Faith: Stay in the Ark

The Faith of Noah
Hebrews 11, “By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.”

    -Noah was warned, then he prepared.  He was a sign to the world around him of God’s warning.  He was also a sign of a righteousness yet to be revealed.  Noah had faith and others had the opportunity through his example to have faith.  (Romans 1:17—Noah was not ashamed of the gospel: free gift of life from God…“from faith to faith…”)  Sadly, only his own household heeded.  The rest of the world was condemned because of their unbelief in God’s love and judgment.

Genesis 6–9:  The account of Noah and the flood.
    -“Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God” (6:9).  Between Enoch and and Noah, nobody was righteous.  Enoch was taken by God’s mercy, then  none were righteous except Noah, when the time for the flood came.
    -6:11—7:5…God established a covenant with Noah—something He does for His chosen people throughout history—an unbreakable relationship with a promise.  God was reconciling His creation back to Himself.  “Noah did according to all that the LORD had commanded him.”  What faith is:  walking with God in utter obedience, cherishing that relationship above all else.  It likely took many years to build the ark.  Imagine the ridicule Noah likely encountered; yet he stayed faithful to God’s call on his life.  We can also observe that through Noah, God was trying to save others (see the differing numbers of 6:19-20 and 7:1-2)
    -After bringing Noah, his family and the animals safely through the flood, God reminds them of the covenant (Gen. 8:20—9:18).  God promises to lift the curse. What is expected of humans is to “be fruitful and multiply,” like it was for Adam and Eve.  God wants to see His righteousness fill the earth.

However, we know how mankind fell back into dissipation and rebellion.  The covenant with Noah did not fully reconcile humankind.  We can look forward and know that it is the new covenant in Christ’s blood that was truly effective.  THIS IS WHAT NOAH AND THE OTHERS IN HEBREWS 11 SAW BY FAITH.


Jesus’ understanding of Noah
Luke 17:24-27.  Noah’s flood was a foreshadowing of the coming of the kingdom of God.  Those who do not heed the warning and cling to the Son will be destroyed.  “Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it” (Luke 17:33).  What faith is: looking forward to the kingdom of God, not looking back at my old life—stay in the “ark”!


Peter’s understanding of Noah
2 Peter 2:4-10.  Noah was a preacher of righteousness.  Those who don’t hear and heed are kept for the day of judgement.  On the day of judgment, will we have heard and heeded?
2 Peter 3:3-7.  These last days will be like Noah’s time…except fire—not water.  FINAL.
2 Peter 3:8-10.  Just as in the days of Noah, God wants people to repent!
—1 Peter 3:18-20.  It was Christ who was proclaiming through Noah a repentance leading out of death to righteousness.  vs. 21-22—baptism: putting to death our former self, possible by Christ’s resurrection and exaltation.
***We need to remember those who do not have faith are in prison—deceived by the devil and deluded by the lusts of the flesh and this present world.  Let us keep the faith, unwavering, and share the word of righteousness by demonstrating God’s love and patience.  Let us live a life separate from this world, not pressured by those who don’t understand.