Tuesday, December 4

NOAH AND HIS FAMILY

Genesis 6:5-13

“Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the Lord said, ‘I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.’ But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord…”

As we move from the story of Abel into the story of Noah, we find that sin had increased greatly. The earth was corrupt before God and filled with wrong living and unjust gain. Things were bad, yet when one man, Noah, came to God, a nation was saved…the Noah nation. One nation under God!

Noah was a “nobody” who found grace in the eyes of the Lord. He wanted to hear from God, so he put himself in God’s presence and walked with God. It was here that God warned Noah of the coming destruction. God made it clear that He was grieved at the wickedness of man on the earth, and He gave Noah very specific orders to build a boat according to His design. It was not a fancy showboat nor a speedboat nor a rowboat. Nor was it a submarine or a glass-bottom party-liner. In fact, it was basically just a big tri-level box, sealed tight inside and out with red pitch to keep out the water, and ultimately, to save “the nobodies” from God’s anger.

The boat that Noah was building was a picture of the safe place found in Jesus, and the pitch that he sealed the boat with, was pointing to the blood of Jesus. This three-story ark design would reflect the true Christian life in Christ. First, it has a sub level, where there is a low humble attitude of the heart, a place of agreeing with God—“Yes, Lord, I am a sinner and I need to be cleansed and sealed in Your blood!” Then a mid-level arises, where one moves on the surface of belief, just a little above sea level. Third, is the upper level with a window to Heaven, the place of knowing the power of God.

Noah did according to all that God commanded him. The building of this ark took a very long time, and all the while he built it, he preached God’s Word—turning from sin and living right before God. What a sight—one man building a huge boat with no water anywhere near! He must have looked pathetic as the whole world went on with their busy lives. He probably heard them say things like, “God is too loving to destroy us, Noah, you’re just wasting your time.” But Noah was hearing God clearly. God caused it to rain. “All the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.” Soon, all flesh died as the waters prevailed, and everything that was so connected to this earth, was destroyed. “Only Noah and those who were with him in the ark remained alive.” Today, as we see sin and disaster flooding in, REPENT and enter in to the only safe place to be…in Jesus, and sealed with His blood.

~ Ruth Ann Ward