"ENOCH WALKED WITH GOD" (Pastor Tom Henry) ~ 6/23/26

“And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” (Genesis 5:24)

“By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death:…for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” (Hebrew 11:5)

In Hebrews 11, which is sometimes referred to as “the Faith Chapter,” first mentioned are “the elders” (Vs. 2) or the “ancients.” Abel, Enoch, and Noah are all entries taken from the antediluvian period. These, as all others who are named, are witnesses to all who are participants in the Christian race. (Heb. 12:1) Abel testifies of our essential need of atonement by blood sacrifice. (Gen. 4:4) Seth and Enos (who are not listed in Hebrews 11) testify of our need for public avowal of our faith, separation from the world, and regular assembly for worship. “…then began men to call upon the name of the LORD,” (Gen. 4:26) or “then began men to call themselves by the name of the LORD.” (Margin) Enoch testifies that all who believe and confess enter into personal fellowship with God; into a continuous unbroken communion with God. “Enoch walked with God.”

This is the proper progression: First trust in the precious blood of Christ for the remission of sin; then publicly confess that faith in believer’s baptism; then join with others of like faith, not forsaking the assemblies; then walk in close communion with God in all manner of your conversation. (I Pet. 1:14-17) Enoch provides the perfect witness respecting this last Christian duty. “Enoch walked with God,” and “He had this testimony, that he pleased God.”

What is it to walk with God? What does the statement, “Enoch walked with God” imply? Of what does such a walk consist? From the Holy Spirit’s interpretation of the Old Testament text, it means to please God. Did you notice in our second text that instead of saying that “Enoch, the seventh from Adam had this testimony that he walked with God”, the Apostle gave the Holy Spirit’s interpretation which is that “Enoch, the seventh from Adam, had this testimony, that he pleased God?” That’s what it means to walk with God. It means to strive to please God in all manner of our conversation. (“conversation” - all our goings out, all our comings in, all our down sittings, all our up-risings, all our thoughts, all our actions.)

As it was with Enoch, so ought it to be with you and me, and every believer. In every circumstance of life Enoch’s first priority was to please his God. Enoch could say with the Psalmist, “Therefore I esteem all thy precepts, concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.” (Psa. 119:128) In a very evil and wicked world (just a generation out from the great flood) Enoch walked with God and pleased God. He was a husband and father, and head of a household (Gen. 5:22), and as such he walked with God and pleased Him in carrying out all related duties. He had to somehow provide for is family, therefore he was apparently pleasing to God in that responsibility.

We do not know when he came to know the Lord, but apparently it was at an early age, for we are told of no time in which he was not walking to please God. Therefore, Enoch is a witness to believers of all ages and all walks of life that we too can have this same testimony, regardless of pressures that can come to bear. We can be sure that in all areas of life Enoch strived to walk in obedience to God’s holy law.

One day this holy man “was not.” (Gen. 5:24) That is, he was not there. The Apostle says, “he was not found.” (Heb. 11:5) This means he was missed, and searched for. Many things could be said about Enoch’s sudden translation from earth to glory, but one thing is certain, when such a faithful soul as Enoch is removed from us, he will surely be missed.