What Ever Happened To Shem, Ham And Japheth?
(Three Sons Who Quietly Co-worked With Their Dad, Noah)
Genesis 8:15-11:26 Pastor Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF 3-13-11
Key verse 9:1
“Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.’”
Today we are going to study about the son’s of Noah, Shem, Ham and Japheth. They were basically good sons. They believed what their father said concerning God’s judgment and they co-operated well with him to build the ark. They stood on God’s side and the side of God’s people. They were blessed along with Noah and their mother. They received God’s holy mission and the same covenant promise as Noah did. They were good boys. But as we know sin has its way of wielding it ugly head, even among believing children. We will see it in Ham. We will see it in the descendants of these three boys. Through a study of this passage let us find some principles of a house church. Let us see believers humbly and quietly co-working together at a crucial moment in God’s history. Let us discover the importance of our influence on future generations. But mostly let us see God, who is the sovereign Lord and who is in control of all world history and who is working out his holy purpose among us, even today.
Part l: A Beautiful Co-working Housechurch (6:9-9:17)
In this passage, we find Noah’s three sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth. Japheth was the oldest, Shem was the youngest and Ham was the middle child. They were a Sumerian or Mesopotamian family. In the names of the three sons, we do not find so much spiritual meaning. Their names appear prophetic in nature. Shem means “name”, or “fame”. Ham means “hot”, or “cry out”. Japheth means, “spread out”. These are perfect names for the boys. Shem become the forefather of the Jews and Jesus. Ham was cursed. And Japheth became the maritime people. Our God, who knows the end from the beginning, is so wise in giving the names of these young men.
All three of them were also married. Their wives seemed to have quietly and humbly co-worked together. They were newer families, as they had no children yet. It is so rare for all siblings to be married. Many are opting not to marry; others cohabitate; others wait until late in life. How blessed Noah must have been to see his sons all married to women who believed God’s way of salvation. Noah’s family set a good example for the young people of our generation. I pray for all my kids to have faith enough, and the God-given opportunity, to marry godly spouses, like Noah’s sons.
The three sons also respected the spiritual insight of their father. The Bible says that Noah was a preacher of righteousness. (2 Peter 2:5) He walked with God each day and preached to the people around him about God and how to have a proper relationship with God. It was not easy to do this in that generation. The people of the earth were godless and the violence had spread to the point that God was not going to take it anymore. Even those who were called to be servants of God, had corrupted their ways. (Gen 6:1-2) When Noah spoke about the righteousness of God, he must have been met with rejection and disdain. One day God told Noah about this upcoming judgment and his way of salvation. One day, Noah began to talk about how God would destroy the earth with a flood and anyone who believed God and helped build the ark and get into it, would be saved. The people did not believe Noah. They mocked him, saying, “You foolish old man...What are you doing? Why waste your time. Everything is going on as it always has. There will not be huge flood.” But Noah was steadfast as a preacher of righteousness.
It was not easy for Shem, Ham and Japheth to hear what the people were saying about Noah. This was their father. But God had opened their eyes to see that what their father was saying was absolutely true. They were confident that they were also included in God’s plan of salvation. And so they stood by their father’s side. They were not afraid to identify with the servant of God, Noah. They were not afraid to be despised and reject for the sake of righteous. Jesus once said, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matt 5:10-12) Shem, Ham and Japheth stood on the side of their dad, but more importantly on the side of truth and righteousness.
They quietly co-worked with their father. There is no way that Noah could have built this ark on his own. Some to those beams must have weighed hundreds of pounds. God was not like an invisible crane lifting the beam in place. I am sure that the sons and their wives were not just sitting in front of the TV. while Noah was working so hard. They were helping Noah. And their help went on year after year. They were quietly working side by side with their father. Ephesians 6:1-3 reads, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 ‘that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.’” Noah’s sons obeyed Noah as Noah obeyed God. They honored Noah through their faith. Their obedient faith also honored God. I thank God for the humble co-working of our children in the work of God. They believe the Gospel. They have spiritual eyes to see what is going on here and they are co-working to reveal Jesus and build up the work of God. Praise the Lord!
God recognized the personal faith of these boys. He included them in his salvation plan. Look at Genesis 7:1-4 “The LORD then said to Noah, ‘Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation.’” They were saved on their personal faith in God and their obedience born out of their faith, and not just because they were doing what their father told them. May our young people repent of following someone else’s faith and have their own personal, obedient, saving faith in Jesus Christ and have personal conviction to follow the way of salvation, the Gospel.
Their life in the ark together also revealed their faith. If one considers the time they spent in the ark, they would discover that it was about one year. That was one year of living in a barn that was rocked by the waves. It was not easy for them to live together in such conditions. There must have been many fights and arguments and tears. During storms they all had to lash themselves to the beams of the galley. But they overcame through the power of faith and forgiveness. When Shem complained that he was being forced to clean out the stalls everyday simply because he was the youngest, the others repented and divvied up the tasks evenly among them. They actually helped each other, even if it wasn’t their job. In this way they maintained the ark like a navy vessel. You may think that you can get along with people, but you don’t really know yourself until you live with others in limited space. Then you can discover what it means to love and forgive and serve others. Since leaving home for college at 18, I have always had roommates. For almost a year we had our seven family members and four sisters and three pets in our house. It was common life in the Lord. I thank God, for in these times I could learn faith. May God establish common life among us with growing disciples of Jesus like Shem, Ham and Japheth.
