“Noah did everything just as God commanded him.” Genesis 6:22
Noah’s Ark is one of the top 3 most disputed stories in the Bible, just behind Jesus Christ and the Creation account, according to a recent seminar our church hosted illustrating the trustworthiness of the Genesis flood story.
This presentation on Noah’s Ark could not have come at a better time for me as I have found myself, of late, in Genesis 6-7 for my personal devotions. It has taken me months, after starting in Genesis 1, to get to the flood story. But, as always, God’s timing is impeccable.
Even more significant than God’s timing, however, is God’s message in the story of the flood. Sadly, the flood narrative is too often relegated to use as a child’s story or the topic of scientific debate. But is there more to this story? Is there truth resident in Noah’s Ark relevant to everyday life? My recent time in Genesis 6-7 inspires me to answer yes to both of these questions. Not only is this story relevant, but it contains a rich message that we need to hear.
I should confess, from the outset, that the insight I wish to share does not find it’s origin in me. To the contrary, I am grateful for many great theologians who have plumbed the depths of God’s Word and pass it along to the likes of me so that I can pass it along to others. In this case, I have been blessed by the work John Sailhamer has done in the study of the first five books of the Bible in his book, The Pentateuch as Narrative. And I am especially blessed by his insight into the story of Noah’s Ark.
In Genesis 6:9 we read, “Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God.” Sailhamer aptly correlates these words about Noah with the description of Enoch, in Genesis 5:22-24, who is twice said to have “walked with God.” Sailhamer goes on to say:
The picture of Noah that emerges from the Flood story thus becomes a model of the kind of life that finds grace in the sight of God. It is a picture of simple obedience to God’s commands and trust in his provision. In view of the predominance of the concept of “faith” elsewhere in the Pentateuch it is appropriate to say that the author pictures Noah very much as the writer of Hebrews does: one who “by his faith condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith” (Heb 11:7).
It is not very difficult to see how the author of Hebrews concludes that Noah was a man of faith. For we see his faith in action throughout Genesis 6 and 7 in his simple obedience.
As quoted above, chapter 6 concludes with the commentary, “Noah did everything just as God commanded him.” Then again, in 7:5, we read, “And Noah did all that the LORD commanded him.” And twice in this chapter we read “as God had commanded Noah” (7:9,16). What is interesting is that all through the narrative (God’s declaration of the flood, the command to build the ark, the entrance into the ark, the description of the floods, the description of the floods abating, and the exit from the ark) we never once hear Noah speak. In fact, it isn’t until the end of chapter 9 that we see the first record of Noah speaking. But what we do witness from chapter 6 up until that point is Noah acting in obedience to God’s commands. Simple obedience.
There is much that is interesting in the story of Noah’s ark including the variety of animals, the size of the vessel, and the extent of the flood. However, God makes clear that above and beyond the details of this astounding story is a profound lesson for all of God’s people: Trust and obey. If you want to experience God’s blessings, it all boils down to trusting in Him and obedience to Him. And, remember, this trust and obedience all takes place in the context of an authentic walk with God (6:9).
Sometimes a life of faith can seem so complex. But the lesson of Noah reminds us of a powerful simplicity to a life that is blessed by God. As we look ahead to the blessings of summer with vacations and sunshine and time in God’s Creation, may we also remember the simple lesson of Noah: Greatest blessings come to those who trust, obey and daily walk with God.
In Christ, Pastor Dan