What do you think about when you hear the story of Noah and the flood? If you’re like me, you usually focus on Noah, the animals and God. But consider the sin of the people, the flood and being on the outside of the ark. I had never considered this perspective before, but it’s quite eye-opening.
Genesis describes the people’s sins as wicked, and “every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time” (6:5). We don’t know exactly what sins the people were committing, but it appears that it may have had something to do with demonic possession. It’s clear that Satan was trying to destroy humanity based on the prophecy in Genesis 3:15. This caused the Lord to regret creating man. He needed to purge the earth of these wicked and godless people. He chose to do it with a flood that destroyed every living thing on earth.
God is holy. This means that He is pure, righteous, sinless and perfect. His holiness prevents Him for being a part of sin. That is why He provided a Savior…so we, sinful man, can have a relationship with a holy God.
In the midst of this great wickedness, God found a righteous man. Noah did not allow the evil, wicked culture around him to affect his attitudes and actions. Not only did Noah walk a godly, faithful life, he also was vocal about the prophecy of the flood.
The people around him must have thought he was crazy! God asked him to build an ark. This massive structure was 45 feet high (as tall as a four- to five-story building), 75 feet wide (about half as wide as a football field) and 450 feet long (1 1/5 football fields). The ark had three stories and about 100,000 square feet of space. Scientists have found that the ark really could have held every species (not every variety) of animals plus all of the food necessary to feed the animals and Noah’s family for more than a year. (Yes, they were on the ark for more than a year!)
Imagine watching Noah build the ark over many, many decades (up to 120 years), all the while preaching about the coming flood. The people taunted him, laughed at him and still went on committing their evil sins. Then imagine the people’s reaction when Noah and his family entered the ark. God closed the door on the ark seven days before the flood started. Noah and his family waited inside the ark for a week before there was ever a drop of rain! Imagine the ridicule and taunting from the people outside the ark and possibly from his own family. Did they doubt God and Noah?
Finally water came from above and below the earth. Genesis 7:11 says “all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened.” This could indicate tsunamis and earthquakes. It wasn’t just a steady rain for 40 days and 40 nights. It was a total upheaval of the land.
Now imagine the horror for the people on the outside of the ark. This punishment was a result of their own rebellion and rejection of God.
There is good news in all of this: The ark is a picture of Christ. He is the only way to salvation. Those of us who have placed our faith in Him are inside the ark and protected from God’s ultimate and eternal punishment. How can I share Jesus Christ, our “lifeboat,” with others?
Then God turned his focus from the flood back to Noah. The waters receded for 150 days as Noah waited on God. God finally told them to leave the ark and commanded them to be fruitful and multiply.
Through it all, Noah was obedient. He obeyed fully and immediately. God still calls us to obedience today. He wants full obedience, because partial obedience and delayed obedience are disobedience. Where is God calling me to be obedient?
Here is the latest installment of Avery’s memory verses: