When Adam was 789 years old, his great, great, great, great grandson, Enoch, was blessed with his first son.

Enoch at this time was 65 years old, a man who walked with God, and talked with God, as we would talk to a friend.

Enoch’s precious little boy was named Methuselah. It is revealed in the Bible, in the fifth chapter of Genesis, that this little boy grew up and lived to the age of 969 years, making him the oldest man that lived on this earth, of which we have record.

All of Methuselah’s forefathers, with the exception of his father, Enoch, lived to an average age of 919 years, or 50 years less than Methuselah. He lived on this earth 7 years longer than any previous man.

According to the margin in my Bible, next to the verse in Genesis 5:21, the Hebrew meaning of the name “Methuselah” is “at his death the sending forth of waters.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On The Holy Bible, vol. I, has noted that the name in its entirety “signifies, ‘he dies, there is a dart’, or, ‘a sending forth.’ ”

With his close fellowship with God, Enoch was given insight into the things to come, and prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed.” Jude, 14, 15. He was one of the first prophets among mankind. Could it be that the significance of his son’s name was prophetical? What happened at Methuselah’s death?

Methuselah’s grandson was Noah, who was born when Methuselah was 369 years old. In Methuselah’s 969th year, or, Noah’s 600th year, on the 2nd month of the year, the 17th day, “were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.” Genesis 7:11, 12. The simple conclusion is that the Flood occurred in the year of Methuselah’s death, or, described in another way, “at his death, the sending forth of waters.”

Was Methuselah the oldest man recorded to have lived on this earth because the Lord was extending His mercy to the souls in the world, not being willing that any should perish?

The Lord is “longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression.” Numbers 14:18. He is “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.” Psalm 103:8. His love for man is as strong and tender as it was before the Flood. “He is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9.

He entreats us, “Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.” Ezekiel 18:30–32.

Today the winds of strife are being held back—giving men opportunity to be saved, as in Noah’s day the rains and floods were withheld. May we understand this precious opportunity. May the sense of God’s eternal, deep love for each soul, for you, dear reader, and for me, make us draw close to Him, and make Him our best Friend, as He was Enoch’s. Then our lives will span not 69 years, or even 969 years, but eternity, as in the words of the beautiful song,

“My God and I will go for aye together.

We’ll walk and talk as good friends should and do;

This earth will pass and with it common trifles,

But God and I will go unendingly.”