Simply the Bible Blog

Certain people stand out in time. Somehow they leave a mark on human history. It can be negative–for example Adolf Hitler. But it can also be positive. In the record of Scripture, certain people get honorable mention. Most had flaws along with their strengths. But occasionally a person appears whose weaknesses are not mentioned.

One such person appears early in human history.

“Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah. After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters.” (Genesis 5:21–22, NKJV)

You’ve probably heard of Methuselah. At 969 years of age, he was the oldest person to ever live. His father was Enoch, which means “dedicated.”

Enoch didn’t even start to walk with God until he fathered Methuselah at age sixty-five. Nowadays, that would be considered retirement age, but Enoch was just getting started. He would live another 365 years walking with God.

Of all the people who lived during that antediluvian (pre-flood) period, the Bible records only Enoch walking with God. While men had begun to call on the name of the LORD (Genesis 4:26), evidently there was a difference between calling on Him and walking with Him.

Some people walk with God for a season, but when temptation comes, they fall. Some never get back up again. But Enoch walked steadfastly with God for 365 years! That’s at least four lifetimes! (Twenty-eight if you’re counting in dog years!) Enoch must have enjoyed an intimate relationship with God. That was unusual, because ever since The Fall in Genesis 3, man was separated from God by sin.

I don’t pretend to understand why Enoch was the exception to the rule. I only know that things are different now. Because Jesus suffered the penalty of sin for us all, we can all walk with God today. Jesus is called Emmanuel–God with us–because He has brought everyone who believes in Him into this intimate relationship with God (John 1:12).

Now at this point you’re probably saying, “Wait a minute, Daryl. Your title says ‘An Ancient Astronaut.’ So what’s the story?” Glad you asked!

“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 5:23–24, NKJV)

Enoch is in another select group. He is one of only two people who ever lived who did not die. We don’t know exactly how this happened, but one day, as Enoch was walking with God, God simply took him home.

I imagine the conversation going something like this:

Enoch: “Where are we walking today, Lord?”

God: “What do you say we go to My place?”

And poof! Enoch was no more on this turf. He was beamed up long before Star Trek. And that’s why I call him an astronaut. (OK so maybe he wasn’t technically an astronaut. But how many NASA space-walkers do you know who have been transported directly to heaven?)

One last thing: I believe Enoch is a type (foreshadow) of those who walk with God today. Because one day when we least expect it…BLASTOFF! We will be no more on this turf! (1 Thessalonians 4:17)

May we all choose to be “dedicated” and walk with God–starting in 3…2…1…