At the end of the year, the ark came to rest on the slopes of Mt Ararat. The Bible says that even after the ark came to rest, they did not leave the ark for about a month. Noah was waiting for God’s clear direction to come out. Noah knew that God knew best. Maybe God was protecting them from malaria or from flash floods or mud slides. God always knows best. But these sons, if they were ordinary men, could have told Noah, “I don’t care, I am leaving this ark now. I am sick of being here. And don’t tell me what to do. I am already a grown man.” They could have jumped ship and did their own thing. But they believed and obeyed their father when he told them to wait on God.
When God finally gave the “go ahead” what did they do? They built an ark and sacrificed some the clean animals and the clean birds. How difficult this would be! If it was me, I would have a big party, slaughter a cow and have a huge barbeque and celebrate. It shows that God was first and foremost on their minds. They also offered some of the clean animals and the clean birds. There were not many of these to be had. There were probably lots of sick and dying animals and unclean animals. Why not offer these? But they offered the best. They remembered the faith of their ancestor Abel. (Gen 4:4) They made and “Able offering” that cost them something. Their first impulse was to worship and thank God. May that be our first impulse in all important events in our lives.
They all received a new beginning in God. God restored their mission in Genesis 9:1, which reads, “Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.’” God recognized them all and made them covenant sons, for since they shared in the same faith as Noah, they also were part of the same covenant.
God then set out to build the image of God in them. Look at 9:1-11. They had been through a lot and seen a lot of things that no person should ever see, like extreme violence and death. There were so many wounds and scars on their hearts. But God began the healing process. They were to not eat the life blood of animals while it was still in them. God was establishing the value of blood sacrifice but he was also telling mankind to respect all life and not to treat animals cruelly even when slaughtering them. He respected mankind’s position in creation, keeping their position above the animals and all creation, even though mankind had sinned greatly against God. This is the unconditional love of God, who forgives and respects us and gives us a place in his family and a position in his glorious redemptive work. Thank God for his grace. God also instituted capital punishment. The boys were desensitized because of the violence they grew up with and the carnage of the flood. Human life seemed cheap. God wanted to change that because a person’s life is valuable simply because they are made in the image of God.
Part ll: The Seeds Of Sin Were Still There…Ready To Sprout. (9:18-28)
The flood did not solve mankind’s sin problem. In Genesis 9:18-28, we see an incident involving Noah and his three sons. Apparently, Noah had planted vineyards. He was being fruitful in every way. He was making wine. One day he was walking around his tent naked and drinking too much wine, and he passed out naked in the tent. OK, he was doing this in the privacy of his home. But it is still never good for a father and a servant of God to drink to the point of passing out naked. But the point of the whole story is the reaction of the boys. Ham happened to enter his father’s tent and saw him lying there. He went out and told his brothers, “Hey! Look at dad!” and brought them in to see him. He wanted to hang Noah’s sins and weaknesses out for all to see. The response of the other two sons reveals the right response. They would not gaze upon their father’s nakedness. They went in backwards and covered his nakedness. They respected Noah, their father and spiritual leader.
When Noah awoke he was so angry at Ham. Ham had disrespected his father. He had also disrespected the servant of God appointed for that new society. He had also diss’d the governor (for Noah was all three). God was very serious about also this. God wanted to establish the new society on a foundation of truth, grace and mercy. Sure Noah had his weakness. Maybe he should not have done what he did. But he is not perfect, just forgiven. He was made righteous by God’s grace. Ham should have forgiven and respected his father and covered over his weaknesses with grace. He should have prayed for his did and if his drinking was a problem then he should offer ways to help him. Ham’s descendants were cursed and 6 centuries later they would be enslaved by the descendants of Shem, the Israelites, when they took over the Promised Land under Joshua.
The Bible tells us to “honor your father and mother” (Ex 20:12), not only if they are perfect, but because they are our parents. We expect our pastors and church leaders to be perfect speakers, managers, counselors, accountants, parents, CEO’s etc. But they are imperfect too. If we are going to build a church and families on love and respect then we must practice love and respect ourselves at home and in the church. May our lives be marked by grace and mercy, love and respect.
Part lll: The Heritage Of Shem, Ham and Japheth (10:1-11:32)
We can see the outcome of the lives of the sons of Noah in the genealogy. Their descendants spread out to in all directions. This could have happened quickly as families might have had 20 kids each. Shem’s people became the Hebrews, (Israel) Chaldeans, Assyrians, (Iraq) and the Persians (Iran). Abraham came through the decedents of Shem. And so did Jesus. That fulfilled the meaning of his name, “Fame”. Ham’s people became the Canaanites, Egyptians, Philistines, Hittites and the Amorites. They were at odds with ancient Israel, and so the name Ham, meaning “Hot”, is very prophetic. Japheth’s people became the Greeks, Thracians and Scythians. The meaning of his name, to “spread out” was fulfilled through them. After Jesus came, Gospel faith spread through the descendants of Japheth, the Greeks, especially through Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles. (Life Application Study Bible).
There a couple of verses concerning the descendants of these boys. In Genesis 10:8, we see a Cushite, a descendant of Ham who was a mighty hunter before the Lord and a mighty warrior on the earth. I don’t know if this is sinful. Actually it sounds kind of cool to me. In 10:25 we find that the earth was divided. It could mean that the earth was divided by water or there could have been political divisions. Whenever there are people there is divisions. God wants his people to be united in faith, hope, love, mission and purpose. We can have this when we have Gospel centered faith, the Holy Spirit and when we serve and glorify Jesus along with other Christians. Then we can have unity. We can have unity when we forgive each others and cover over each others’ weaknesses’ with grace. Factions, that is, divisions among God’s people, are the fruit of the sinful nature and not the fruit of the spirit. (Gal 5:20) So let’s not be divided, but united in Jesus.
