During the 1656 years that elapsed between Adam and the Flood there was little recorded sign of the Promise. However, one event stands out in stark contrast to everything else, namely Enoch’s translation in the year of the world 987. Remember that God said, “the soul that sins shall die” and even though men lived for nearly 1000 years in those days, eventually all died. Yes, all but Enoch. So what does this teach us?
Concerning Enoch we read, “Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah. After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters. 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 5:21-24
The writer to the Hebrews (11:5-6) had this to say. “By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, and was not found, because God had taken him; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is the Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
Two things stand out from a reading of these two passages, first of all the importance of FAITH, and secondly the abolition of the death sentence. How could God translate Enoch, seeing that he was “born in sin” like everyone else of those days? Only on the basis of the REDEMPTION OF MANKIND pre-figured by the slaying of Adam and Eve’s pet sheep, and its fulfilment 4000 years later at Calvary.
Jesus was “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Revelation 13:8. Only on the basis of the future life, death, and resurrection of Jesus could God abrogate His law of sin and death, and translate Enoch. Therefore Enoch’s translation is a sure sign of the PROMISE of the Coming Seed.
We shall have more to say about the importance of FAITH as we proceed in our investigation.
