Genesis 5:18-24
‘Jared lived 162 years, and he begot Enoch…. And Enoch lived 65 years, and begot Methuselah…. Enoch walked with God after he begot Methusaleh…. All the days of Enoch, were 365 years. And Enoch walked with God…. He was not, for God took him.’ Genesis 5:18-24.
Calvin commented: “Enoch is honoured with peculiar praise…. He ‘ walked with God .’ Yet, both Seth and Enoch, and Cainan and Mahalaleel and Jared were then living” — and all pious.
“Notice the brief description of a holy life contained in the words: ‘ Enoch walked with God ‘…. The Spirit of God had established a rule of living well and rightly…. One man…stood firmly, in the season of most dreadful dissipation…. Enoch, lest he should be drawn aside by the corruptions of men, had respect to God alone….
“‘And he was not; for God took him ‘…. Something extraordinary is here pointed out …. Moses plainly declares that Enoch was taken out of the world by an unusual mode, and was received by the Lord…. Enoch, in the middle period of life,
suddenly and in an unexampled method vanished from the sight of men — because the Lord took him away….
“In the ‘translation’ of Enoch, an example of immortality was exhibited…. God designed to elevate the minds of his saints with certain faith before their death…. They would know that a better life was elsewhere laid up for them.
“It is, however, remarkable that Adam himself was deprived of this support…of comfort…. It was not till about 150 years after his death, that the ‘translation’ of Enoch took place — which was to be as a visible representation of a blessed resurrection….
“There was, in the ‘translation’ of Enoch, an instruction of all the godly — that they should not keep their hope confined within the boundaries of this mortal life…. He was taken to a better abode…. He was received into a heavenly country …. His transition was by a peculiar privilege – – such as that of other men would have been, if they had remained in their first state.” Namely the state of Adam before his fall.
“Death is not always the separation of the soul from the body…. Such will be the ‘death’ of those who will be found surviving, at the last day.
In Hebrews 11:5, we read that ‘ Enoch was “translated” so he should not see death. ‘ Calvin commented: “It happened as a benefit of his faith…. Enoch was ‘ translated ‘…as an outstanding sign by which all might see how dear he was to God…. His being snatched away without death, showed clearly the hand of God from Heaven…. It was the result of faith…. He walked with God!”
Yes, Enoch walked with God for 365 years — the number of days in a year. May we too walk with God every day of our life, and in all of our years!