Sin slowly grew in the hearts of their descendants is culminating in the Tower of Babel incident. After several generations of spreading, it seems that they did not want to scatter any longer. Civilizations and cultures had advanced to the point where people became proud. They ignored God’s will and concocted a plan to build a huge tower that reached to the heavens. Their motive is revealed in Genesis 11:3-4, “They said to each other, ‘Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.’ They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. 4 Then they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth.’” They set out to make a name for themselves. They wanted to stick together and challenge God’s authority. They were proud of their abilities and thought that, with their latest technology (Tar, mortar and baked bricks), coupled with human ingenuity and co-operation, nothing they planned would be impossible for them to do. So, in their pride they disobeyed God and challenged his sovereignty by building a tower that would reach to heaven.
The fact that they wanted to glorify themselves goes against God’s original purpose. Mankind was created to glorify God, to live for the sake of his name. But people become very proud and set out to bolster their own names for their own glory. They unite in their own strength and challenged God. This was nothing new. When Satan tempted Eve, he promised her, "...You will be like God..." (3:5) He planted pride in her heart and led her to rebel against God. Pride is the greatest of all sins. Pride is living for one's own glory and apposing God. Are we using all of our human power and ingenuity to build our own personal Tower of Babel?
God loved them still. Yet he could not let them carry on as they were doing. And so he came up with a plan. Look at 11:6 & 7, "The LORD said, 'If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.'" God did not destroy them. He forgave them and bore with them. He still hoped in them. He simply broke up their sinful plans by confusing their languages so they could not co-operate, and then he scattered them all over the earth. They would still spread out and fill the earth, obeying God, despite of their own plans. God is going to accomplish his will despite of our own plans. And so it is wise to get “on board” with what God right from the beginning.
God confused their language so that they could not understand each other. For the time being, the descendants of Shem, Ham and Japheth, would not be able to communicate and work together. This would carry on for thousands of years. But nowadays people are starting to communicate together more, through English, the modern trade language, and through computers and the internet. It seems that if we put our minds together there is nothing impossible for us to do. I heard that the Japanese want to clone a mammoth in the next five years. There is talk about extending human life to 200 years. Science is good, but will we use science and technology to build our own tower of Babel and rebel against the Lord? I pray not.
At the time of the building of the Tower, God was already making a long-range plan for the salvation of mankind. God wants people to work together to do good and not to do evil. But to do so our hearts must be changed. One day he would send his Spirit to work in regenerated people to enable mankind to praise him with one voice and heart. He nurtured the line of Shem, and at the right time, called one man Abraham, to become the ancestor of a new redemptive history that would generate a people holy who can live for the glory of God. This would be fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
In this passage we see a beautiful house church in the lives of Shem, Ham and Japheth. They were quietly co-working to serve God’s holy purpose. They were standing on the side of righteousness, and bearing with each other, creating a new beginning for mankind in God. In Ham and their descendants we also see the limitations of our efforts to over come the power of sin on our own. There were still the seeds of sin. We need more than just a new start with a godly family. We need Jesus and his gospel to be saved. We also need to get on board with what God is doing, for God’s redemptive work is rolling on like a river. All aboard!
Part l: A Beautiful Co-working Housechurch
1. Who are Shem, Ham and Japheth? What was there birth order? (9:24; 10:21) What was
their marital situation? (7:13) What had God told their father, Noah, to do? (7:13-14)
How did the sons respond to Noah’s preaching? (2 Pe 2:5; 2 Pe 3:3-7; Ge 19:14) How
were they good co-workers with their father? (Eph 6:1-4)
2. How long were the three sons in the ark? What was their attitude? How long did they
stay in the ark after the ark came to rest on the Mount Ararat? (8:13-19) What would
ordinary people do? What does this show about them?
3. What was the mission that God gave Noah and his sons? (9:1, 7) Why did the animals fear mankind? (9:2) Why the strict laws concerning the life blood of animals and capital punishment? (9:4-6) What covenant did God make with Noah and his sons? (9:8-17)
Part ll: The Heritage Of Shem, Ham And Japheth
4. What did Noah do after starting a new life? (9:20) What happened to him? (21)
What was Noah’s position in this new society? What did Ham do? Why is this wrong? (Ex
20: 12; Ro 12:10b) What did his brother’s do? (23) What was Noah’s reaction? (9:24-27)
How did he curse Ham? What does this mean? (Lev 18:2-3; Jdg 1:30; Jos 9:27; 16:10)
5. Look at the descendants of Japheth? (10:2-5) Which nations did his descendants become?
Look at the descendants of Ham. (6-20) Which nations did his descendants become?
Look at the descendants of Shem. (21-31) Which nations did Shem’s descendants
become? What effect had sin made on the developing nations? (10:25)
6. What happened to mankind over the centuries after Noah’s flood? (11:1-4) What did God
want them to do? What was their intention? (4) How much effort did they make for this
project? (3)
7 What did God think about this? (5-6) What danger did God foresee? (6) What did God do? (7-9) Did they eventually obey God? What does this teach us about God? What happened to the descendents of Shem? What can you learn concerning your own influence?
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Friday, April 1, 2011
Genesis 5:18-24
What Ever Happened To Enoch?
Genesis 5: 18-24 Shp Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF
Key verse 5:24 5-7-11
“Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.”
We are continuing on, exploring obscure people in Genesis. This week we want to learn more about Enoch. Enoch was commended as one who pleased God. He walked with God for most of his adult life. He was taken up to heaven, before he even died. Who was this Enoch? What was his faith like? What does it mean that he walked with God? Where did he go and how? What was his spiritual legacy? This message will explore a few of these issues. May God help you to walk with Jesus, who is God.
