God speaks to Mahalalel while finishing his morning routine. His advanced age allows many moments of quiet reflection.
‘One of my children needs help! Will you go rescue him?’
Mahalalel pauses,
‘I am old and not feeling very well today. What can I do to rescue someone who is in trouble?’
Then without further hesitation,
“Yes Lord, I will go.’
The Lord says,
‘Go east, downriver, and watch for signs of disruption and struggle among men. Do not pass the first camping site. There are signs of a recent fire.’
Further instructions reveal that four men struggled. One was taken captive!
‘The one who has been taken is your eldest grandson, Enoch.’
This rescuer, fifth from Adam, now more than five hundred years of age, delights to do God’s will. He drops everything he planned for the day and follows the Lord.
It is more complicated than he first imagined. When Mahalalel, which means praise of God, comes to the campsite he sees nothing which would alarm him.
The evidence of a recent fire assures him this place is the right one. So, sitting down to catch his breath, he waits for God to give him direction.
‘You have time, my son. Continue to wait and I will show you the way.’
Ywek’s son Azar had taken Enoch into the river to hide their tracks. That presents a problem.
The water on the far side is deep and swift. One of the scouts gets into serious trouble and starts thrashing the water, gasping for air.
Enoch, an extraordinarily strong swimmer, swims swiftly to his side, dives down, and lifts him out of the deep water. The three pull him to the north shore and up a steep, eroded bank.
Nokh works on the drowning young man until he gasps and water spews out of his mouth. After a steady embrace in Enoch’s arms, breath returns and relief takes the place of fear of death.
When Enoch finally looks into the eyes of the rescued man, he exclaims,
‘You are Hazron, my cousin Haran’s boy! What are you doing here?’
Azar suddenly takes charge and ties Enoch’s feet with his belt.
‘Our duty is to track and report traitors who disrupt the friendly relations of citizens of our town.’
The other scout shouts angrily,
‘Unless you turn from your separatist ways, we have been ordered to take you in.’
Enoch says flatly without thinking of the consequences,
‘How can I renounce the One I have chosen to follow all the days of my life?’
He knows that those who follow God, do so not because of the good things he does for them, but because he is God.
‘He is my God. If this is his will, I submit!’
Then he speaks slowly,
’I do not know who sent you, and I respect their authority, but I will follow greater authority. I cannot renounce my God.’
Nokh sees the power of evil in Azar’s face as it suddenly turns to stone and this young man spits out blasphemies against God.
Enoch believes in Satan, the evil one, and sees his command over the will of this young man. On one of their earlier visits to Mahalalel’s home, Orna and Nokh have learned details about Eve and how the Devil tempted her.
‘He makes things look so appealing and beautiful, but his intention is rebellion against the one true God.’
They also learn from their elders,
‘The Devil, that old serpent, draws into his light, a light that leads to darkness, into separation from all that is good.’
Satan’s music of the night lures thousands away from God’s plan. He appeals to the lust of the flesh, the pride of life and the greediness of the eyes. He has control of the world, using his supernatural powers to deceive many.
Hazron recovers enough to step forward and asks, with great force, if he could speak to his uncle alone.
Azar, almost without reason, loosens the belt from Enoch and allowed the two of them to walk further into the forest, away from the river.
When they are alone, they hug, a good long hug of brotherly love and loyalty – much more than a superficial pat on the back.
‘Thank you for saving my life.’
‘I have an incredibly special place in my heart for your father and for everyone in your family. It was the only thing I could do.’
‘Azar is serious about taking you in. What shall we do?’
Enoch says,
‘Let’s seek wisdom from God.’
Time passes as they speak of family, desires for the future, and the importance of participation in community. Their respect for one another draws them remarkably close.
Enoch will not back down and speaks strongly against the addition of human blood to the blood of the lamb at the altar.
‘It is what God has asked and it is enough.’
Hazron asks,
‘How can it be wrong when everyone is doing it?’
The third scout approaches suddenly.
Hazron is silent.
‘Azar fell asleep after you left. It was like something hit him, but he was exhausted from the thrill of the hunt.’
He tells them their time is up. Azar is stirring. He will be upon you.
‘Come now or risk bloodshed.’
Then, after this warning, he looks directly into Enoch’s eyes and prods,
‘I have watched you in town Enoch. Your lust for flesh is just like all of us. You are no different. I have seen you look at young men and the girls with great desire. You love the preeminence of your exalted reputation. I know you do! Do not deny it!’
Guilt floods Enoch’s inner being, for he knows there is truth in this perceptive young man’s accusations.
They pushed toward the river and the scout says,
‘You do not make sense. Our new way of life makes us feel so good about each other and about God. How can that be wrong?’
Hazron agrees and Enoch feels there is no escape from these three young and extraordinarily strong men.
‘God wants us to be happy. Don’t take our joy away from us with your old ways.’
When they arrive at the edge of the river, Azar is gone.
‘Wait!’
They all talk at once.
‘Two men are standing on the other shore.’
With Enoch’s help they swim across safely and Azar appears to be captivated by Mahalalel. The elder ancestor takes Enoch by the hand, lifts his pack onto his own back, and walks west.
At Mahalalel’s home, they talk, weep, hug, eat, and sleep, and talk some more.
On the last day before Enoch returns home, Adam comes. Nokh’s heart is filled with so much awe, he can barely speak.
All he remembers on his journey is one thing Adam had said:
‘Did you know that Jared your father, and your mother, brought you to me when you were a very young child? I held you in my arms and blessed you!’
Enoch marvels,
‘I am over two hundred and fifty years of age and for the first time I learn of my blessing. Thank you God! You have loved me with your steadfast love. I am blessed.’