WITH GOD IN THE HOUSEHOLD
J.S.Gray
Genesis 5: 21-24; Judges 1: 12-15
It is to be noticed as to Enoch that the fact that he walked with God is specifically connected with the period after the birth of his son; and it is connected also with his begetting sons and daughters. I think, beloved, that we should consider our families in this connection, that there is no reason why walking with God should cease when we begin to have children in the house. Indeed, there is all the more reason that we should walk with God, because it is God who gives children and they are to be held in relation to His interests and testimony. I feel the challenge for myself and would seek that the brethren would share it, particularly as to our households with children that there should be walking with God and that in relation to the bringing up of our children. We have noticed before that the days of Enoch are referred to and every father and mother knows what days involve in the bringing up of children. I trust that I have the interest of all the brethren in this without seeking to exclude those who have not families; God knows about that and He knows the interest of those who have not families in those who have and in all the children of the saints. But from what I observe beloved, I feel that there is a need of deeper exercise as to the care of our children in relation to what is pleasing to God.
Enoch rather than Noah represents the saints of the present dispensation. Noah, perhaps, links with the remnant in the day to come as going through the midst of a period of judgment, but Enoch is connected more with the saints of the present time, I believe, as going through apart from the evil and being taken out of it. So our course, for ourselves and our families, beloved, is to be walking with God. What Enoch would be occupied with as he walked is a great source of interest. For us it would involve, no doubt, being able to enter into God's thoughts as to Christ, His pleasure in Him, as He grew up through boyhood in perfection. Think of the growing up of Jesus, how beautiful and perfect it is! And then what a source of interest it is to apprehend features of sonship coming to light in our children. Nothing is said about the mother in the household, but Enoch walked with God and it says "he was not, for God took him". So far as the world was concerned he was out of sight and he just, as it were, disappears. I think that, in readiness for our translation, we should be disappearing from the public eye, out of sight from the world, not taking on its habits or practices, but seeking to share, may I say reverently, with God His thoughts as to things publicly and as to the conditions suitable in the assembly for the maintenance of His service.
We have in Othniel and Achsah a husband and a wife, and what precedes it is the smiting and taking the city of the book. I feel I should say something about that, that we should examine, each of us, what we are reading. How much valuable ministry of the word there is, both present and past, as well as the Scriptures to occupy us full time. It may be however that we have not fully overcome the literature that is really of this world and I just leave a word as to this, that we should each examine whether we have personally overcome, smitten and overcome, the city of the book. Walking with God day by day involves, dear brethren, that He sees how we conduct ourselves each day. Then Achsah is given to Othniel who took the city: "he gave him Achsah his daughter as wife". She brings in this valuable urging in relation to the inheritance and I submit to the beloved brethren the great value of this in a household, that there should be not only the checking of what is not suitable but the urging of one another into the actual possession of the things of God. We may be able to say that we have been preserved in the testimony so far - thank God for that! What an inheritance we have! We may be able in some degree to say what we know as to the truth of the inheritance, and thank God for that! But let us urge one another into the actual possession of things in freshness, in liberty and in conscious enjoyment. She says "thou hast given me a southern land; give me also springs of water". O, for increase of liberty with the Spirit to give us enjoyment of the things of God, so that we should be more at home in the spiritual realm, that it should not be strange to us, that there should not be a great transfer needed as we assemble, but that we should be ready for the things of God and for entrance into the spiritual realm. It says that "Caleb gave her the upper springs and the lower springs". There is sufficient to satisfy the measure of our desires, beloved brethren, sufficient with God, sufficient with the blessed Spirit. One feels exercised as to the measure of liberty and freshness one has in spiritual things. We may have a good deal of conversation as to arrangements among the brethren and general conversation perhaps in our houses, but how much are we able to urge one another as to the spiritual things which are bound up with Christ, the One in whom all is for our enjoyment? May the Spirit use these thoughts, dear brethren, for our encouragement and stimulation to go in for the things which involve what is really life.
LONDON
17 August 1976