I have been taking an interest in the second half Genesis chapter 4 verses 16-24, through to Chapter 5, the third generation, today, Enoch.
I offer the illustration of the famous swimmer Dawn Fraser who won Olympic Gold in the same 100 metres event at three successive Olympics, yet her life was much more than that one aspect of her life.
So too in the Genesis account of chapter 4 we read of specific individuals and what they engaged in and what was the single highlight of their life and contribution to man kind.
Enoch is the fifth generation from Seth there was Enos (who we looked at yesterday), Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared and then Enoch.
When Enos comes on the scene, the text of Genesis 4 verse 26 reads as follows:
"(Seth) called his name Enos; then began men to call upon the name of the Lord."
The other side of the family leads to polygamy and ultimately the Flood which was the judgement of the wickedness of man.
The family line from Seth however had a focus on the Lord and this impacted each subsequent generation which becomes evident when we read about Enoch.
Verses 22 - "And Enoch walked with God."
And again in verse 24 - "And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him."
Confirmation is stated in Hebrew 11 verse 5
"By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
Verse 6: "For without faith it is impossible to please Him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."
What we see here is the original situation (Genesis 5) and its explanation (Hebrews 11).
Clearly Enoch came from a godly family heritage, as opposed to the line of his cousins through Lamech and his sinful polygamous situation.
Enoch's faith in God was such that he walked a life wholly given to following the Lord in all that he undertook as reflected in Hebrews 11. Such was his godly integrity that he became example to all who put their trust in God and who daily walk with Him.
Indeed, God was so delighted that as Enoch walked with God, as one preacher said, that on one occasion, perhaps God said something like this - "We're closer to my house than yours, we'll keep going!"
The Genesis story therefore in this capsule of time, has specific purposes in instruction to benefit to us all today. Tomorrow we'll look at Methuselah.
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He mentors young writers and has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children. Dr Tronson writes a daily article for Christian Today Australia (since 2008) and in November 2016 established Christian Today New Zealand.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html
Dr Mark Tronson - a 4 min video
Chairman – Well-Being Australia
Baptist Minister 45 years
- 1984 - Australian cricket team chaplain 17 years (Ret)
- 2001 - Life After Cricket (18 years Ret)
- 2009 - Olympic Ministry Medal – presented by Carl Lewis
- 2019 - The Gutenberg - (ARPA Christian Media premier award)
Gutenberg video - 2min 14sec
Married to Delma for 45 years with 4 children and 6 grand children