A brilliant glow radiates around them like colored glass near the river as light filters through towering deciduous trees.
Adam looks for a long while at the nearest elm and says,
‘You cannot know what it was like before sin destroyed so many things to which we had become accustomed.’
Enoch looks intently into Adam’s eyes and is surprised that Adam eagerly returns the gaze and concludes,
‘Trees remind me of all that I have lost. Memories make me sad. I overcome sorrow by focusing on God, our Creator, his power, and his wisdom.
Thoughts flood Enoch’s mind.
‘I never thought Adam would be like this. His fear-ridden face and slow speech startle me.’
Adam does not notice Enoch’s questioning gaze. He continues,
‘God has taken care of me these many days since I sinned. That was more than eight hundred cycles of the sun ago.’
There is silence. Finally.
‘What if I fail God again?’
After a long pause in which Nokh waits without embarrassment,
‘I was a man, fully man, human before I sinned.’
Sin does not make Adam more of a man. God created Adam, fully a man on the sixth day of creation. Even though sin reigns, Adam is no less a man. Enoch struggles to get his head around this truth. In spite of his questions, he rejoices to see this day when patient endurance reaps great blessing.
Adam invites him into his home freely and begins to open his inner thoughts. Hours become days. Days stretch out to weeks. Finally, this relationship with the original man comes to fruition.
Nokh has been all right with waiting. God has taught him that love is patient. He wants a friendship with Adam as much as he desires to walk with God. Then Enoch realizes that he cannot walk with God without walking with Adam if Adam walks with God.
They will become walkers together with God!
Adam speaks slowly, almost reflectively.
‘Why does anxiety about rejection steal my joy?’
At times he does not need to speak. His eyes reveal what he is thinking. The intensity of dark pupils drills deeply into Nokh’s soul, like a fiery flame.
Yes, fear shows. But there is so much more—wisdom, understanding, regret, glimmers of hope, frailty, humanness, the image of God. Faith emanates from his deeply tanned face. Miraculously worry has left no wrinkles even after centuries of life.
Adam confesses.
‘Eve believed that the sacrifice like our son Abel offered, was the way to find peace with God. At times she fought a fierce battle with assurance.’
Adam’s head drops in shame, his eyes hidden from Enoch.
‘I fight the same war.’
Then Adam looks to the majestic trees and questions,
‘Is it enough to bring my lamb to the altar? Do I need to do more to cover my sin? What if I have not done enough?’
It has been a long time since God has spoken to mankind. These long silences cause the faith of many to falter. Adam and Enoch are not without a doubt.
A glimmer of hope returns to Adam’s eye.
‘I yearn for the Lord! Every morning I rejoice to see another day. I wait for God’s assuring word.’
Water flowing from the direction of Eden reminds them of all that has been lost. At the same time, it gives testimony of God’s faithfulness.
Water for life. Sunlight for warmth and food. Towering trees offer protection. God is in control of all things.
Enoch learns quickly that it is human to doubt. Deep within his spirit, he touches God. He receives a few answers to life’s puzzling complexity.
‘Faith in God’s revealed will, even his ancient words, is enough.’
Fears melt away like the flickering glow of evening lamplight’s last gleam. He rests.
With encouragement and childlike faith, the two men, one very old, the other quite young, seek to enjoy God’s provision of rest, power, and love.