Feed One Another

This passage seems pretty straightforward and factual – and ostensibly difficult to write a devotional about! Fortunately, though, I am blessed with a study Bible. A quick perusal of its analysis of this passage reveals that, as in all of God’s word, there’s more to the story.

Genesis 5 recounts the genealogy of Noah and thereby establishes his connection to the first man, Adam. After the flood, Noah and his family became the first in God’s “re-creation.” Each paragraph in this chapter delineates a descendant of Adam, and all but one are marked by two recurring phrases: 1) “he had other sons and daughters,” 2) “…and he died.” According to my MacArthur Study Bible, “These lines…echo two contrasting realities [from the Adam story]: God had said, ‘you will surely die’ (2:17), but He had also commanded [Adam and Eve] to ‘be fruitful and multiply’ (1:28).” These two recurring phrases “carry redemption history forward,” MacArthur asserts – all the way to Christ.

Verses 21-22, however, leave out the “…and he died” phrase. Instead of dying, Enoch “walked with God” for 300 years! God then took him up alive to heaven, just as He did later with Elijah (II Kings 2:1-12). The Bible only mentions one other man who enjoyed such intimacy with God: the other first man, Noah (Genesis 6:9).

A quick Google search reveals that the name Enoch means “dedicated.” Enoch must have given all of his heart and time to God and to walking with Him. Interestingly, he was also a son of Cain, murderer of Able. God’s love for Enoch demonstrates the power of His redemption and His eternal triumph over evil. Instead of “visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the sons…of those who hate me,” God has shown mercy to one who loves Him and keeps His commandments (Exodus 20:5-6, Deuteronomy 5:9-10). By God’s grace, Enoch has been released from the bonds of his father’s sin.

Our own dedication to God will bring forth such fruit. Like Enoch, we are not bound by past sin. Christ’s death on the cross overcame that sin and our enslavement to it. Walking with Him and communing with Him will yield an intimacy we have never known before. His love for us knows no bounds.