What’s His Name?

Reggie and I have been asked on several occasions why we named our son Enoch. Rather, it’s been, “What’s his name?” or “Where did you get that?”

Let me explain.

When we set about selecting a name for our unborn child, we took the task to heart. He would have to live with this name for the rest of his life. We wanted a unique name, and one that was reflective of what we deemed to be important in our lives.

From the beginning, the girl’s name was easy (I won’t share it in case we have a girl in the future :D). But, agreeing on a boy’s name was a bit more challenging.

Reggie had always liked the name Enoch. In fact, long before we met, he told a few friends in a Bible study that he would one day name his son Enoch. I, on the other hand was not so sure. I knew I wanted a name that meant devoted or dedicated to God (like the girl’s name), but nothing resonated with me. Mind you, I rejected the name Enoch without research. It was simply because I wasn’t “feeling it” because it was “too different”. If I am honest, I was simply concerned about what others would say.

Finally, after wrestling with it, I did what I should have done from the beginning. I prayed. In fact, I prayed from verses I focused on throughout the pregnancy. “God, you are knitting this child together in my womb. All the days ordained for him were written in your book before one of them came to be. You have already named her, and you know the plans for this child’s life. What have YOU named him?”

I’d like to say that I heard this booming voice from above or that an angel from heaven appeared. Not quite. What actually happened is I stopped fighting long enough to look up Enoch in scripture. From that point on, I began to hear the name Enoch everywhere. A friend shared that the person she is most striving to live like is Enoch. I came across the name Enoch looking for another passage. A man in our area who was running for office was named Enoch. I found that the definition of Enoch is “dedicated, trained”. But, what struck me most was his story. This Enoch’s story is found in just three short passages.

When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years. Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away. Genesis 5:21-24

By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:4-6

Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” Jude 1:14-16

That’s it. Three times. But, what a testimony! We don’t know how much money he had. Not sure of his occupation. Don’t know of any drama. There are no parted seas or tumbling walls on his resume. The only thing we know is that he lived his life by faith and he took a stand against evil. He. Pleased. God. So much so, that God decided to let him skip death…skip death!!! So, that’s enough for me.

Oh I forgot to mention that he did leave a godly legacy (Luke 3). He is a forefather of Noah, and Abraham and Isaac…Jacob…David…you get the picture. So yes, if Enoch decides to grow up to be like the man he is named after, that is enough me. Definitely enough for me.

Gotta go now…Enoch beckons and I have a generation to raise!

Grateful,

Kim