Tuesday: Enoch Walked and Talked
Daily Lesson for Tuesday 5th of May 2026
Read Genesis 5:22-24. What, exactly, do we know about Enoch?
The Bible doesn’t share a lot about Enoch’s life, but it does tell us that he walked with God for 300 years until God took him to heaven. How beautiful that a person’s consistent devotion to God is what defines their life!
Image © Erik Stenbakken at Goodsalt.com
One thing we know is that Enoch must have been “continuing steadfastly in prayer” (Romans 12:12, NKJV), persevering and growing closer to God in faith through his daily experiences. The earth was becoming increasingly evil in the time in which he was living, and Enoch kept busy serving God, but he couldn’t do this well without abiding in Him.
“In the midst of a life of active labor, Enoch steadfastly maintained his communion with God. The greater and more pressing his labors, the more constant and earnest were his prayers. . . . After remaining for a time among the people, laboring to benefit them by instruction and example, he would withdraw, to spend a season in solitude, hungering and thirsting for that divine knowledge which God alone can impart. Communing thus with God, Enoch came more and more to reflect the divine image. . . . Even the ungodly beheld with awe the impress of heaven upon his countenance.”—Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, Pages 86, 87.
God doesn’t ask us to live like hermits or monks, so separate from the world that we are of no earthly use. Like Enoch, we can be productive and aware of the needs around us, but it’s only by walking and talking with God through a steady, abiding relationship that He can reflect His wonderful character through us.
We can pray anytime, anywhere. There is nowhere on earth that God doesn’t see or hear us (Psalms 139:7-12); He always hears the cries of our hearts, no matter where we are (read Lamentations 3:55-57). Yet, there is something to be said for praying out loud instead of just in our minds. When we pray silently, we might become distracted or not even finish our train of thought or our sentence, and it can be harder for our thoughts to remain focused. But when we pray aloud, whether in a whisper or in our usual tone, it’s a reminder to ourselves that God is real, that He’s listening, and that we have something specific to talk about with Him.
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As you go about your day today, where or how will you whisper a prayer in communion with Jesus? |
Enoch does not get a lot of column space in the Bible. He lived a much shorter life than is recorded for his contemporaries; he begat sons and daughters; he walked with God, and God translated him. I don’t want to pretend that I know a lot more about Enoch that was revealed in the Bible, but I suspect that there is a lot squeezed into that phrase, “He walked with God.”
I don’t really want to add a lot to that idea except to say that some of my most valuable interactions with others is when we extend the invitation to go for a walk together. There is something stimulating about fresh air, exercise, and companiable sharing of ideas. You come to understand one another better. Spending time with God is not meant to be spirituality in a vacuum; it is a relationship to be shared not just described.
I am reminded of the story of Cleopas and his mate walking with Jesus on the road to Emmaus. They were on a journey to solve the puzzle of the events of the last few days. It took the walk and their discussion with someone they perceived as a stranger for it all to make sense. And when is did, they rushed off to tell the others, “He is risen!”
Jude records that Enoch also had a message from his walk with God:
Does that say something about our walk with God?
Absolutely, we need to share our relationship with God in order to gain a soul.
Enoch has a book that didn’t make it into the Bible we use. I was inclined to get it. It shows him as a true prophet. The book has a lot of prophetic symbols like in Revelations, and it can seem confusing at times. It also contains the horrors of the times when the fallen angels lusted after human women. (Genesis 6. But He speaks so eloquently about God that I came across one prayer that I want to go to to be my prayer.
There are some good reasons that the Book of Enoch “didn’t make it into the Bible.”
And just so you know, along with some other Protestant churches, we understand that “the sons of God” in Genesis 6 were the offspring of Seth, a committed follower of God, while “the sons of men” were the offspring of Cain, the first murderer and rebel against God.
The reference in Jude to the prophecy of Enoch does not validate the book itself as being truth. It just lets us know that Enoch preached the Second Coming of Christ in glory.
