gen. 5:22).
My wife and I have developed the habit of
walking and talking and have been at it for years,
so we can recommend it from personal
experience. Our walk time is one of our favorite
occasions to communicate deeply on a wide variety of
topics. We do it rain or shine, wind or snow. Even
on ice, though you do need special equipment,
and the risk of falls increases.
Walking with God is a rich metaphor for a
relationship with God. Enoch and Noah walked with God. I
wonder where the line between metaphor and reality
blurs? Did they actually walk together shoulder to
shoulder? David and Hezekiah walked in God's ways.
Many of the bad kings walked in the ways of
Jeroboam or Ahab, both models of a wicked king. Good
kings walked in the ways of David, Asa, or
Jehosophat, models of good kings. Walking after other
gods, walking according to the dictates of their
own heart, or even walking by human precepts are
the opposite of walking in God's laws or in His
statutes. Walking in peace and equity suggests
agreement. In another blurring of the metaphor, Amos
asks if it is even possible for two to walk
together unless they agree (Amos 3:3).
Lord, do You still walk in the cool of
the day? May I walk with You today? [God of
Wonders by David Steen re Genesis 3:8]
CLOSING THOUGHT
I wish I could impress upon every worker in
Gods cause, the great need of continual, earnest
prayer. They cannot be constantly upon their knees,
but they can be uplifting their hearts to God.
This is the way that Enoch walked with God. The
Review and Herald, November 10, 1885. EV681
ONE LINER
In learning to walk with God, there is
always the difficulty of getting into His stride,
but once we have done so...the individual person
is merged into a personal oneness with God, and
God's stride and His power alone are exhibited.
[In His Time; My Utmost For His Highest]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS TOPIC
2 Corinthians 5:9 - What Is Our Primary Aim?
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2006/20061026-0821.html
1 Thessalonians 5:17 - Pray Without Ceasing.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2019/20191203-1159.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David
DeRose, MD, MPH:
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Hope Awakens Bible Study Guides:
https://www.hopeawakens.study/lesson-header;id=2
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Revelation Now by Pastor Doug Batchelor:
https://www.revelationnow.com/
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio:
https://bible.awr.org/en/the-signs/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
