Genesis 5:21-24
Enoch – Part ii
The Walk Without an End
And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: (Genesis 5:21)
And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: (Genesis 5:22)
And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: (Genesis 5:23)
And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. (Genesis 5:24)
  Enoch (Dedicated and/or Teacher) began his walk with God at the age of 300 (interesting number). God the Holy Spirit (the author of Scripture) is very explicit in recording the exact time when Dedicated (Enoch) began his walk with God. It was at the birth of Methuselah. This should be a point of interest for us for the name of Methuselah means ‘He dies, there is a sending forth,’and/or ‘they died — the man of the dart.’ What a picture this name paints. It is a name of prophecy: something that will happen in the future age of these patriarchs. It is a name that promises a fulfillment of death to many. Notice, ‘He (meaning Methuselah) dies (at his death) there is (a definite happening) a sending forth’ (who sends and what is sent?). Sometimes there maybe more than one root; as one root adds to the understanding of another root. There is no contradiction between these two meanings, but we see another root element added. Now notice, ‘they (others, many others) died (stated as a fact, not only as a prophecy to be accomplishment at a future date) the man (Methuselah) of the dart’ (something sharp as a spear/weapon that is projected with sudden speed). It is a name that was a daily witness of a sudden event that will occur and cause men to die. It not only reminded the name bearer, but it also constantly reminded all around him of a sure impending judgment to come. (I don’t think that he would have been invited to many social gatherings.) How fitting that ‘He dies, there is a sending forth,’ and ‘the man of the dart’ named his son, ‘made low.’ It is not amazing that God also showed His long-suffering through the name of Methuselah because Methuselah lived longer than any other person in Scripture: 969 years. The very same year that Methuselah died the great universal flood came in judgment on a sinful and depraved world.
 Side Note: Did you think that I could ignore this number? In this number we have more than time. God the Holy Spirit did not document Methuselah’s age as ‘almost 1000 years,’ or even ‘970 years,’ or even as ‘around 969′. Let’s look at this number a bit closer not as merely time, but as simply being 3 digits; the center digit is the number 6, the number 9 surrounds the number 6. Six, the number of sinful man; the number 9 is the last of the single digits and marks the end or conclusion. So lets put together a message with these three single digit numbers. Man (that is sinful man, or mankind) has no where to turn, he is surrounded by the message of finality or judgment. When life begins, death also begins. All three of our digits are rooted in the number 3. The Almighty God, the Godhead bodily, is symbolically noted in the number 3. Let’s move on to see another message using God’s mathematical symbol through the years that God gave the earth before His judgment fell. 969 (3+3+3) (3+3)(3+3+3) we have 8 three’s in the simple face of 969. (I like the word ‘simple’ because God’s uses baby math and basic numbers so that all can understand). God is not only going to destroy the earth, but He is also going to present another fresh new beginning in the number 8. Did I go to far? maybe, and maybe not! You can take what I write about numbers, or you can move on. But one thing that I know: I can never go too far to reveal that God is able to teach, and to reveal to His creatures through any language He wants to use. He uses the language of words, the language of math and numbers, the language of color, the language of sound, the language within the air, the language of energy, nothing is outside His ability and His desire to communicate with His creatures: mankind. I just cannot drop this number (969) without mentioning another connection; whenever I come across the numbers 3, 6, and 9 in Scripture it leads me to the Cross. Christ was crucified at the third hour. He hung on the cross for six hours and gave Himself up to death at the ninth hour. (I am fully aware of the fact that I have written about this many times and in many different articles, but repetition is a good thing to reinforce understanding).
 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. (Matthew 27:45)
 And it was the third hour, and they crucified him. (Mark 15:25)
 And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. (Mark 15:33) 　
 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.(Mark 15:37)
 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Luke 23:44)
All things lead to the Cross of Christ, all things lead to Christ; that is a good thing to remember about Scripture — it may involve you, it may inspire you, it may teach you, it may empower you, but it is always about HIM. There can be much more written about 969, but let us journey on.
  God gave the antediluvian world 969 years in which to repent before His Spirit would stop striving with man; God is always merciful to man so that man “will be without excuse.” (Romans 1:20) And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. (Genesis 6:3) Here in Genesis Chapter 6, God proclaims that the time has ended for mankind to repent — it is over, and God will move on with His plan to replenish the earth through Noah and his children. And not only that, but He will stop striving to bring back corrupt mankind to Himself, and their long extended ages will be shortened to be numbered 120 years instead of hundreds and hundreds of years.