Part l: Born Into A Regular Family
OK…there are not so many verses here to draw from, so let’s see what the passage says. Look at verses 18-20, “When Jared had lived 162 years, he became the father of Enoch. 19 And after he became the father of Enoch, Jared lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. 20 Altogether, Jared lived 962 years, and then he died.” Well, it looks like Enoch had a mother and a father and brothers and sisters. His father’s name was Jared. Having other siblings is a good thing. Children learn how to negotiate, compromise and share things. He learned a lot through playing. He had personal struggles and learned forgiveness. Siblings influence each other. If the oldest child decides to live a spiritual life then their influence will trickle down to the others. I thank God for Jenn’s good influence. She has always set the standard when it comes to school, singing and spiritual life. The rest of her siblings have been blessed because of her and she has also made Julie’s and my life a whole lot easier. Enoch was the first child. His good spiritual influence trickled down to the others.
Part ll: Enoch, A New Father Who Got Serious With God (21-22)
Enoch got more serious about God after the birth of his son. Look at verses 21-22. “When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. 22 And after he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters.” The Bible says that after the birth of his first son, Enoch walked with God the remainder of his adult life. His was a life long commitment.
Before having children, we are more interested in building our careers and families and getting established. We may even put Jesus on the backburner. But then the first child is born, we begin to think about the kids. We realize there is more for them to accomplish then just good grades and sports. We wonder how we can pass our faith onto them. We realize that they need morals and truth and faith. One can be the best parent in the world, but there are forces at work in our kids’ hearts that undermine our influence. There is the media, like television, movies and the internet. There are their friends. Sometimes parents feel helpless to influence their kids. And they are helpless. They can not be around their kids all the time. They cannot watch all of their internet activity or censure every movie or control what is going on with their friends. They need help from Jesus. The need to plant Gospel faith in their kid’s hearts somehow. They need to fan into flames the gift of God, and not suffocate it with their own fears and doubts. They need to trust that God’s Holy Spirit will work in their kid’s hearts when they pray.
Parents need to set the example. Like Enoch, they must decide to make a lifelong commitment to walk with God. We can not downplay the importance of a parent’s influence on the faith of their kids. A recent study found that if a mother has Christian faith, then 30% of the kids will have Christian faith. If the father has Christian faith, then 70% if the kids will have faith. We are blessed because both Julie and I have Christian faith and our kids appear to have faith and follow the Lord. Enoch knew the importance of his own spiritual influence on his son, Methuselah.
Part lll: To Walk With God (22-23)
Walking with God means starting out small. The Bible says that Enoch walked with God 300 years. This was the majority of his adult years. But as we know a journey of a 1,000 miles begins with a single step. Those who walk with God start out small. They are not born walking with God. They start out having a weekly Bible study, attending various spiritual meetings. They have daily devotional time and prayer, even though it is not easy. Soon, they taste the goodness of the word of God. The word of God becomes like honey to their souls. They no longer have to be pushed. Walking with God becomes their love, their joy and their passion of life. Jesus becomes their all in all. Enoch must have gone through such a process as he learned to walk with God.
Walking with God means that you do not walk in the ways of the world. We are tempted to walk according to the prevailing culture. We walk with our peers. We walk with the popular philosophies and the cultural trends of the day. We walk with our own ideas. But the Bible teaches us that wide is the way that leads to destruction and many enter through it, but narrow is the way that leads to eternal life and very few find it. (Matt 7:13) Do not follow the majority. The majority is not always right. What about Nazi Germany or the Segregated South? Enoch never walked with the majority, he walked with God.
Walking with God means not walking with our feelings and emotions, for they are changeable. One day they are positive, building us up and giving us strength to move forward, the next day they are negative and bringing us down to where we before. Those who live according to their feelings and emotions are changeable and their lives are like a roller coaster ride. But one who walks with God is one whose heart is like a deep ocean current, strong, steady and unchanging …unaffected by the storms and the squalls on the surface. They are like those who build their houses upon a rock, able to stand the harshest of storms. Walking with God leads our hearts into paths of peace. So, instead of following our hearts, let us walk with God, just as Enoch did.
Walking with God means recognizing God’s leading and following him. We may not know all the details of God’s calling. The Holy Spirit is like the wind, the wind blows where it pleases. You don’t know where it comes from and where it is going, but it is God. (Jn 3:8) Abraham didn’t know where God was calling him, or what God was calling him to, when God told him to go the Promised Land. Yet he had faith and trusted God. (Gen 12:4) God’s leading is like this. In a general sense, we know that God is leading us to draw closer to Jesus. He wants us to be more like Christ. He calls us to walk the narrow way that leads to eternal life in the Kingdom of God. He calls us to a particular calling, or mission in life. These are givens for all Christians. As individuals we need to pray and wait and find out the details. When I was a new Christian, there were so many people telling me what I should do in regards to my Christian life. There were so many opinions and confusion. And so one day, I got on knees in my bedroom and prayed, “Lord, I don’t know the narrow way that leads to eternal life. Please lead me on that path.” I trusted God and continued to seek after Jesus. Jesus heard my prayer and showed me the way. May you all pray a similar prayer in the privacy of your rooms, where there is just you and God, and trust that God will shed light on your walk with him, as he did to Enoch.
Walking with God means making the effort. In the warm months I do a lot of walking. But in the winter I don’t want to make the effort. I want to stay where it is comfortable and warm. And so my dog suffers and I carry a few extra pounds all winter. During Jesus’ earthly ministry, he called many people to follow him. But only those who decided to do it, leaving their old lives behind actually became his disciples. Jesus did not stay in one location, begging people to follow him. No! He moved on, carrying on with his mission. Whoever valued that calling followed him throughout Israel. They became his disciples and the future spiritual leaders of the world. Luke 9:23 reads, “Then he said to them all, ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” We don’t like to hear about such a dry topic as self denial, but it a necessary component in walking with God. Enoch denied himself, for a long time, in order to walk with his, and our God.
