Hebrews 11:7, “By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.”
Noah is one of the most famous people in the entire Bible. Most people know the story of the flood and how God commanded Him to build an ark to save the animals along with his family (his wife, three sons, and their wives- 8 in total). As a matter of fact the story of Noah’s ark is probably the most retold Old Testament story in Sunday school. Teachers love to have children color the pictures of the animals going in the ark.
However, what most people forgot is that millions of people died because of their sin. The Bible records in Genesis 6:5-8, “5 The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. 6 The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. 7 So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.”
Therefore, Noah was not only righteous in his walk with God when everyone around him was evil, but he was also obedient to build an ark to save the whole human race and the entire animal kingdom. The author of Hebrews stated that his faith was so outstanding in comparison to the faithlessness around him that his faith literally “condemned the world.” In other words, because he was faithful and others were not, God was totally just in destroying everyone else because it was their choice to reject God’s commands.
We can learn from Noah three very important things, (1) To always follow God’s commands- even if no one around us does; (2) Guard and preserve our families from the corruption of the world; and lastly, (3) Serve God faithfully with holy fear. Therefore, in view of Noah’s faith, I challenge you in this wicked and perverse end time generation to live a life of faith being fully obedient to God!
Reflection
Are you obedient to everything God has commanded you to do?
Action
- Repent if you have not been obedient to all of God’s commands, John 14:15.
- Read God’s Word daily and follow all that He gives you to do.
- Like Noah, by faith, live a life of total obedience to God’s commands and plans.