In Summary: The Book of Enoch was written by many authors who borrowed the name of “Enoch” to give it some sense of auhority. (I’d call it a forgery.) It contains many ideas that contradict Scripture. I wouldn’t use the book to interpret the inspired book of The Revelation of Jesus Christ.
It says the children of God loved the children of men.Children of God here means the holy generation that was obedient to God taking the daughters of the unholy generation that was disobedient to God not ( the fallen angel taking daughters of men to be wife , if angels could marry then scripture could get contradicted for Jesus said angels don’t marry.
The Bible explains that the sons of God are believers not angels. We are called sons of God . Romans 8:14 and John 1:12
The Bible says that Enoch walked closely with God for 300 years. The close walking with God implies that he had a personal relationship with God. A close relationship with someone, naturally, will involve close communion (talking) and communicating (Jude 1:14–15). He was living in obedience to God.
The story of Enoch is one which gives hope that we can live an upright life regardless of the wicked and crooked generation we are living in. The time of Enock was full of spiritual corruption leading up to the time of the flood. The Bible gives an excellent recommendation for Enoch.
“It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—‘he disappeared, because God took him.’ For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God.” (Hebrews 11:5, NLT).
Living in close walk with God through prayer, we stand assured of God’s protection in this evil age. What assurance do we have that we are safe in this dark world if not the power of God? Prayer brings us into God’s capsule of protection. Prayer insulates us from evil forces. Prayer strengthens our spiritual resolve. Prayer revitalises our spiritual walk with God. This is the reason why Jesus’s disciples requested Him to teach them how to pray. They recognised that their prayer life was not adequate. They must have seen that Jesus’ powerful teaching, miracles, spiritual victories, wisdom, understanding and holiness were directly connected to His communion with His Father through prayer.
As Enoch walked in a close relationship with God, we, too, are more than encouraged to pursue a meaningful prayer life.
“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:4-5, NLT).
Thank you for bringing up this bible verse which encourages. There must be a fruit from those they stay faithfully to God.
In Genesis 4:23–24, the world Enoch lived in is portrayed as one marked by violence, vengeance, and moral confusion—where wrong was embraced as right and reverence for God had largely faded. In such a culture, faith stood out sharply, often ridiculed or ignored. Yet for Enoch, walking with God meant more than outward obedience; it was a life of deep intimacy, fellowship, and constant connection. By faith, he cultivated a relationship in which God was not distant, but a close companion with whom he walked daily.
Enoch’s walk with God was not a fleeting experience but a consistent, lifelong pattern. While others pursued their own desires without regard for consequences, he chose a different path. It was like swimming against the current while the world drifted effortlessly downstream. In the midst of growing darkness, Enoch remained steadfast day by day, choosing to honor God even when it set him apart. His life reflected a continual, moment-by-moment journey of faith, grounded in trust and devotion despite the surrounding culture.
Though it was not easy to live righteously in a time when wickedness prevailed, Enoch did not allow the state of the world to deter him. Year after year, he faithfully nurtured his relationship with God, placing one step of obedience after another. His unwavering faith did not go unnoticed. Scripture tells us, “Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away” (Genesis 5:24). The New Testament affirms this, saying, “By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death… For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God” (Hebrews 11:5). His life stands as a powerful testimony that even in the darkest times, a faithful walk with God is both possible and deeply pleasing to Him.
As we commune with God, we may not feel His touch, yet our faith in Him does mentally give us confidence of His hand on us, through our daily activities. We do best by speaking to God as a friend. Proverbs 18:24. I may be seeing this text as what I want it to say. Though I do believe that we can apply this text in Proverbs as praying to God as a friend, by doing so we are providing ourselves friendly to God, mentally bowing at His feet. Definitely a double blessing text. Sincere prayer, reading His word, writing it down, and sharing what you have learned especially the love of God and His Holiness is seeking God’s face. Psalm 27:8, which is communion with God.
“Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. Not that it is necessary in order to make known to God what we are, but in order to enable us to receive Him. Prayer does not bring God down to us, but brings us up to Him.” Steps to Christ page 93.2.