Walking with God means to imitate Jesus’ lifestyle. This does not mean wearing a robe and sandals and growing your hair long and sleeping out under the stars. It means emulating Jesus’ lifestyle and applying the spiritual principles contained within. What are the principles of Jesus’ lifestyle? Jesus preached and taught about the kingdom of God, sometimes to one person, like the Samaritan woman and sometimes to thousands, like on the Sermon on the Mount. He prayed, before dawn each day before people woke up. He raised disciples. There were the 12, the most committed, then the 72, who were in the next group and then the 500. Jesus showed compassion, even touching a leper, healing the demon possessed and healing the sick. A bruised reed he did not break and a smoldering wick he did not snuff out. He faithfully helped those who allowed him, until they could stand on their two feet. He loved the one who betrayed him. He prayed, “Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing” (Lk 23:34) for those who falsely accused him, mocked and tortured him and nailed him to the cross. Walking with God is to imitate Jesus’ lifestyle. Enoch strove to apply God’s character in his own life as he walked with God.
Walking with God requires humility. To walk with someone else means that you have to submit your own plans and agenda to someone else’s. You have to change your pace and direction. This is not easy for anyone, especially for those who are used to self directing their own lives. But Jesus shows us the way. He submitted himself to the agenda of his Father. Once when his mother, Mary came to him at a wedding, telling Jesus that they had run out of wine, what did Jesus tell her? “Dear woman why do you involve me?...My time had not yet come?” (Jn 2:4) Once Jesus’ brothers pushed him to go the feast and show the crowds his miracles. Jesus to them, “The right time for me has not yet come: for you any time is right.” (Jn 7:6) Jesus was always sensitive to the time schedule of his Father in heaven. He was sensitive to God’s leading. He bent his own will to walk with his Father. Enoch was sensitive to God’s leading timing. He showed us the way that we can walk with God.
Walking with God requires that we confess that we don’t know the way. Psalm 23:1-6, “ The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” If we really think about it, do we know the way to green pastures and quiet waters? We don’t know the way to take when the shadows of death encircle us. We don’t know the way that leads to goodness and love and to dwelling in the house of the Lord forever. No GPS system can lead you there, but Jesus can. Let Jesus lead. Jesus came from God and went back to God. Jesus is our good shepherd. He knows the way. He can lead us back to the kingdom of heaven when we humbly walk with God. Enoch was humble enough to know that he was lost without God.
Walking with God requires the right priorities in life. There are so many things that demand our time and energy. Even Christians seem to let everything get in their way of walking with their God. Their lives of faith become full of good intentions but devoid of power. The key verse of the whole Bible has been said to be Matthew 6:33, “But seek first God’s kingdom and his righteousness and all of these things will be given to you as well.” “First” means, as top priority. When we set seeking God’s kingdom and his righteousness as top priority in our lives then we can have some spiritual traction and we can begin to walk with God. Enoch had the right priorities and that is how he could walk with God throughout his life.
Walking with God requires obedience. The Bible says that Noah walked with God. The defining factor of his faith was his obedience. He believed God’s word concerning the upcoming judgment. He trusted God’s way of salvation and he built the ark according to God’s plans, not his. He knew that if he obeyed he would not only save himself and his family but also be a source of salvation for the whole human race. He walked with God by obeying God. Our situation is very similar. Jesus has told us that there is a time when he will come again. There will be many trials and tribulations. And a time will come when “each one must stand before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body whether good of bad.” (1 Cor ) Those who are found in Jesus Christ, through faith, will be saved. They will taste spiritual victory in this life and will pass through the judgment to dwell with Jesus forever in the kingdom of heaven. If we are to walk with God, then we must believe it and determine to be found in Christ Jesus. We must obey God, starting now. Enoch obeyed God each and every day trusting God’s way of salvation.
Walking with God requires trust. It means that we need to trust that God is leading us along the best possible path in life. Jesus is our good shepherd. (Jn 10:10) He came to this world to make sure that we have life and have it to the full. He laid down his life for us. Romans 8:28 reads, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love you, who have been called according to your purpose.” We can trust God that he will work for our good, not just when everything is going well, but in all things. Julie just got foot surgery. She is not bitter, blaming God for her present predicament. She trusts God and walks with God from the couch, praying and reading her Bible and doing what she can for the glory of God. God is our heavenly Father who loves us. We can trust Jesus as we walk with him. Enoch trusted in the love of God.
Walking with God involves preaching the truth. Jude 14-15 mentions about Enoch. It reads, “Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: ‘See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones 15 to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” This quotation is from an apocryphal book called the Book of Enoch. One thing that can be said concerning this quote is that the Jews felt that Enoch was a prophet and that he prophesied, calling people to repentance and faith. Since it is in the New Testament, we also know that God wants us to know this. Prophecy in the Old Testament times is different than New Testament. New Testament prophets do not go beyond what is written. They speak the truth of God to the people of their generation in meaningful, pertinent ways. Those who walk with God must open their mouths to speak the truth of God, like Enoch did.
