Deluge

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The book of Genesis describes Noah as “a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time and he walked with God.” In contrast to the corruption of the world around him, Noah was exemplary, and like his ancestor, Enoch, lived a life in communion with God. Because of the closeness of their relationship, God gave Noah details of His plan to destroy the world, and He gave Noah instructions to build an ark which would be the means of Noah and his family’s salvation. Hebrews 11:7 tells us: 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 comes by faith." I don’t believe that Noah was afraid of God, but he had enough “holy fear” to believe that when God told him judgment was coming, it was on its way.

Most school-age children have heard this story of Noah building an ark, and have imagined what it would have been like for Noah to build a big boat in the middle of a desert region. Although the biblical account of Genesis does not depict the jeers of the onlookers, surely Noah must have been regarded as a bit “off his head”. Day after day he worked at the construction site, probably wondering what God’s promised destruction would look like, and what kind of world would await him and his family when they emerged from the ark.

Whatever questions Noah may have had about the advisability of this building project, his response to God’s instructions is repeated several times: “Noah did everything just as God had said.” Noah knew God so well, that even though he surely did not understand God’s plan, he was willing to obey it. And God knew Noah, had seen his obedience and righteousness, and in mercy, had determined to save Noah from the judgment which was looming over the rest of mankind.

Jesus actually painted the scene for us and tied it to a prophecy about His second coming: “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the Flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.” (Mt. 24: 37-39)

Noah built the ark, God closed him and his family and the animals he had collected in the ark, and they waited—for a whole long week before God acted. When the storm finally broke in sudden intensity on the people outside the ark, the sound of the downpour on the roof must have been deafening to Noah and his family. What must the family have felt as they heard the cries of the people washed away in the flood waters, and realized God’s mercy in providing for their salvation?

Four rather obvious lessons emerge from this passage. The first is that the judgment of God will come, and the consequences will be serious. God’s patience is long, but not unlimited; He did shut the door of the ark.

The second lesson is the importance of living a prepared life. 2 Peter 3:11-13 stresses: “Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.” It’s kind of interesting to think that the quality of my life could actually speed up the return of Christ. I’d have to say, in the present world climate, it might be a good idea to help speed things up!

The third lesson is that, although judgment is sure, so our hope is also sure that a new heaven and new earth will be created. 2 Peter 3:14: “That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.”

The fourth lesson we discover is that God is merciful. Jesus said, “My Father, who has given them [his disciples] to me is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hands.” John 10:28 Surely, Noah and his family, as they heard the rage of the storm descend, had experienced God’s mercy as He held them in the ark of His design.