As Enoch walked with God, he practiced these characteristics of a person experienced in prayer. Was Enoch in His walk with God putting into practice Micah 6:8? Yes. Enoch was much before the time of Micah. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Hebrews 13:8.
Enoch was known as a person who pleases God (Hebrews 11:5, NLT)
How does people know us, what story are we writing about our lives? Is it a God thy will be done not mine like Christ or I just want to be famous like celebrities? May God help us so that it’s God- thine will, not mine
Where did Jude quoted that saying from Enoch?
Wasn’t it from scripture? The same scripture that was written in the book of Enoch {1 Enoch 1:9} And wasen’t that the same prophecy in vision to John on the island of Patmos? I believe; it’s unfair if we are using Enoch as a teaching or reference point without his full story, we should not,be quoting his very short experience. After all, wasen’t Moses taken to Heaven? And wasen’t Elijah also taken to Heaven? Yet we can read and study there experiences. Revelation 22:18-19. Warns of adding or subtracting from his word. Q:- Do we really believe that a group of 4th century western church council, decided that the book Jude read from is too frightful for the believers in our Lord and saver, returning King, is no longer valid in today’s teachings? Will someone help me understand. I’m confused.
I am not sure just what point you are making Ed. I don’t think anyone is saying that Enoch’s early translation was a reward for walking with God. I took it that Enoch’s walk with God was not a monastic experience but one that gave him the impetus to speak out. And as I pointed out others also walked with Jesus and had a message to give as well.
If you are making a point about the inclusion or exclusion of books in the biblical canon, that is another issue altogether outside the scope of this lesson. It is a useful study and does raise the issue about quotations from non-canonical sources in the Bible. I wrote an opinion piece on this some time ago. https://ssnet.org/blog/the-apocrypha-canonical-or-not/ Pertinant to your observation on books of Jude and Enoch i have added a comment on this below the original post. It may be helpful to you.
Thank you Bro. Maurice. I will follow up on your references.
Once you become an arbiter of what should and shouldn’t be in the Bible, you put yourself above the Bible which is very dangerous. I think we need to trust that God oversaw the process of determining what was Scripture. It is so important I cannot believe anything else.
Quoting a book does not necessarily make it scripture. Paul quoted pagan philosophers at times. Some parts of books that are not part of the Bible may have some truth or legit history, but they do not have moral authority as the 66 books do.
I do agree that praying out, with voice production does make it feel more real that you’re communicating and being listened to . This can do something to your believe: making it stronger
Dear Lindah, many years ago I came to the understanding that it is not the very best thing to pray aloud because Satan and his evil angels will hear what you are saying to God. I was searching awhile ago to hear what Ellen White had to say on the matter; but I was unsuccessful.(most likely this was due to the fact that I am not computer-savy) . In fact anyone who can give some guidance or clarification on this matter, please do. Thanks.
Steve, I believe the idea that praying silently denies Satan the ability to hear our prayers is a logical conclusion based on Ellen White’s writing that Satan and evil angels cannot read our minds. (I know of no direct statement telling us not to pray aloud.) Lindah’s comment makes sense on a practical level.
As a balance to the idea that we deny Satan the ability to hear our prayers when we pray in our minds, there are these thoughts:
Thank you so much Inge for your response. Thanks for the depth at which you sought to respond. Thanks for the reference reading “Satan and Prayer which you shared. I will seek to read it as soon as possible.
You are so welcome, Steve!
And thank you for taking the trouble to respond. 🌷
I am constantly talking to God about my problems wherever and whenever. God please hear me and grant my request.
I think God preserved people from different era’s of earths history. For His own reasons? Enoch is one of those.
How wonderful it is that through consistent walking/communion with God ,the more Enoch reflected the divine image of God. May God’s spirit guide us in reflecting that similar image in this increasingly evil becoming world. 🙏
Thank you for sharing your ideas experiences, understanding etc which help me to build my confident and focus on my spiritual journey with my God.
