I recently had the opportunity to visit my sister and her husband in Seattle. We had a great time exploring the city and catching up on each other's lives. As I spent time with them, I was reminded of how much proximity matters to grow in relationships. My sister and I talk on the phone all the time, but nothing replaces the face-to-face interaction. Walking with someone day-to-day makes all the difference in your relationship with them. I'm convinced that Enoch understood this. Enoch is a man we first learn about in the book of Genesis who is known for walking closely with God. As a result, he must have known God intimately and had a better understanding of who he, himself, was as well.
Genesis 5 gives us a timeline of the descendants of Adam and Eve. While it may be tempting to rush through this genealogy, there is so much we can learn from this genealogy when we slow down and study this chapter of Genesis. Throughout this genealogy, we find a pattern. With each person mentioned, their stories end the same way. We learn how old these people lived to be, and then find out that they died. This cycle continues until we get to Enoch, and suddenly there is a break in the repetition. Whenever there is a break in repetition found in Scripture, our ears should perk up. There is something the Scripture is revealing to us through this repetition. Enoch's story ends in the most peculiar way. Here is what Scripture says, "Enoch lived 365 years, walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him" (verses 23-24). What is the difference in Enoch's life from the other men mentioned in this genealogy? Enoch walked "in close fellowship" with God. He knew God intimately. He did not just walk with God; he walked with God "in close fellowship." Based on this description of Enoch's life, it stands to reason that he knew that proximity matters, especially when it came to his relationship with God.
My friend, if we want to grow in our faith, proximity matters. If we want to live with faith, we must walk "in close fellowship" with God each and every day. As we walk with God closely, we know Him on a deeper and more intimate level, and our faith grows. May it be said of us like it was said of Enoch that we walked "in deep fellowship with God" each and every day.
One of the ways we can spend time with God and learn about Him is by reading Scripture. Psalm 145 specifically talks about God and His character. Take a few moments to read Psalm 145:1-21. As you read, write down characteristics of God found in these verses. Next, acknowledge His greatness and your need for His salvation. Confess your sin to Him, and ask Him for the forgiveness that He so readily offers.
This is the written account of the descendants of Adam. When God created human beings,[a] he made them to be like himself. He created them male and female, and he blessed them and called them “human.”
When Adam was 130 years old, he became the father of a son who was just like him—in his very image. He named his son Seth. After the birth of Seth, Adam lived another 800 years, and he had other sons and daughters. Adam lived 930 years, and then he died.
When Seth was 105 years old, he became the father of Enosh. After the birth of Enosh, Seth lived another 807 years, and he had other sons and daughters. Seth lived 912 years, and then he died.
When Enosh was 90 years old, he became the father of Kenan. After the birth of Kenan, Enosh lived another 815 years, and he had other sons and daughters. Enosh lived 905 years, and then he died.
When Kenan was 70 years old, he became the father of Mahalalel. After the birth of Mahalalel, Kenan lived another 840 years, and he had other sons and daughters. Kenan lived 910 years, and then he died.
When Mahalalel was 65 years old, he became the father of Jared. After the birth of Jared, Mahalalel lived another 830 years, and he had other sons and daughters. Mahalalel lived 895 years, and then he died.
When Jared was 162 years old, he became the father of Enoch. After the birth of Enoch, Jared lived another 800 years, and he had other sons and daughters. Jared lived 962 years, and then he died.
When Enoch was 65 years old, he became the father of Methuselah. After the birth of Methuselah, Enoch lived in close fellowship with God for another 300 years, and he had other sons and daughters. Enoch lived 365 years, walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him.
When Methuselah was 187 years old, he became the father of Lamech. After the birth of Lamech, Methuselah lived another 782 years, and he had other sons and daughters. Methuselah lived 969 years, and then he died.
When Lamech was 182 years old, he became the father of a son. Lamech named his son Noah, for he said, “May he bring us relief from our work and the painful labor of farming this ground that the Lord has cursed.” After the birth of Noah, Lamech lived another 595 years, and he had other sons and daughters. Lamech lived 777 years, and then he died.
After Noah was 500 years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