The Walk Begins
  Having named his son Methuselah, Enoch began his walk with God. The turning point in his life was the revelation of the majesty, the goodness, the grace, the power of an everlasting God, and the approaching wrath of God upon the entire earth. 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. (Hebrews 11:5) Before we go on to the translation of Enoch, we need to first begin at the beginning of any walk with God.
  And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: (Genesis 5:22) And Enoch walked with God: and he [was] not; for God took him. (Genesis 5:24) Twice Scripture reinforces our understanding that Enoch walked with God. Only three times in Scripture we have the phrase ‘walked with God,’ the third being Noah: These [are] the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man [and] perfect in his generations, [and] Noah walked with God.(Genesis 6:9) Many patriarchs most probably walked with God, such as Abraham and Moses, but this phrase ‘walked with God’ is only applied to Enoch and Noah; and they both lived before and after the great universal flood. (Noah lived before and after the flood, and Enoch lived on earth before the flood, and continued to live after the flood in a spiritual realm as a new spiritual creation).
  To walk with God is an experience not given to the masses, nor is it reserved for the religious individual, but it has been biblical experienced by a few. I think of Adam and Eve: And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. (Genesis 3:8) They, at one time, had experienced a personal communication with God Almighty, but their sin caused them to hide themselves from His presence. I think of many men in Scripture who spoke to God, and God spoke to them, however, when I think of ‘God speaking to’, and ‘God walking with’ I see another facet of walking with God. Can two walk together, except they be agreed? (Amos 3:3) Walking with implies not merely a progression in a relationship, or a going forward in a particular unity of direction, but it also includes agreeing together; and it is here that we have the strength of all relationships that are united together because they are agreed. That is what makes a marriage strong when both individuals (different by personality, different physically, sometimes even different backgrounds) are united because they have become one in goal, one in focus, one in love, joined together by and through the love of God, and joined together by God as one in Him. And this same description can be said of the body of Christ as the Bride of Christ, as the Church of Christ, is one with Him; joint heirs together with Him. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.　(Galatians 3:27, 28)
Is It Possible to Agree Together?
  Put two people together in a room, and maybe you will witness agreement, however, add another person to this twosome and almost immediately you will witness disagreement. During my journey through the business world I quickly learned how to avoid a sure pending nightmare when ever I was faced with a committee presenting a proposal as a united client: organizations wanting to use my services would approach my business with a committee. My company policy was never to deal in any way with a committee outside of our guidelines. I did not want to hear many voices changing orders every hour, and day by day; therefore I instituted a policy, I would only deal with two individuals, no one other than these two individuals united together could change a work order. The end result: the finished product was exactly what they paid for, and on time; everyone was pleased, especially me! The moral to this little tale is: in dealing with business clients — deal only with one or two voices. In life — the more voices you listen to the more you will be confused, choose the voices carefully! In spiritual matters, the only voice you should listen to is the Spirit’s voice, and the only standard you should use is the Bible. I am not advocating not reading, nor not listening, however, I am advocating that all that you hear and all that you read should always be weighed by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.
To Agree
  To walk together demands agreement: where to walk, how long to walk, and when to walk, but most of all it requires an agreement in discussion and conversation. To walk with God demands that man agrees with God in all points. The natural man (the unredeemed sinner) loves to control the conversation, attempts to manipulate the narrative and to diminish others, and thus, he attempts to remove God and the message of God as irrelevant. To walk with God implies fellowship, a close relationship built on faith and love.
