Noah

God’s Introduction

Our introduction to Noah is Genesis chapter six as “men began to multiply on the face of the earth” (v. 1) and as the “Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth.” So bad in fact was it that Moses wrote: “…that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” and that “the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth” (vs. 5-6). In the midst of the condition of the world, “Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord” (v. 8).

Character’s Identification

Genesis 6:9 begins a section inspiredly titled: “The genealogy of Noah.” In it, we are told that Noah “was a just man, perfect in his generations” and that he “walked with God.” Noah is given instruction from God to build an ark, it’s material, dimensions, and even its contents (6:13-21). “Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did” (6:22; cf. 7:5).

The flood came in the 600th year of Noah’s life (7:11). God’s grace was extended to Noah with an invitation: “The Lord said to Noah, ‘Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation’” (7:1).

The New Testament gives a little more information about his character of faithfulness. He “became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith” (Hebrews 11:7b). Becoming “heir of the righteousness” is seen in Noah’s faith: “divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his household” (11:7a). The apostle Peter wrote of Noah: “…the Divine longsuffering waiting in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water” (1 Peter 3:20). Peter referred to Noah as, “a preacher of righteousness” (2 Peter 2:5).

Our Impression

#1. We can find grace in the eyes of the Lord. The world in which we live is evil, as well. We are taught through Scripture to “not love the world” because those things that might tempt us are not of the Father and do not last (1 John 2:15-17). Therefore, we must be faithful as was Noah “in his generations” by our obedience and faithfulness when the world around us is so bent on a downward spiral toward wickedness (Romans 1:18-32).

#2. Grace is extended to each of us, as well. Paul wrote to Titus that “the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men” (Titus 2:11). This grace is in the form of the Gospel of Christ to which we must obey (Rom. 6:16-17, 3-7). This same grace also instructs us how to live our lives faithfully (Titus 2:12-13).

#3. We each have a sermon to preach. Our lives of faith are characterized as “salt” and “light” to the world around us (Matthew 5:13-16); therefore, we are to live in such a way that we adorn “the doctrine of God” (Titus 2:9-10). As Christians, we are each commanded to “go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16).

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