Have you ever read something like this: Michael was the son of Billy and Billy the son of Albert and Albert the son of Gerald and Gerald the son of Herbert and Herbert the son of Floyd, etc? Or, Myrtle was the daughter of Sheila and Sheila the daughter of Blanche and Blanche the daughter of Eva and Eva the daughter of Hazel, etc.?
Maybe you have wondered about the amount of space in your Bible devoted to ancient genealogies. It is tempting when you get to a long list of names to skim, or worse still, skip them. Some may wonder if something more relevant couldn’t have been shared in the same amount of space?
Have you ever thought about how important individuals are to God? God doesn’t look down from Heaven and see just a mass of people. Nor does He see merely one of those infrared earth maps with their blurred globs of colors indicating population density levels. He sees individuals. People with names. People with families. People with issues. People who love Him and people who don’t.
Read these verses and see if anything catches your eye:
Thus all the days of Kenan were 910 years, and he died. (15) When Mahalalel had lived 65 years, he fathered Jared. (16) Mahalalel lived after he fathered Jared 830 years and had other sons and daughters. (17) Thus all the days of Mahalalel were 895 years, and he died. (18) When Jared had lived 162 years, he fathered Enoch. (19) Jared lived after he fathered Enoch 800 years and had other sons and daughters. (20) Thus all the days of Jared were 962 years, and he died. (21) When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. (22) Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. (23) Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. (24) Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him. Genesis 5:14-24
Based on what you just read, does God notice the lives of individuals and how we live our lives? If you read further into Genesis
6 you will come across another name of one who walked with God – Noah. Enoch and Noah ‘walked with God’. Despite the wickedness all around them, they themselves walked with God in their generation.
What does ‘walking with God’ mean? People, who attend all the services of a local assembly or church – are they the ones who are walking with God? Not necessarily. If someone is walking with God, they will do their best to be there but being there does not mean a person is ‘walking with God’. It may mean they are just doing what looks good – what’s expected of them and complying with the norm. Walking with God is a much deeper thing.
Someone has said that “walking with God indicates a habit of living in the consciousness of responsibility to God and communion with God.”
Walking with someone implies harmony and fellowship. God enjoyed walking with Enoch over the centuries. God enjoyed Enoch’s life. Hebrews 11:5 says: Enoch “pleased God.” Is God enjoying my life or is He just getting the occasional glance from me or the sporadic calls for help when I’m in a pinch – but for the most part I am walking with others – not with God?
God notices. God cares how you walk and whether or not you walk with Him. He knows your name. He knows your life. He knows you and yes, He loves you and desires to enjoy your presence each day, including today.
Who are you walking with today?
Walk carefully and closely with the Lord today.
Warmly in Christ
Peter Ramsay
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