Christ in Enoch (1)

In our last post we noted that Genesis 5 is the chapter of death. And yet, within the confines of this chapter we read of a man who did not die. There are only two such persons in the Old Testament, Enoch and Elijah, and both are most instructive.

We intend to see in the life of Enoch the following truths:

1. Enoch was Dedicated
2. Enoch was Different
3. Enoch was Delightful
4. Enoch was Delivered

In this post we will consider the fact that:

Enoch was Dedicated

The name "Enoch" means dedicated, and we want to see in him an illustration of the Lord Jesus Christ in His dedication to God.

There are two men named Enoch in the book of Genesis. In Ch 4 we read of the son of Cain who is called Enoch (4.17-18). This Enoch represents dedication also, but not to God. He was, as representative of all Cain's posterity, dedicated to the world, and his own self-promotion. In Ch 5 however, the Enoch whom we are considering was certainly dedicated to God, in this way he is a delightful reminder of the dedication and devotion of Christ.

Unrestricted dedication, and unfettered devotion, consecration, and commitment, was seen in every step of the Saviour. When asked by a scribe "Which is the first commandment of all?" He answered "The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment..." (Mark 12.28-30). 

This commandment, while being the divine requirement, was only ever obeyed fully in the life of the perfect Man, the "man approved of God" (Acts 2.22), our Lord Jesus Christ.  To "love" in the way intended in the command involves placing priority upon the will of God, and fulfilling every desire of God. Only "Jesus, the Son of God" did this. He was dedicated:

Volitionally: "all thy heart". The "heart" in scripture is often considered the seat of the will, the core of the whole person. This necessarily precedes all other aspects of dedication. If my will is not aligned to God's will, if I cannot say "Not my will but thine be done" (Luke 22.42), I am not dedicated to God. 

Emotionally: "all thy soul". The "soul" in scripture often refers to the seat of the emotions. If the will is first submitted to God, the emotions will soon follow - not vice-versa. The feelings of the Lord Jesus were always in complete alignment with that of His God: He hated what God hated and loved what God loved.

Intellectually: "all thy mind". The "mind" refers to the intellect. So, as the boy of 12, the Lord Jesus was to be found in the temple, with the doctors "both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers" (Luke 2.46-47). While it is true that the Lord Jesus was omniscient (being God, He could not be anything else), yet in Luke's Gospel He is presented to us as the perfect Man, and thus His knowledge here is that which was learned when with open ear, in the presence of His God he was taught as "the instructed" One (Isaiah 50.4 JND). 

Physically: "all thy strength". This refers to the physical energy expended in patient, devoted service. The Gospel of Mark stresses this. He "came not to be ministered unto, but to minister" (Mark 10.45), and His strength was used ever in the pursuance of the will of God, and in accomplishing the work of His God. Consider the delightful view of the Saviour in John 4 "being wearied with his journey, [He] sat thus on the well..." (John 4.6). 

He has left us "an example that ye should follow His steps" (1 Peter 2.21), and incorporated in this example is His dedication to the will of God. What about our will, our emotions, our intellect, and our physical strength? Is it all for God? May it be so!

Our next post will be a continued consideration of Enoch who is marked out as different from others, and delightful to God, and delivered from death. All of this, either by comparison or contrast, illumines for us the perfect life of the Saviour.

A perfect path of purest grace,

Unblemished and complete,

Was Thine, Thou spotless Nazarite,

Pure, even to the feet.

Thy stainless life, Thy lovely walk,

In every aspect true,

From the defilement all around,

No taint of evil drew.

No broken service, Lord was Thine,

No change was in Thy way;

Unsullied in Thy holiness,

Thy strength knew no decay.

The vow was on Thee—Thou didst come,

To yield Thyself to death;

And consecration marked Thy path,

And spoke in every breath.

Morning by morning Thou didst wake,

Amidst this poisoned air;

Yet no contagion touched Thy soul,

No sin disturbed Thy prayer.

Thus, Lord we love to trace Thy course,

To mark where Thou hast trod,

And follow Thee with loving eye,

Up to the throne of God.

(Wylie Macleod)