November 3 | By Faith Enoch Pleased God

Series | The Life of Amazing Faith

Scripture | Hebrews 11:5, “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.”

Lesson 3 | By Faith Enoch Pleased God

Enoch, which means “dedicated,” was a very mysterious person in the Bible.  His entire life is only mentioned in three verses found in Genesis 5:22-24, “22 … Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 23 Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years. 24 Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.”

The author of Hebrews makes mention of Enoch in the New Testament as an example of great faith because he so pleased God that He “took him” up to heaven to be with Him!  Most scholars believe Enoch was an example of being raptured.  Meaning, his physical body was transformed into a heavenly body and brought directly to heaven, 1 Corinthians 15:51-53. 

Enoch was someone who most likely lived in a time when serving God was not popular because approximately 100 years after his departure only Noah and his immediate family were found to be righteous.  I imagine that while people were worshipping idols based on myth, nature, or their ancestry- Enoch was worshipping and making sacrifice to God.  Thus, we can safely assume that either Enoch lived in a time of great spiritual decline or at its beginning stages.  Either way I believe Enoch stood out because he had “walked faithfully with God” when others didn’t.

As a result, Enoch serves as a great example for us today of someone who had a faithful relationship to God.  God doesn’t desire our religious practices based on imaginations- He wants a genuine personal relationship with us.  Therefore, by faith walk with God daily and please Him in all you do.     

Reflection | Do you want to be in a faithful and intimate relationship with God? In other words, do you want to faithfully walk with God?

Action | (1) Repent if you have made loving God about religion rather than a relationship. (2) Seek God in prayer and ask Him to walk with you everyday. (3) Lastly, live your life as a friend of God (like Enoch)- walking with the Holy Spirit, Galatians 5:25.    

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | Ezekiel 7:1-9:11, Hebrews 5:1-14, Psalm 105:1-15, & Proverbs 26:28. Click here to read online.