Noah Builds An Ark
Hello everyone. We are in a new month and on
Sunday we began the Joshua Generation characteristic of
Obedience. Most of the Joshua generation characteristics are
equally important. But, beyond a shadow of doubt, obedience and
the attitude of obedience is the most important. Since the
beginning of time, God has always demanded obedience from
mankind. Christians begin their walk with God upon an act of
obedience (Rom. 6:17-18; Heb. 5:8-9). Obedience is forever a
part of the great commission as we are to repent, confess, be
baptized and continue to observe “all things” Christ has
commanded (Mt. 28:18-20). We are His friends if “ye do
whatsoever I have commanded you” (John 15:14).
The slogan for this month (and hopefully for
our entire lives) is “Obey all the way.” This week’s memory
verse is Gen. 18:19 prophesying Abraham’s continued obedience.
Our study today is found in Gen. 6:9-22. You
may immediately know that this is the record of God’s
instructions to Noah about building the ark. You will remember
that it was to be 300 by 30 by 50 cubits. It was to be made of
gopher wood. The ark was to have three stories and a door
leading into it. It was to be covered with pitch inside and out.
It was also to have an opening (window in the KJV) for light and
probably air. The original language uses the word for light
where the KJV says window. The exact structure or extent of this
“window” is not known. Although not specified in our Biblical
record, Noah included a covering, perhaps like shutters or
lattice work (Gen. 8:6).
In this entire narrative it took only one
verse to give Noah’s response to the detailed instruction. Verse
22 says, “Thus did Noah according to all that God commanded him,
so did he.” Over the years, I have seen many epitaphs on
headstones in cemeteries. There are two epitaphs that every many
should want used with his name. Both mean the same thing. The
above statement is one of them. “Enoch walked with God,” is
another. Neither Enoch or Noah were perfect in action, but they
were true in heart. They obeyed God “from the heart” (Rom.6:17).
There are so many lessons to be drawn from
this text that we will divide it into two days study. I will
list 11 of the lessons with brief comments. Well, maybe not all
that brief. After all, I am a preacher.
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It is possible for virtually all people to be
lost. Noah’s entire world was lost. We live in a world where
most everyone wants to recognize any and all religious efforts
as being acceptable to God. “Christian” religion (including
Catholicism) is claimed by about 65 % of the world’s population.
Islam is the world’s fastest growing religion. Islam and other
eastern religions are spreading. If you were to listen to many
religious leaders, God will somehow accept us all, despite the
wide differences in the way we serve God. Supposedly, this is we
are all trying to make the world a better place to live. But God
does not agree with that assessment. There is salvation in no
other but Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12). It is impossible to approach
the Father of heaven without going through Christ (Jn. 14:6).
Most people in the world will be lost (Mt. 7:13-14). Many
believers in Christ, who believe they are Christians, will find
out they are not because their faith did not lead them to
obedience to the Lord’s plan (Mt. 7:21-23). Everyone not in the
Lord’s church (Mt. 16:18) which is cleansed by his blood through
baptism (Acts 20:28; Eph. 5:25-27) will be lost. Since the world
began, the faithful have always been a remnant. Some today say
this is arrogant teaching. Tell that to the Lord who gave us the
above passages. Tell it to the Lord who died so we could be
saved. Tell it to the Lord who died for us and has the sovereign
and sacrificial right to say, ‘Follow my plan.’ This is not
arrogant preaching. It is driven preaching (2 Cor. 5:11-21).
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God’s patience has limits. Our God is patient
because he does not want anyone to be lost (2 Pet. 3:9). Our God
also knows that everyone does not improve with time. He “gave
up” almost the entire Gentile world because he knew time would
better them (Rom. 1:24, 26, 28). Christ gave up on most of the
Jewish world because they chose to remain in a desolate state of
disobedience (Mt. 23:37-39; Rom. 10:1-3).
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God’s love for his creation does not prevent
his punishment of the wicked. Our God who is perfect in love is
also perfect in justice. He who is merciful is the “rewarder of
them that diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6) and the comforter of
the troubled (2 Thess. 1:7) is also just in his vengeance toward
the disobedient (2 Thess. 1:7-9; Rom. 12:19)
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Noah alone, in his time, was faithful to God.
His sons were not yet born when he was commanded to build the
ark. It is possible for one to stand. It is possible for one to
influence his family to God. Noah was between 480 and 500 years
old when he was given the command to build the ark. Scholars
indicate that his first son was born when he was 502 years old.
Think of the ridicule he (and later, his sons) must have
received as he built on the ark. He was a “preacher of
righteousness” (2 Pet. 2:5) during the time he built the ark,
but he did not have a single convert beyond his family. However,
God and one always make a majority (Rom. 8:31). In the words of
the song, “When you walk with God, you never walk alone.”
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God had a plan. I have long encouraged men to
be planners because God was a planner. Although we are not given
all the plans that Noah must have been given for the ark, it is
obvious that God knew what he wanted. Consider that he planned
for the salvation of man before the creation of man (Eph. 1:4,
3:2-9).
God has never left man to his own devices
about how to serve Him or do his will. From the very beginning,
God has given men plans. He told Adam and Eve exactly what was
expected of them. Cain's sacrifice was rejected. Abel's was
accepted because he followed the plan. Rom. 10:17 say that faith
comes by hearing the word of God. Abel's sacrifice was by faith
(Heb. 11:4), that is, according to the plan. God gave Gideon a
plan to conquer the Midianites with only 300 men. God has given
us a plan for salvation and for Christian living. We must obey
the plan.
Have a great day and obey all the way.