Genesis 5:1-32
In Genesis 4, we considered the first murder recorded in biblical history. Cain killed his brother Abel. Of course, this was devasting to Adam and Eve, and they knew that their sin was the foundation for the death of their son. In his timing, God graciously provided another son.
Genesis 4:25-26
And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.” To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord.
It seems from this passage that, with Enosh, a new beginning occurred. People began to call upon the name of the Lord. The word “call” can be used to describe reading, proclaiming, and praying. Even under the curse of sin, people began to proclaim the name of Yahweh. This is the oldest reference to worship of Yahweh. God has always had a people who knew him and worshiped him.
Genesis 5 is called “the book of the generations of Adam.” Moses reminds us of three important truths: God created male and female, mankind is made in God’s image, and the image of God is passed down from generation to generation.
Genesis 5:1-3
This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them Man when they were created. When Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth.
Chapter 5 traces Adam’s descendants through Noah. Let me make a few points about this chapter and then focus on one person. Here are some interesting observations through this chapter.
- Adam lived to be 930 years old.
- Methuselah, the oldest man in Scripture, lived 969 years. Thus comes the saying that someone is “as old as Methuselah.”
- A three-word phrase is repeated throughout this chapter, “and he died.” Sin resulted in physical death. Even those who lived many years, much longer than we live today, eventually died.
But there was one man in Genesis 5 who didn’t die.
Genesis 5:21-24
When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.
Enoch didn’t die. He was walking on earth one day, and the next day, “God took him.” What do we know about this man, Enoch?
First, we know that Enoch was a bold spokesman for God. He lived in a wicked generation but didn’t hold back from speaking the hard truth. Here’s what we learn about Enoch from the New Testament.
Jude 1:14-15
…Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”
Enoch was not afraid to call out the ungodly. He was a man of conviction and courage.[1]
Things were not made easy for Enoch. In evil days, with much to mislead him, with everything to oppose him, he had by faith and diligent seeking . . . to cleave to the past on which God walked, often left in darkness, often thrown off the track, often listening but unable to hear the footfall of God or to hear his own name called upon, receiving no sign, but still diligently seeking the God he knew would lead him only to good.[2]
Second, we know that Enoch was a man of great faith. In Hebrews 11, the writer includes sixteen people, the Old Testament prophets, and two events to describe true faithfulness. Enoch was one of the people written about in this chapter highlighting faith.
Hebrews 11:5-6
By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Finally, Enoch “walked with God.” What does it mean to walk with God? An old commentator, Marcus Dods, explains it well. He says to walk with God means,
- I am God’s friend and enjoy his company.
- I am going in the same direction as God—shown to me in his Word.
- My love for God and my desire to please him saturates my thoughts.
- I view my circumstances in light of my relationship with God.
- I seek God’s examination of my heart through reading his Word.
- Sin causes unrest and moves me to repentance.
- A lack of fellowship with God results in spiritual loneliness.
- My relationship with God…impacts my entire life and character.
- I desire to repress thoughts God disapproves.
- I desire to know and imitate those things that reflect his nature.
- I desire to follow God’s purpose and plan for my life.
- I desire to nurture my friendship with God.
PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Read Genesis 5:1-32—Granted, this chapter simply traces Adam’s descendants to Noah, focusing on the repeated phrase “and he died.” This chapter is a solemn reminder that death comes to us all, even those who are as old as Methuselah.
Prayer and Application
Prayerfully read through Marcus Dods’ list about what it means to walk with God. Pinpoint anything specific that you want to focus on to help you be a person who is “walking with God.”
Have Questions?
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[1] Where did Jude get his information about Enoch? From an extrabiblical Jewish work called 1 Enoch (300-200 BC). Jude’s use of 1 Enoch does not mean that it is the authoritative word of God on par with Scripture. It only means that in this specific instance, 1 Enoch contains truth and is part of God’s inspired Word.
[2] Marcus Dods, Book of Genesis, 51-53.
It is fantastic how today’s message about Enoch and “walking with God” is in direct correlation to the All-In message of Sunday’s sermon at The Bible Chapel. The All-In messaging feels like the What and Dodd’s list gives us some framework into the How. Thank you for giving us this moments to be all-in and focused to grow in the Word!