The Agreement
  To walk with God one must first believe that God is. But 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. (Hebrews 11:6)
Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. (Romans 1:19-21) 　
  To walk with God one must agree with God that all are sinners. As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: (Romans 3:10) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;: (Romans 3:23)
  To walk with God one must agree with God that God’s word is truth. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. (John 17:17)
Face to Face with God
  Face to face with the Almighty God, the God of creation, the all powerful God: how could any human possibly endure such a supernatural experience? These Scripture references teach us that truly the God of the universe has appeared and spoken to mankind in our earth history. Jacob (later called Israel) saw God face to face and named that location as Peniel ‘the face of God.’ And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved (Genesis 32:30). Then it is recorded that Moses spoke to Jehovah face to face as a friend. And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle. (Exodus 33:11) Before God gave Moses the law and the commandments this event took place after Moses sprinkled the blood of the covenant on the people: And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words. Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel: And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness. And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink. (Exodus 24:8-11) The LORD talked with you face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire, (Deuteronomy 5:4) And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face. (Deuteronomy 34:10) Manoah (in Judges 13:22) and his wife also saw God, and lived. God appeared to not only prophets like Moses, and patriarchs like Jacob, and the noble men of Israel, but Manoah and his wife were humble Israelites suffering under the repressive tyranny of their conquerors, and God’s appearance to them was to assure them that they would have a son born named Samson who would become a judge and a deliverer to Israel. And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God. Next we have the witness of Gideon in Judges 6:22, And when Gideon perceived that he [was] an angel of the LORD, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord GOD! for because I have seen an angel of the LORD face to face. In Ezekiel 20:35, Jehovah makes a statement that can be understood as a promise in ‘I will’ to His people Israel in a future time period when they will experience great trial: And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face.
Face to face: God and YOU
   Coming face to face with God exposes what man is. Isaiah, a prophet of God, when he experienced this scene in the following verses understood what man really was. In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. (Isaiah 6:1-5)
  If you are honest with your own heart you will (like Isaiah) have to say, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. The sad truth is that the natural man is so blind that he cannot be honest within himself. I have too often witnessed this blind heart and vacuum filled mind. Have you not heard such stupid arrogance of, When I get there (they, of course, mean heaven) I will tell God a thing or two!! How about this statement, God needs to explain to me why he took my . . . . , or God needs to tell me why he allowed me to . . . . and on and on. They are under a sad delusion that they will be able to make demands on their Creator. These same mouths will be shut, these same weak minds and bodies will crumble before a righteous and holy Judge. Unrepentant humanity cannot face God face to face until the blood of the covenant has been sprinkled and applied. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. (1 Corinthians 13:12)
The Walk –Â The Talk –Â The Face
  No one can walk, talk and fellowship together without a personal relationship; and in this walk, and talk, and fellowship there has to be a face. God has a face. God has a physical image. WOW, are you still with me? Why do you think the Godhead bodily is stated as ‘the Godhead bodily?’ Christ confirmed that God is Spirit, not just a spirit, but He is Spirit, and in being Spirit, the Godhead bodily utilizes the complete realm of His Being to accomplish His plans and purpose. Scripture is quite clear that no man can see God; no man can see God in His total and full glory and live.
And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. (Exodus 33:18)
And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. (Exodus 33:19)
And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.(Exodus 33:20)
And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: (Exodus 33:21)
And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: (Exodus 33:22)
And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen. (Exodus 33:23)
  Moses asked God to show His glory to him, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. The all powerful God answered and said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. No earthly being could ever possibly stand and face the righteousness and holiness of an all powerful God. But the Godhead bodily reached out to all humanity to reveal Himself in bodily form. The word theophany is used to describe a visible manifestation of Deity, however, the word theophany is not found in Scripture; therefore, I prefer to use the words that the Spirit of God used when He, through the pens of ready writers, described the physical form of God. And now entering the scene is God as the son of man, Jesus Christ.
Who being the brightness of [his] glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (Hebrews 1:3)
Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? (John 14:9)
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2 Corinthians 4:4)
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: (Colossians 1:15)
  This is (hopefully) not going to be a treatise on the appearances of God as documented in the word of God, therefore, I want only to key in on references that relate to Christ being the express image of God to mankind. God veiled His glory. He veiled it through the earthly form of man.
Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. (Isaiah 53:1, 2)
  This was the face that Enoch saw, behind this face was all the power of the universe. This was the face that drew Enoch closer and closer until God took him out of this earth scene of impending doom and judgment. I have written about the walk, and the face, and it is now time to close this article. The next article will be on the talk. What was the conversation? what could this human possible speak about, and what would the Almighty Creator of all things communicate to a fleeting speck of dust, a dry scrap of transient clay?
© Copyright 2018, Mary Haigh
Article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.
All Scripture references are from the Authorized King James Bible. (KJV)