June 26, 2025 | Be God's Family
Enoch Pleased God
Scripture: Hebrews 11:5-6(NIV)
5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Devotional
Two years ago, when my wife, Becky, was dying of Alzheimer’s Disease, I asked her how she would like it if God would offer to come down in a chariot and take us both directly to heaven. We both (in our 80’s and having lived full lives) agreed that we would readily accept such an offer. Enoch (Hebrews 11:5) and Elijah (2 Kings 2:11) are the only two people recorded in the Bible as having bypassed death in this manner. Although many other Biblical characters joined Enoch in this classic Hebrews 11 “Hall of Fame” faith passage, he was the only one of that illustrious group to be so honored. The text only reports that he “pleased God.” We wish we knew more details about the nature of his faith.
Verse six of the eleventh chapter of Hebrews reports that God wants us to “diligently seek Him.” Other Biblical passages reinforce this central idea. For example, Jeremiah 29:13 states, “You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” In other words, one is to want God more than anything else. The good news is that if you really want Him, you have Him.
The faith of chapter eleven is not an abstract, academic belief, rather, it is a commitment to obey. Note for example, Hebrews 11:8 states, “by faith Abraham obeyed.” Also, in James 3:26, we see the emphasis on obedience as “faith without works is dead.”
Enoch is noteworthy for more than his references in Hebrews 11.
Details of Enoch’s fatherhood, age, faith and death are mentioned in Genesis 5:21-24. When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years. Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.
He is also referenced in Jude verses 14-15 with a prophesy. Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about evil doers: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”
What do you see as the most important elements in “walking with God” both for Enoch in his time and for you today?
Faith is a very important but somewhat general concept. What specific elements characterize the modern faithful Christian?
Poem
May I
Psalm 39
I said, “I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth while in the presence of the wicked.”
Psalm 39:1
May I please You, O LORD, as I reign in my tongue
May I seek You quite early while I am still young
May I keep my eyes set upon Your narrow path
May I drown out all thoughts which be pondering wrath
May I tune both my ears to Your wavelengths of love
May I set guards against all that’s not from above
May I resolve ‘fore battle to yield to Your will
May I long meditate on Your Word and be still
May I live open handed—receive and let go
May I speak only truth in love, mercy to show
May I run to the shelter of Your hov’ring wings
May I ever and always to You only cling
