Curses yet Blessings for the Other Enoch

Scripture: Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch; and he built a city, and named it Enoch after his son Enoch. Genesis 4:17

Observation: Upon being banished, Cain fathers a son named Enoch. This is not to be confused with the seventh generation of Adam in the line of Seth, also named Enoch, the grandfather of Noah who was so righteous that he was taken up by God. Cain's son Enoch seems to have no discernable notoriety, however it appears that centuries later the Samaritans established a tradition that this Enoch was buried on Mount Ebal. Mount Ebal is notable as one of the two mountains used when the Israelites entered the promised land ... they were divided by tribe, stood on two mountains and one group pronounced the blessings that would be theirs as they obeyed God, and the other pronounced the curses that would befall them if they disobeyed ... Ebal was the mountain of the curses.

Application: It is very possible that the Samaritans created this relationship between Enoch and Mount Ebal explicitly for this reason ... to align the Enoch born with Cain with the concept of curses from the Lord. Of course, Enoch was under a curse placed upon Cain, likely the first person born outside of Eden and thus outside of the Lord's blessing within the garden.

However, that is not to say he was born outside of the Lord's protection, watchfulness, or provision. Even this Enoch lives a life, has children and several more generations of descendants, and has a city named for him. He is associated with the curses of the Lord, but even as such still received a full life on earth. In this manner, we see that the Lord still provides and even blesses the lives of those who are removed from him. Those that have turned from God, he still loves and tries to aid in their lives, certainly in the hope they will return that love and honor.

The best-known Enoch was so honorable that it is said he walked with the Lord and was taken to heaven without knowing death. This lesser-known Enoch was the first of the cursed generation of Cain, becomes (perhaps mythologically) associated with curses, and yet must have been loved by God.

Prayer: Lord, even those who have fully turned away from you, you love. You are the greatest of fathers to all. I pray for our communities today, and those who have forsaken you. May they yet still find your provision and proof of your love, and turn back to you and to Jesus. Amen.