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Hebrews 11:5-6
The author of Hebrews lists Enoch as a great example of faith and of the importance of having faith to be pleasing to God. Hebrews 11:5-6 gives the two reasons why Enoch is so important in relaying the importance of faith; but not just faith in anything, it is the saving faith in God that is the point of one’s relationship with Him. The two unique and very important reasons in listing the faith of Enoch are as follows: (1) “Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away” (Genesis 5:24, NIV). Enoch did not experience death as God “took” him, and then he was no more. (2) “…Enoch walked faithfully with God…” (Genesis 5:22b). The author of Hebrews tells us that Enoch “pleased God” (Hebrews 11:5d, NKJV). The author of Hebrews goes on in Hebrews 11:6 to tell us, “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.” This statement unfolds the two-fold parts of faith: the first is to have faith, and the second is to exercise/exhibit that faith in one’s life.
This is an example of the two-fold parts of faith in God that He requires us to exercise/exhibit in our lives as His children.
We do not have much information about Enoch in the Bible, but he is listed among those who were of great faith in our creator God. He is listed in the lineage of Seth, the third son of Adam. Enoch is the father of Methuselah, the oldest listed person in the Bible at 969 years old (Genesis 5:21, 27), and the great-grandfather of Noah (Genesis 5:21-32). But most importantly, Enoch is spoken of in only a few verses of the Bible, Genesis 5:18-24; Luke 3:37: Hebrews 11:5; and Jude 14, and in these few verses Enoch is described as walking faithfully with God, and that he pleased God.
*Cain, Adam’s first son, also had a son named Enoch (Genesis 4:17). To clarify, these are two different people.
The author of Hebrews has listed Enoch to show us the importance of having faith in God and walking in that faith daily, and even more for us today, having faith in our Savior Jesus who died for our sins so that we may be forgiven and no longer be required to give sacrifices for our sins as Jesus presented Himself as the only acceptable sacrifice to God in paying the price for our sins – which is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). It is through faith in which we believe. It is through faith that we are justified in the eyes of God. It is through faith in which we bring our sincerity to God for salvation through our Savior Jesus. He has never turned away a sincere heart, and He will not turn you away if you come to Him with this same faithful, sincere heart. Open your heart to Jesus today and ask of His forgiveness, for He is faithful in His word to you and will send His Holy Spirit to be your guide (John 14:15-18, 26-27).
Dear LORD,
Thank You for showing us that it is not only important to have faith in You and our Savior Jesus, but that we also need to show our faith by walking daily with You in seeking Your will for our lives. Please prompt us to always look to You for guidance with each step of our day, that our lives and testimony to others would bring glory to You. In Jesus name I pray, amen.