Part lV: God Took Him Away (24)
Verse 24 reads, “Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.” What does it mean that the Lord took him away? There are other instances in the Bible where people were taken up to heaven. In 2 Kings 2:11-12a, we read, “As they (Elijah and Elisha) were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. 12 Elisha saw this and cried out, ‘My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!’ And Elisha saw him no more…” Elijah was taken up to heaven without dying. The other prophets had a difficult time believing what they saw. They wanted to search for Elijah. (2 Kings 2:16-18) Finding no trace of him confirmed what had happened and strengthened their faith. The only other person to be taken up to heaven in bodily form was Jesus after his resurrection from the dead. (Acts 1:9)
The Bible teaches us that one day Jesus will come again and when he comes he will take us to be with him. Listen to the words of Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. “Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.” Christ will return visibly, with a loud command. There will be an unmistakable cry from an angel. There will be a trumpet fanfare such as has never been heard. Believers in Christ who are dead will rise from their graves. Believers who are alive will be caught up in clouds to meet Jesus. They will not experience death. They will be changed also and be resurrected along with the multitude of people who have walked with God throughout the ages. They will all stand in God’s presence, safe and secure. We will experience exactly what Enoch experienced and will one day even meet Enoch.
There is one more question that you may be asking yourself. Where did Enoch go to? The passage says that God took him away. Hebrews 11:5, “By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.” Taken him away to where? I believe that God took him to heaven to be with him. His journey on earth was complete. His mission was over. He had sacrificed enough and now it was time for him to receive his reward. He was commended as one who pleased God and God was happy bring Elijah close to his side.
Would you be happy if Jesus came again to gather you up to be with him today? Many of us wouldn’t. We tend think that life in this world is everything. We think of all the unfinished projects. But nothing in this world compares to Jesus and the kingdom of heaven. If God calls us to go, we need to go with no regrets, without delays, with only a joyful expectation of what is to come.
What ever happened to Enoch’s descendents? Well, he passed the faith on to the next generation. His great grandson was Noah. Enoch also left a great legacy of faith. People for thousands of years have been inspired to walk with God their entire lives because of the lifestyle he decided to live.
Enoch did not live as long as many of his peers. But he was commended as one who pleased God. He pleased God because, as a new father, he decided to walk with God. Walking with God means starting out small; it means not walking in the ways of the world; it means not walking with our feelings and emotions; it means recognizing God’s leading and following; it means making the effort; it requires humility; it means confessing that we don’t know the way; it requires having the right priorities in life; it requires obedience; it requires trust; and it involves preaching the truth. There are many other things that walking with God means but I couldn’t write a book. If we walk with God, we too can please God. We too will be taken up to heaven to be with Jesus for all eternity. David Starr Jordan, a biologist, educator and peace activist, once said, “Be a life long or short, its completeness depends on what it is lived for.” Our life completeness depends if we have walked with God or not and if we are ready to meet Jesus when he calls us to be with him in heaven.
Genesis 5: 18-24 Shp Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF
Key verse 5:24 5-7-11
“Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.”
We are continuing on, exploring obscure people in Genesis. This week we want to learn more about Enoch. Enoch was commended as one who pleased God. He walked with God for most of his adult life. He was taken up to heaven, before he even died. Who was this Enoch? What was his faith like? What does it mean that he walked with God? Where did he go and how? What was his spiritual legacy? This message will explore a few of these issues. May God help you to walk with Jesus, who is God.
Part l: Born Into A Regular Family
OK…there are not so many verses here to draw from, so let’s see what the passage says. Look at verses 18-20, “When Jared had lived 162 years, he became the father of Enoch. 19 And after he became the father of Enoch, Jared lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. 20 Altogether, Jared lived 962 years, and then he died.” Well, it looks like Enoch had a mother and a father and brothers and sisters. His father’s name was Jared. Having other siblings is a good thing. Children learn how to negotiate, compromise and share things. He learned a lot through playing. He had personal struggles and learned forgiveness. Siblings influence each other. If the oldest child decides to live a spiritual life then their influence will trickle down to the others. I thank God for Jenn’s good influence. She has always set the standard when it comes to school, singing and spiritual life. The rest of her siblings have been blessed because of her and she has also made Julie’s and my life a whole lot easier. Enoch was the first child. His good spiritual influence trickled down to the others.
Part ll: Enoch, A New Father Who Got Serious With God (21-22)
Enoch got more serious about God after the birth of his son. Look at verses 21-22. “When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. 22 And after he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters.” The Bible says that after the birth of his first son, Enoch walked with God the remainder of his adult life. His was a life long commitment.
Before having children, we are more interested in building our careers and families and getting established. We may even put Jesus on the backburner. But then the first child is born, we begin to think about the kids. We realize there is more for them to accomplish then just good grades and sports. We wonder how we can pass our faith onto them. We realize that they need morals and truth and faith. One can be the best parent in the world, but there are forces at work in our kids’ hearts that undermine our influence. There is the media, like television, movies and the internet. There are their friends. Sometimes parents feel helpless to influence their kids. And they are helpless. They can not be around their kids all the time. They cannot watch all of their internet activity or censure every movie or control what is going on with their friends. They need help from Jesus. The need to plant Gospel faith in their kid’s hearts somehow. They need to fan into flames the gift of God, and not suffocate it with their own fears and doubts. They need to trust that God’s Holy Spirit will work in their kid’s hearts when they pray.
Parents need to set the example. Like Enoch, they must decide to make a lifelong commitment to walk with God. We can not downplay the importance of a parent’s influence on the faith of their kids. A recent study found that if a mother has Christian faith, then 30% of the kids will have Christian faith. If the father has Christian faith, then 70% if the kids will have faith. We are blessed because both Julie and I have Christian faith and our kids appear to have faith and follow the Lord. Enoch knew the importance of his own spiritual influence on his son, Methuselah.
