Enoch: The First Old Testament Prophet

by Jonathon Wright

“Jared lived one hundred and sixty-two years, and begot Enoch. After he begot Enoch, Jared lived eight hundred years, and had sons and daughters. So all the days of Jared were nine hundred and sixty-two years; and he died. 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 5:18-24, NKJV).

This passage is amazingly brief but still supplies us with some important information about the first legendary prophet in the Old Testament. We learn about his family, character, and influence. First, it reveals some family dynamics in his early life. His father may not have loved God. The name Enoch is a bad reminder of Cain’s family. Why would someone name their kid in Adam’s family after another family’s kid that had hurt them so much? See Genesis 4 and the story of Cain, Abel, and death. The name Enoch would not create good family dynamics for this soon-to-be prophet. I do not think Enoch’s father had any idea what God had in mind to do with his son.

Also, there is a prophecy in Jude that helps us recognize the outcry against God during his time. Jude 1:14-15 states, “Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: ‘See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him” (NIV). Jude was talking about people in his generation who were saying bad things about Christ. But Enoch was talking to his generation about those who were saying bad things about God. Second, we learn about his character and what God did to change his heart. The fact that so many were against God makes it remarkable that Enoch would come to God. What did God do to change his heart? We may not have all the answers to this question. Yet there was something significant about the year he turned 65. This was the year he had his first son and started walking with God. There was something significant about the timing of the birth of his son that opened his eyes to God’s love. His father had to wait 165 years to have a son. I do not think that he wanted to wait SO LONG.

After deciding to walk with God, Enoch remained faithful for the rest of his life. He stayed so close that one day, he and the Lord took a walk-up into Heaven and he was never seen again. This was the greatest blessing and honor given to a man on earth. Only Elijah, in the Old Testament, and Jesus, in the New Testament, had such encounters with God. However, his greatest blessing was peace and eternal life with God. Sometimes we need to remember our greatest blessings come when we leave this world. Thank you, Jesus, for the promise of eternal life. Third, we learn about his influence. No doubt, Enoch leaving this earth in such an incredible way influenced Noah’s father. He raised Noah to fear the Lord and fulfill the plan God had for him and the world. And to think, all this happened because God used one man to influence another, which changed the world. One courageous man who followed God.

About The Author

Jonathon Wright currently lives in Cleveland, Tennessee, and has been a member of the Church of God for about twenty years. He is a graduate of Lee University and Beacon University where he earned a BA and MA in Biblical Studies. He loves studying the Bible and has done so for over thirty years, but only now has God given him a desire and the opportunity to be a writer. Jonathon hopes to encourage people to read the Bible and take notes. You can find more from Jonathon at amazon.com/author/everydaynotes.