Life is often described as a journey.
We speak of career paths, spiritual journeys, life goals, and finding our way. Every day, we are moving towards something, even if we are not always conscious of the direction. The important question is not whether we are walking, but who is determining our steps.
In an age that celebrates independence, self-direction, and personal ambition, Scripture offers a strikingly different picture of success. It is found, not in forging our own path, but in walking faithfully with God.
Among the remarkable men and women of Hebrews 11, Enoch stands out for the simplicity of his testimony. Unlike Noah, he built no ark. Unlike Abraham, he left no homeland. Unlike Moses, he led no nation. Unlike David, he fought no giant.
The Bible remembers him for something far less dramatic, yet infinitely more profound.
He walked with God.
At first glance, that may seem unremarkable. Yet in a world that was rapidly descending into violence and corruption, Enoch’s daily fellowship with God became an extraordinary witness. While others followed the course of a fallen world, Enoch chose another path. Day after day, step by step, he lived in harmony with the God whom he could not see.
The writer to the Hebrews captures the essence of his life in a single sentence:
“By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God” (Hebrews 11:5, NKJV).
Let’s trace his story in Genesis.
The Man who defies the refrain of death!
In Genesis 5, the book of genealogies from Adam to Noah, one statement recurs after each character—like a disturbing refrain: “and he died.”
After the fall, Adam was confronted with a reality that has haunted the human family to date. Even the reality of mortality.
Ellen white captures the sad reality of death as experienced by our first parents in a remarkable fashion:
“The sin of our first parents brought guilt and sorrow upon the world, and had it not been for the goodness and mercy of God, would have plunged the race into hopeless despair. Let none deceive themselves. “The wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:23. After their sin, Adam and Eve earnestly entreated that they might remain in the home of their innocence and joy. They pledged themselves for the future to yield strict obedience to God. But they were told that their nature had become depraved by sin. They had lessened their strength to resist evil. Now, in a state of conscious guilt, they would have less power to maintain their integrity. In sadness, they bade farewell to their beautiful home and went forth to dwell upon the earth, where rested the curse of sin. The atmosphere was now subject to marked changes, and the Lord mercifully provided them with a garment of skins as a protection from the cold. As they witnessed in drooping flower and falling leaf the first signs of decay, Adam and his companion mourned more deeply than men now mourn over their dead. When the goodly trees cast off their leaves, the scene brought to mind the stern fact that death is the portion of every living thing.”
–From Eternity Past, p. 29-30. (Ellen Gould White)
Oh yes, death has always been a problem from the time he was granted access. He is a treacherous guest who deceives and robs the host.
But seven generations later, Jared fathers a son who defies death:
“Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah. After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters. So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him” (Genesis 5:21-24, NKJV).
Enoch lived 65 years, fathered Methuselah, walked with God for another 300 years while fathering other sons and daughters, then God took him.
But what does it mean to walk with God?
Walking with God
The art and thought of walking with God looks easier said than done.
But in reality, walking with God demands a lot. Amos asks a question that disects that anatomy of walking with God:
“Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?” (Amos 3:3, NKJV).
Two people can only walk together when they agree. But when pulling towards different directions and interests, the journey must have points of farewell and departure.
For anyone who has ever walked with God and then stopped, it is because at some point in the journey, they wanted to take a turn that God did not approve of or could not join. And many make a terrible sacrifice of going in that direction on their own, leaving the LORD behind.
So most of us walk with God, but we excuse ourselves along the way and take different paths other than the one God leads.
Not so with Enoch.
Enoch walked with God for 365 years, then God took him; so he never joined the generation of Adam in death.
For this to happen, Enoch had to agree with God. God knows better and desires better for us. And walking with God is not always smooth. Sometimes it takes us through green pastures, and this can be followed by a journey through the valley of the shadow of death. Sometimes it can be in the palace, and this can be followed by prison.
Yet all the true sons and daughters of the kingdom keep singing, “Anywhere with Jesus I can safely go, anywhere He leads me in this world below.”
Born in the fallen race, Enoch must have had moments when his wishes didn’t align with God. But the Bible talks about him walking with God. This means he gave up his views and adopted the Lord’s leading anytime the thoughts didn’t align.
To walk with God, we must be willing to agree with Him all through the way. This cannot be done by training or muscle memory. In fact, the only muscle memories most of us have is that of taking our own divergence from walking with God.
It is by faith in God that Enoch walked with God for 365 years. He was willing to consult God in every sphere of his life.
Are you walking with God? That’s a difficult yet fair question for all of us.
Let’s now peer into our devotional thoughts on the series and see some powerful contrasts in Enoch’s walk with God.
From the Conflict of the Ages Series
Ellen paints the practical aspect of Enoch’s walk with God remarkably:
“Enoch’s walk with God was not in a trance or vision, but in all the duties of his daily life. He did not become a hermit, shutting himself entirely from the world; for he had a work to do for God in the world. In the family and in his intercourse with men, as a husband and father, a friend, a citizen, he was the steadfast, unwavering servant of the Lord.”
—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 85.1 (Ellen Gould White)
Walking with God does not interfere with our ability to serve humanity. We can walk with God and remain faithful in the family, work, and civic duties.
And those who do not walk with God are most likely not to do well in these practical aspects of life.
This is only possible by faith.
Looking unto Jesus
As we consider Enoch’s walk of faith, we are even encouraged that he did it by faith.
He did not do it by mastery of some human strength or moral force. He did not achieve it by meditation and inner power. He did not register for a crash course on walking with God.
The Bible says, “by faith…” not by works or any special human abilities. If this is the case, then it is up for grabs. You and I can do it by looking unto Jesus.
Enoch has presented a challenge and standard—365 years of walking with God. Jesus promises power to reproduce this in our lives:
“But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name” (John 1:12, NKJV).
Power has been promised. We can do it.
Faith focus
Faith walks with God in the practical aspects of life. By faith, they overcame their world. By faith we overcome ours.
"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith" ( 1 John 5:4, NKJV).
Next, we will look at Noah, who, by faith, obeyed before the rains ever fell on earth.
The Cleaver 