Part lll: To Walk With God (22-23)
Walking with God means starting out small. The Bible says that Enoch walked with God 300 years. This was the majority of his adult years. But as we know a journey of a 1,000 miles begins with a single step. Those who walk with God start out small. They are not born walking with God. They start out having a weekly Bible study, attending various spiritual meetings. They have daily devotional time and prayer, even though it is not easy. Soon, they taste the goodness of the word of God. The word of God becomes like honey to their souls. They no longer have to be pushed. Walking with God becomes their love, their joy and their passion of life. Jesus becomes their all in all. Enoch must have gone through such a process as he learned to walk with God.
Walking with God means that you do not walk in the ways of the world. We are tempted to walk according to the prevailing culture. We walk with our peers. We walk with the popular philosophies and the cultural trends of the day. We walk with our own ideas. But the Bible teaches us that wide is the way that leads to destruction and many enter through it, but narrow is the way that leads to eternal life and very few find it. (Matt 7:13) Do not follow the majority. The majority is not always right. What about Nazi Germany or the Segregated South? Enoch never walked with the majority, he walked with God.
Walking with God means not walking with our feelings and emotions, for they are changeable. One day they are positive, building us up and giving us strength to move forward, the next day they are negative and bringing us down to where we before. Those who live according to their feelings and emotions are changeable and their lives are like a roller coaster ride. But one who walks with God is one whose heart is like a deep ocean current, strong, steady and unchanging …unaffected by the storms and the squalls on the surface. They are like those who build their houses upon a rock, able to stand the harshest of storms. Walking with God leads our hearts into paths of peace. So, instead of following our hearts, let us walk with God, just as Enoch did.
Walking with God means recognizing God’s leading and following him. We may not know all the details of God’s calling. The Holy Spirit is like the wind, the wind blows where it pleases. You don’t know where it comes from and where it is going, but it is God. (Jn 3:8) Abraham didn’t know where God was calling him, or what God was calling him to, when God told him to go the Promised Land. Yet he had faith and trusted God. (Gen 12:4) God’s leading is like this. In a general sense, we know that God is leading us to draw closer to Jesus. He wants us to be more like Christ. He calls us to walk the narrow way that leads to eternal life in the Kingdom of God. He calls us to a particular calling, or mission in life. These are givens for all Christians. As individuals we need to pray and wait and find out the details. When I was a new Christian, there were so many people telling me what I should do in regards to my Christian life. There were so many opinions and confusion. And so one day, I got on knees in my bedroom and prayed, “Lord, I don’t know the narrow way that leads to eternal life. Please lead me on that path.” I trusted God and continued to seek after Jesus. Jesus heard my prayer and showed me the way. May you all pray a similar prayer in the privacy of your rooms, where there is just you and God, and trust that God will shed light on your walk with him, as he did to Enoch.
Walking with God means making the effort. In the warm months I do a lot of walking. But in the winter I don’t want to make the effort. I want to stay where it is comfortable and warm. And so my dog suffers and I carry a few extra pounds all winter. During Jesus’ earthly ministry, he called many people to follow him. But only those who decided to do it, leaving their old lives behind actually became his disciples. Jesus did not stay in one location, begging people to follow him. No! He moved on, carrying on with his mission. Whoever valued that calling followed him throughout Israel. They became his disciples and the future spiritual leaders of the world. Luke 9:23 reads, “Then he said to them all, ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” We don’t like to hear about such a dry topic as self denial, but it a necessary component in walking with God. Enoch denied himself, for a long time, in order to walk with his, and our God.
Walking with God means to imitate Jesus’ lifestyle. This does not mean wearing a robe and sandals and growing your hair long and sleeping out under the stars. It means emulating Jesus’ lifestyle and applying the spiritual principles contained within. What are the principles of Jesus’ lifestyle? Jesus preached and taught about the kingdom of God, sometimes to one person, like the Samaritan woman and sometimes to thousands, like on the Sermon on the Mount. He prayed, before dawn each day before people woke up. He raised disciples. There were the 12, the most committed, then the 72, who were in the next group and then the 500. Jesus showed compassion, even touching a leper, healing the demon possessed and healing the sick. A bruised reed he did not break and a smoldering wick he did not snuff out. He faithfully helped those who allowed him, until they could stand on their two feet. He loved the one who betrayed him. He prayed, “Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing” (Lk 23:34) for those who falsely accused him, mocked and tortured him and nailed him to the cross. Walking with God is to imitate Jesus’ lifestyle. Enoch strove to apply God’s character in his own life as he walked with God.
Walking with God requires humility. To walk with someone else means that you have to submit your own plans and agenda to someone else’s. You have to change your pace and direction. This is not easy for anyone, especially for those who are used to self directing their own lives. But Jesus shows us the way. He submitted himself to the agenda of his Father. Once when his mother, Mary came to him at a wedding, telling Jesus that they had run out of wine, what did Jesus tell her? “Dear woman why do you involve me?...My time had not yet come?” (Jn 2:4) Once Jesus’ brothers pushed him to go the feast and show the crowds his miracles. Jesus to them, “The right time for me has not yet come: for you any time is right.” (Jn 7:6) Jesus was always sensitive to the time schedule of his Father in heaven. He was sensitive to God’s leading. He bent his own will to walk with his Father. Enoch was sensitive to God’s leading timing. He showed us the way that we can walk with God.
Walking with God requires that we confess that we don’t know the way. Psalm 23:1-6, “ The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” If we really think about it, do we know the way to green pastures and quiet waters? We don’t know the way to take when the shadows of death encircle us. We don’t know the way that leads to goodness and love and to dwelling in the house of the Lord forever. No GPS system can lead you there, but Jesus can. Let Jesus lead. Jesus came from God and went back to God. Jesus is our good shepherd. He knows the way. He can lead us back to the kingdom of heaven when we humbly walk with God. Enoch was humble enough to know that he was lost without God.
