Noah was the tenth from Adam (Genesis 5) and part of the godly line of Seth (Genesis 4:26). He was the son of Lamech (Genesis 5:28,29). His father called his son Noah which means, “rest,” saying, “this same one shall comfort us” (Genesis 5:28-29).
Noah a righteous man
God’s prophet “found favor in the eyes of the LORD” (Genesis 6:8) for he lived a life that was in harmony with God’s will. “Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. He walked with God” (Genesis 6:9). His life was like that of his devout ancestor Enoch (Genesis 5:22, 24) and Enoch’s pious long-lived father Methuselah. Enoch had been translated to heaven only 69 years before Noah’s birth. Noah was 500 years when he begot Shem, Ham, and Japheth (Genesis 5:32).
The wickedness of the antediluvians
Noah lived in a generation that was completely evil (Genesis 6:1-8). And “The LORD saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time” (Genesis 6:5). So, the Lord planned to “wipe from the face of the earth the human race … and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground…” (Genesis 6:7). God determined the eradication of the human race by a devastating flood. And because the Lord loved His children, He sent Noah to warn them for a probationary period of – 120 years (Genesis 6:3).
The Ark
God gave Noah instructions to build the Ark (Genesis 6:22). And his sons not only believed what he preached but actively participated in preparations. Thus, Noah was a “herald of righteousness” (2 Peter 2:5), and he “condemned the world” (Hebrews 11:7) by his righteous actions. The Bible records that “In the 600th year of Noah’s life that the waters poured and continued for 40 days (Genesis 7:11). Only eight people went into the Ark and were saved from the flood (Noah, his wife, their three sons and their wives – 1 Peter 3:18–20).
The flood
Noah is an example of a life of faith. Hebrews 11:7 says, “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.” After the flood, Noah and his family got out of the Ark. And God’s prophet offered sacrifices to God (Genesis 8:20) as an expression not only of gratitude for preservation but also as a new pledge of his faith in the Savior. The salvation of Noah’s family is an act of mercy and hope to the faithful that live at the end of time. For they can be assured that God will also save them from destruction in the final judgment.
Noah’s sons
The Bible tells us that Noah was a farmer and he planted a vineyard. Then, he drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his own tent. And Ham (the father of Canaan) entered his father’s tent and saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. But Shem and Japheth, in respect, took a garment and covered the nakedness of their father. Noah blessed Shem and Japheth for their act. And he foresaw the future destiny of his sons based on their character. And he declared that Canaan will be a servant to his brothers (Genesis 9:20-27).
Noah referenced in the New Testament
Jesus used the story of Noah and the flood as a warning to those that live at the end. He said, “as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be” (Matthew 24:37-39 also Luke 17:26-27).
Noah’s story serves as a reminder that God will finally punish sin (2 Peter 3:10). Therefore, he who wishes to be saved must be right with God before the day of the Lord arrives. For there will be no second chance for repentance then. God says that even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were there, they will not be able to save other people from that judgment (Ezekiel 14).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
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