Genesis 6:9-22 “This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, (blameless, having integrity) perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God. And Noah begot three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.
And God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch. And this is how you shall make it: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits (450 feet), its width fifty cubits (75 feet), and its height thirty cubits (45 feet). You shall make a window for the ark, and you shall finish it to a cubit from above; and set the door of the ark in its side. You shall make it with lower, second, and third decks. And behold, I Myself am bringing floodwaters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die. But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall go into the ark—you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. And of every living thing of all flesh you shall bring two of every sort into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female. Of the birds after their kind, of animals after their kind, and of every creeping thing of the earth after its kind, two of every kind will come to you to keep them alive. And you shall take for yourself of all food that is eaten, and you shall gather it to yourself; and it shall be food for you and for them.” Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did.”
“The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. And God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch.”
The name “Noah” means “rest;” however, at this point, things on earth are far from restful! The Nephilim (possibly fallen angels who have fallen from heaven to earth with Satan) have interbred with humans and their offspring are naturally evil and are begetting more evil. (What else can they produce?) God is ready to clean house; however, Noah and his family remain as righteous people and God chooses to use them to preserve creation. But first, Noah must build a boat in the middle of dry land.
Noah and his family already have a reputation as weirdos. Noah’s family doesn’t engage in wild sexual orgies or public drunkenness; they live quietly and peaceably. Noah is a diligent farmer while his neighbors are allowing their crops to go to seed. Noah takes care of his animals and restrains them, rather than allowing them to wander off into the neighbor’s crops, destroying their farms. Noah’s wife is kind and sweet and doesn’t join in the vicious gossip at the public well. If Noah’s wife sells things in the market, she doesn’t attempt to cheat people. The tomatoes at the bottom of the pile are just as good as those at the top, and Noah’’s wife has never sold anybody a rotten cucumber. If Mrs. Noah weaves material and sells it, she gives full measure and doesn’t try to fold the material so that a smaller amount will appear to be a larger length. Noah’s sons and daughters behave circumspectly and modestly. Yes, Noah and his family are really strange! And now things are about to get stranger.
The first indication Noah’s neighbors have that something unusual is happening is when Noah begins gathering huge amounts of wood and pitch. Next, Noah erects a scaffold, and when nosy neighbors question him, Noah tells them that God has instructed him to build a large boat and gather up animals and birds because God is going to send a catastrophic flood. You can almost imagine the ridicule. “God? Which god would tell you to do such a stupid thing? Noah, you must be drinking just like the rest of us! Besides, Noah, you’re a farmer, not a carpenter! And in case you haven’t noticed, the nearest large body of water is several days’ journey from here, and we get very little rainfall here. How can it possibly flood? Noah, you are really crazy!”
When we continue the story of Noah, we learn that it will take nearly 100 years to build the ark. That’s 100 years of insults from the neighbors, 100 years of verbal abuse, 100 years of sacrificing whatever reputation Noah might have established. It’s possible that prior to God’s orders, Noah has enjoyed a reputation as a sage advisor and counselor, one of the elders sitting in the city gates. Now Noah has become an object of ridicule. When Noah and his family venture out, small children mock them, chanting insulting verses about them. As Noah continues to build the ark, even the town criers announce his progress only to mock him.
Hebrews 11:7 says, “By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.” Noah and his family are paying a high price, sacrificing their standing in society, and enduring all kinds of ridicule; however, their neighbors ultimately will pay for their unbelief and their slander with their lives and the lives of their children and grandchildren.
In the face of such opposition, how are Noah and his family managing to persist and continue to progress? The key is the phrase “moved with godly fear.” Noah has a strong relationship with God and fears and respects God. Noah truly believes that God will bring a flood and that God is calling him to do the unthinkable, to build a huge boat in the middle of a land with no lakes or seas for great distances. Noah has peace in his heart and is continuing to obey God because he trust that God has truly spoken to him and he fears for his family, for creation, and for himself.
While heading mission hospitals, I have endured at least three major staff strikes. Each time, rebellious members of staff have convinced others that the hospital has enormous amounts of money and should be paying generous allowances in addition to the salaries staff receive from the government. Each time, these people have vilified me, even though I have worked extremely hard and that I have tried to lead as honestly and as honorably as possible. During one strike, one seasoned nursing leader commented that my people had no idea how well we were actually doing and that they should be grateful rather than resentful. Only the knowledge that God has called me and continues to call me has allowed me to remain faithful and to continue to work.
Steven Jobs is quoted as having said, “If you want to be popular, sell ice cream.” Most of the time, when we consider the story of Noah, we focus on the completed ark, gathering the animals, and the flood. There are all kinds of cute pictures of Noah and all those animals. But Noah paid the real price before the flood ever arrived, enduring all kinds of attacks from his neighbors. Noah had peace because he knew that God was calling him to do this work.
Romans 5:1-5 tells us, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
Noah had peace with God because he remained in fellowship with God and refused to listen to evil advisers. When surrounded by evil, we may still have peace with God if we will look to God and refuse to pay attention to those around us.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to focus on You and not on the evil around us. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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