Walking with God requires the right priorities in life. There are so many things that demand our time and energy. Even Christians seem to let everything get in their way of walking with their God. Their lives of faith become full of good intentions but devoid of power. The key verse of the whole Bible has been said to be Matthew 6:33, “But seek first God’s kingdom and his righteousness and all of these things will be given to you as well.” “First” means, as top priority. When we set seeking God’s kingdom and his righteousness as top priority in our lives then we can have some spiritual traction and we can begin to walk with God. Enoch had the right priorities and that is how he could walk with God throughout his life.
Walking with God requires obedience. The Bible says that Noah walked with God. The defining factor of his faith was his obedience. He believed God’s word concerning the upcoming judgment. He trusted God’s way of salvation and he built the ark according to God’s plans, not his. He knew that if he obeyed he would not only save himself and his family but also be a source of salvation for the whole human race. He walked with God by obeying God. Our situation is very similar. Jesus has told us that there is a time when he will come again. There will be many trials and tribulations. And a time will come when “each one must stand before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body whether good of bad.” (1 Cor ) Those who are found in Jesus Christ, through faith, will be saved. They will taste spiritual victory in this life and will pass through the judgment to dwell with Jesus forever in the kingdom of heaven. If we are to walk with God, then we must believe it and determine to be found in Christ Jesus. We must obey God, starting now. Enoch obeyed God each and every day trusting God’s way of salvation.
Walking with God requires trust. It means that we need to trust that God is leading us along the best possible path in life. Jesus is our good shepherd. (Jn 10:10) He came to this world to make sure that we have life and have it to the full. He laid down his life for us. Romans 8:28 reads, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love you, who have been called according to your purpose.” We can trust God that he will work for our good, not just when everything is going well, but in all things. Julie just got foot surgery. She is not bitter, blaming God for her present predicament. She trusts God and walks with God from the couch, praying and reading her Bible and doing what she can for the glory of God. God is our heavenly Father who loves us. We can trust Jesus as we walk with him. Enoch trusted in the love of God.
Walking with God involves preaching the truth. Jude 14-15 mentions about Enoch. It reads, “Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: ‘See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones 15 to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” This quotation is from an apocryphal book called the Book of Enoch. One thing that can be said concerning this quote is that the Jews felt that Enoch was a prophet and that he prophesied, calling people to repentance and faith. Since it is in the New Testament, we also know that God wants us to know this. Prophecy in the Old Testament times is different than New Testament. New Testament prophets do not go beyond what is written. They speak the truth of God to the people of their generation in meaningful, pertinent ways. Those who walk with God must open their mouths to speak the truth of God, like Enoch did.
Part lV: God Took Him Away (24)
Verse 24 reads, “Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.” What does it mean that the Lord took him away? There are other instances in the Bible where people were taken up to heaven. In 2 Kings 2:11-12a, we read, “As they (Elijah and Elisha) were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. 12 Elisha saw this and cried out, ‘My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!’ And Elisha saw him no more…” Elijah was taken up to heaven without dying. The other prophets had a difficult time believing what they saw. They wanted to search for Elijah. (2 Kings 2:16-18) Finding no trace of him confirmed what had happened and strengthened their faith. The only other person to be taken up to heaven in bodily form was Jesus after his resurrection from the dead. (Acts 1:9)
The Bible teaches us that one day Jesus will come again and when he comes he will take us to be with him. Listen to the words of Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. “Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.” Christ will return visibly, with a loud command. There will be an unmistakable cry from an angel. There will be a trumpet fanfare such as has never been heard. Believers in Christ who are dead will rise from their graves. Believers who are alive will be caught up in clouds to meet Jesus. They will not experience death. They will be changed also and be resurrected along with the multitude of people who have walked with God throughout the ages. They will all stand in God’s presence, safe and secure. We will experience exactly what Enoch experienced and will one day even meet Enoch.
There is one more question that you may be asking yourself. Where did Enoch go to? The passage says that God took him away. Hebrews 11:5, “By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.” Taken him away to where? I believe that God took him to heaven to be with him. His journey on earth was complete. His mission was over. He had sacrificed enough and now it was time for him to receive his reward. He was commended as one who pleased God and God was happy bring Elijah close to his side.
Would you be happy if Jesus came again to gather you up to be with him today? Many of us wouldn’t. We tend think that life in this world is everything. We think of all the unfinished projects. But nothing in this world compares to Jesus and the kingdom of heaven. If God calls us to go, we need to go with no regrets, without delays, with only a joyful expectation of what is to come.
What ever happened to Enoch’s descendents? Well, he passed the faith on to the next generation. His great grandson was Noah. Enoch also left a great legacy of faith. People for thousands of years have been inspired to walk with God their entire lives because of the lifestyle he decided to live.
Enoch did not live as long as many of his peers. But he was commended as one who pleased God. He pleased God because, as a new father, he decided to walk with God. Walking with God means starting out small; it means not walking in the ways of the world; it means not walking with our feelings and emotions; it means recognizing God’s leading and following; it means making the effort; it requires humility; it means confessing that we don’t know the way; it requires having the right priorities in life; it requires obedience; it requires trust; and it involves preaching the truth. There are many other things that walking with God means but I couldn’t write a book. If we walk with God, we too can please God. We too will be taken up to heaven to be with Jesus for all eternity. David Starr Jordan, a biologist, educator and peace activist, once said, “Be a life long or short, its completeness depends on what it is lived for.” Our life completeness depends if we have walked with God or not and if we are ready to meet Jesus when he calls us to be with him in heaven.
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