{Enoch = Dedicated; Disciplined}
Genesis 5
21 Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah.
22 After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters.
23 So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years.
24 And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.
We do not find much about Enoch in the Word of God. In the scripture above, we see almost everything the Word has to say about him.
Sixty-five years, he begot Methuselah. He had sons and daughters.
In Genesis 5 we find the genealogy of Adam up to Noah and his sons. Amongst them is Enoch and most of the information about him and his life.
All the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years.
He wasn't the oldest man, his son Methuselah was. He died at the age of 969 years. What is interesting though, is that he was 365 years old when God took him. We have 365 days in one year. I do not know if there is any significance in this, but I noticed this and I know that nothing in the Word is there by chance.
He was not, for God took him.
This is all the Word has to say about how Enoch's life on earth ended. When Moses wrote the Book of Genesis, he wrote that everybody else died, but regarding Enoch, he said, he "was not". I believe that there were witnesses to this event.
The only other person in the Word that we know of, who went to heaven and did not die, was Elijah. And the Word tells us that Elisha saw it. It also seems that the sons of the prophets witnessed this event. Elijah went up to heaven by a whirlwind.
2 Kings 2
11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, "My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!" So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces.
13 He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan.
14 Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, "Where is the LORD God of Elijah?" And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.
15 Now when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw him, they said, "The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha." And they came to meet him, and bowed to the ground before him.
16 Then they said to him, "Look now, there are fifty strong men with your servants. Please let them go and search for your master, lest perhaps the Spirit of the LORD has taken him up and cast him upon some mountain or into some valley." And he said, "You shall not send anyone."
Enoch walked with God.
In the four verses in Genesis 5 where Enoch is mentioned, we see that "he walked with God" twice. This seems to be the key to the fact that God took him. I wondered about these two men, whom God took to heaven without them seeing death. They were human beings like us. Why would God choose them and not someone else? Why not Moses or Abraham? What about David and Paul?
But from Genesis 5 we learn nothing more that can bring us to the ultimate answer. There were other people that had "walked with God". Noah (Gen. 6:9), Abraham & Isaac (Gen. 17:1; 48:15) and others.
In Hebrews 11:5 we find Enoch again.
Hebrews 11:5
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.
We see that the author of Hebrews also mentions about Enoch: "not found, because God had taken him." But we find something else in Hebrews 11:5.
He had this testimony.
Enoch's life was a testimony to those around him, and therefore they were witnesses to the fact that he walked with God and pleased God.
He pleased God.
What was this testimony all about? When I read this, I realized that this was the key why he was taken into heaven. He did not see death because he pleased God. I decided to seek God's face about "pleasing Him".
Pleasing God.
In the very next verse in Hebrews 11, after it has been said that Enoch pleased God, we see the following: "without faith it is impossible to please Him".
Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
In this verse there is so much that I want to take some time on the context of this verse. As believers to please God, we must believe that:
Faith.
Hebrews 11
By Faith We Understand
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
The Greek word translated substance literally means "a standing under" and was used in the technical sense of "title deed". Faith is the title deed of things hoped for. Throughout Hebrews chapter 11, the writer emphasizes that assurance rests on God's promises. Faith accepts the Word's record of who Jesus is and what He has accomplished on our behalf. It also draws us near to God.
He is.
He is. God is I am. (Exodus 3:14). God did not go into many words when He told Moses who He was, is and always will be. In this two little words we find that God is our "I am". He is everything we need.
Exodus 3
13 Then Moses said to God, "Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, "The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they say to me, "What is His name?' what shall I say to them?"
14 And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, "I AM has sent me to you."'
15 Moreover God said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: "The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.'
J H W H - The Name of God
The verb form for "I will be" is identical to this. The use of the double verb here, "I am who I am" means, "I shall continually be that which I have always been"; or "I will be all that is necessary as the occasion will arise."
This Name is used for the first time in Genesis 4:1. In Hebrew scripture, when God's activity is that of the all-powerful Creator, He is called ELOHIM. But when His Name is used in association with relationship with man, He is called JHWH.
JHWH means: "I will always be what I have always been; He who causes to be; Giver of Life."
Ancient Jewish scribe considered His Name too sacred to be spoken by human lips and therefore it was written without vowels. Whenever the Name of the Lord appeared in scripture which was to be "spoken", they would use the Name "Adonai", which means, Lord. This can still be seen in Israel today when the religious Jews write the name of "G-d", and neither will they say His Name out loud. We have dear friends in the old city of Jerusalem and they will always mention that we as believers are aloud to say "JHWH", God's Name, but they are not. In Hebrew, only consonants were written in texts. Vowels were added when the words were spoken.
He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Seek God diligently and believe that He will reward us for it. The scripture shapes our thinking as we devotes time to prayer, to waiting upon the Lord, and to praise and thanksgiving.
Scripture on: "Pleasing God."
Colossians 1
10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;
12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.
Colossians 3:20
Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4:1
Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God.
Ephesians 1:5
having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
Philippians 2:13
for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Philippians 4:18
Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.
1 Corinthians 1:21
For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
Hebrews 13:21
make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
1 John 3:22
And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
Psalm 35:27
Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause; And let them say continually, "Let the LORD be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant."
Psalm 103:21
Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.
Psalm 147:11
The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, In those who hope in His mercy.
Psalm 149:4
For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation.
Haggai 1:8
Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified," says the LORD.
Luke 12:32
"Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Ephesians 1:9
having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,
Thessalonians 1:11
Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power,
Pleasing God - What we can do to Please God.
Isaiah 43
7 Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him."
21 This people I have formed for Myself; They shall declare My praise.
John 4
23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.
24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
2 Chronicles 5
13 indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying: "For He is good, For His mercy endures forever," that the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud,
14 so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.
1 Peter 2
5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
Hebrews 13
15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Revelation 4
11 "You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created."
Romans 12
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
1 Timothy 2
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;
Psalm 145
21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD, And all flesh shall bless His holy name Forever and ever.
Psalm 109
30 I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth; Yes, I will praise Him among the multitude.
Psalm 47
1 Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph!
Psalm 149
1 Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, And His praise in the assembly of saints.
2 Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
3 Let them praise His name with the dance; Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp.
4 For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation.
5 Let the saints be joyful in glory; Let them sing aloud on their beds.
6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand,
Romans 8
8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.