Noah
July 13, 2011 (Wednesday)
This week we have written about some Bible characters: Joseph and Abraham. Today, I’m writing about Noah. The first Bible quotation that comes to my mind when I hear the name, “Noah,” is, “Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” I can readily identify with that, for ours is an age of grace, and that grace is now offered to everyone.
God created the world and pronounced his creation, “very good,” but sin entered through the first pair of humans and the “very good” world suddenly became a fallen world. According to the Genesis account, its moral condition continued to worsen, until “every thought of man was only evil continuously.”
God decided to destroy the people of the world with a great flood, but he would spare Noah and his family. He gave Noah specific instructions on construction of a huge vessel, into which he would lead pairs of animals and all the members of his family. Before the flood, however, he called upon the people to change their ways, but no one responded to his call. Finally, the day of judgment arrived, it began to rain, and did so until the entire earth was covered in water and all life was ended, except for those in the big ship that Noah had built.
When the waters subsided, life on earth began anew with those on the “ark,” the name given to the vessel.
The New Testament talks about this event, and Jesus himself warned the people of a later time, “Just as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be in the days of the coming of the Son of Man.” The point he was making was that life was going on as usual right up to the hour when the rain began to fall. The New Testament says, “It is appointed unto man once to die, and after this the judgment.” Jesus said his coming in judgment would be like the lightning, “over before you know it.” If you are waiting for signs, you wait in vain. His coming will be like that of a thief who gives no warning that he will visit your home.
“Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” The New Testament joyfully proclaims to all of us today, “By grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God.” “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved,” for, though “the wages of sin is death,” “the gift of God is eternal life.”
_______________________________________________________________________
Click here for more information about the flood, etc.
On Tim Lovett’s site, “Worldwide Flood,” click “History,” then “Bible Search” for references to Noah in the Bible.