I start my day praying with friends. For this, we have to speak out loud so that everyone hears what is said in the prayer. But throughout the day, we are all faced with decisions and options, sometimes tricky or difficult ones. At times like these, a fast prayer is always practiced, asking God to lead the outcomes for the best.
We concluded that the Bible is bread necessary for our spiritual life. And then I thought of Enoch: What did he have in the way of a Bible? Or maybe I should ask, What did he have in the way of the Word of God?
Quite a bit, it turns out: Enoch knew and talked with his father Jared, his grandfather Mahaleel, his great-grandfather Cainan, his great-great-grandfather Enos and his great-great-great-grandfather Seth, who all lived beyond the time when Enoch was translated to heaven. Not only did he hear the stories of creation and the fall in Eden from Seth, but for 308 years of his life he could walk and talk with Adam who talked with God face-to-face. He must have bathed Himself in the word of God as passed on to Him from Adam – most of which was not passed down to us.
And then Enoch walked and talked with God just as we may do – through prayer, meditation on His Word and working with God to share the Good News with those who had rebelled against Him, the descendants of Cain. Whether Enoch had a special vision of the Second Coming or whether Adam and his grandfathers passed on this information, we do not know. But he worked as a missionary to the Cainites and periodically retired back to the mountains to spend time alone with God.
Enoch was also a responsible father to his son, Methuselah, who helped Noah, along with his son (Enoch’s grandson) Lamech, who was the father of Noah.
So we see that Enoch’s legacy of faith carried on through Noah, who also became a preacher to the Cainites.
I do not think that, Enoch, was any different than Moses, or Daniel, or Elijah, in the fact that he was just as faulty in his character as were these “Holy Men of God.” Elijah was more faulty than Moses and yet God translated him to heaven, like he translated Enoch.
Didn’t Moses kill a man and buried him in the sand?
Only God knows all of our faults. ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God. He, (Jesus) was tempted in all points like as we are, yet He was without sin.
All men are/were imperfect…be it Enoch, Moses, Daniel, Elijah, or any before or after them. JESUS is the only perfect person to ever live without sin.
We don’t, nor can we truly know why the few were translated to Heaven without death…the key is for us to live now so we can go to Heaven. God help us ALL. Amen.
Peter, perhaps we should leave the judging of who is “more faulty” to God, who has the ability to read the heart?
I’m not sure why you would say Elijah was more faulty than Moses. His only recorded fault was running in fear from Jezebel. Moses had both the murder and the incident at the rock.
I think the reasons certain people were translated or resurrected, while certainly connected to their relationship with God, are not necessarily directly linked. Daniel has no recorded faults in Scripture but he was not translated or resurrected. God has His reasons which we cannot know now.
Remember me tonight when you go to His presence
This author wrote an entire lesson on prayer warriors and then cites a man who has only 10 verses in the entire Bible that mentions him by name and yet not one single prayer is recorded anywhere that he spoke or wrote?!
John, within those ten verses we find out that Enoch “walked with God.” That is, he maintained a relationship with God, and that presupposes talking with God. And talking with God IS prayer!
To be honest, I don’t much care for the phrase, “Prayer Warriors,” due to my experience with people who took the term literally. It seems to suggest a sense of getting God on our side in a battle. Yet the most severe battle we will ever face is the battle against self – which is a matter of us getting on God’s side, rather than Him getting on our side.
Enoch seems to have won that battle so that His whole focus was the glory of God.
What do you see?
Sister Inge, thank you for your heartfelt response. I totally get your point about walking with God, but how does that help me in my walk today… surrounded by so much wickedness- much worse than what was happening just prior to the flood (in my opinion)!
Regarding the birth of Noah, Lamech said, “This one will comfort us concerning our work and the toil of our hands because God cursed the ground.”
I am much comforted by Daniel’s prayers, Solomon’s prayers, prayers of Jeremiah, Isaiah, Kings Hezekiah, Elijah and Elisha, Peter and Paul, etc.