With careful steps and slow, Enoch makes no major changes for weeks after Mattawn leaves home. He carefully considers what the Lord would have him do.
A deep longing to be with Adam is his desire. His conscience counsels him to build relationships with family here, including Haran’s clan. Also, there are many neighbors who need encouragement.
Enoch chooses home, family, and friends in the community. Faithfulness to God encourages him.
With years of exciting travel, searching for the old truth stories, Enoch has been in danger of losing his focus on an important part of his walk with God.
How does he know what God wants him to do? Is his pride pulling him away from intimacy with God and others?
Happy moments fall into place quickly. Times of laughter and playfulness are spent with all, not just a few favorites.
Haran enjoys the immediate benefit as they produce the best javelins they have ever crafted. Neighbors notice immediately. The dart shop prospers.
Worship and sacrifice at their private family altars continue to be the center. Because of such a good example many people turn toward God. Traditions must not take the place of love for God!
On a typical filtered-light Friday, the first month of a new year, Methuselah shares lunch with his father, Haran, and several others who have committed themselves to freshness in their walk with God. Sadly, there is disagreement among them.
Enoch asks, thinking the Lord wants him to take charge,
‘Why can’t we build a permanent altar? Are we not able to do whatever we want?’
An older man from outside the clan speaks up.
‘My conscience tells me to go slow when we add new things to what God has clearly told us to do.’
The others agree. Methuselah adds,
‘Cain, our forefather, got angry because God did not accept his offering.’
Every man in the group bows in quietness before the Lord. No decision is made about a permanent altar place.
In the days following, Methuselah attempts to talk to his father about pride in the place of the sacrifice. Each one is convinced his way is right. However, Enoch enjoys a calming peace in his inner being and tells people,
‘I choose to focus on God. Our altar and worship should be simple. It is not a performance. It is about relationship. We come to strengthen our relationship with God and one another. If our worship does not draw us together, something is wrong with our worship.’
God speaks to them in their minds. It is called human conscience. No one hears an audible voice. They understand that it is the word of God. Most of them do agree that they should not hide their place of worship. Their obedience will be seen by all. Everyone is welcome to participate.
Enoch follows this time of decision by setting apart a large section of his own property on the river for those who follow God. They are welcome to gather regularly.
One of the leading women speaks up,
‘Our family will not participate if we have to build our altars here.’
Enoch answers,
‘God has told us we can follow our own conscience, if we walk in obedience to his revealed word.’
The new gathering place takes on a life of its own. Healing waters diverted from the Euphrates River flow through it. Olive trees flourish. A press provides fresh oil.
The plot of ground becomes a source of health and happiness. Planting, nurturing, harvesting, provide fellowship. The people bless God.
An open meadow overflowing with flowers and foliage becomes the assembly place for families. Marveling at the starry host when evening arrives and pulls the misty canopy back keeps all who come close to God. The truth of encouraging each other day by day as God lengthens their days guards them from the deceitfulness of sin.
The wise man, Methuselah, asks,
‘How can anyone reject God’s word, when we clearly see the glory of God in the starry host?’
In obedience, those who gather stand in silence, confessing their sins, as together they give their best lamb. Blood drops off the corner of a field stone and soaks into the earth.
It is enough! God has promised.
The group then share a feast of roast flesh, bread soaked in cold-pressed olive oil, sweetness of honey, fruit, and salty spices with infused oils. Grace and love like fragrance fill the park.
Methuselah with his growing ministry of announcing judgment against sin, pulls his father aside as families move toward their own homes.
‘Father, we must continually warn one another to avoid the pride we feel in this place.’