The Faith of Noah

Articles

Derek Long
05/12/19 - Faith

The Faith of Noah
By Derek Long
Noah’s faith is used as an example of the type of faith
we need to have in order to be pleasing to God. Hebrews 11:7 says, “By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.” What are some important lessons we can learn from the example of Noah’s faith?
• Noah’s faith existed in the midst of a world filled with wickedness. The world was so wicked in the days of Noah that God decided to destroy all flesh with a flood (Genesis 6:13). The text says, “the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). In the midst of such a wicked world though, “Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord ... was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God” (Genesis 6:8-9). Only eight people were saved from the flood in the days of Noah (1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 2:5).
• Noah taught others around him of the coming of the flood. 2 Peter 2:5 speaks of Noah being, “a preacher of righteousness.” If we truly believe the warnings God has
given us, it should motivate us to tell others of God’s word.
• Noah’s faith was in things which he had not seen. Noah had
never seen a worldwide flood. We are to believe in things even though we have not seen such things yet with our eyes. We believe the Lord will return again but we have not seen such happen yet (Acts 1:9-11).
• Noah’s faith did not remain a mental idea he accepted but a belief he acted upon. His faith led him to “move with godly fear” and to prepare for the flood by building an ark. Is our faith one which trusts God so much we are willing to act on the basis of what we believe to be true?
• Noah’s faith impacted his family. Noah’s family was also saved from the flood. We need to consider how our faith can have a large impact upon those around us. We might also remember how Timothy’s mother and grandmother passed on their faith to Timothy. 2 Timothy 1:5 says, “when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.”
• Noah’s faith led to him being considered righteous in the midst of a world filled with wickedness. It has been true in both the Old and New Testaments that righteous individuals are those who live by faith (Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:16-17).
• Noah’s faith is the reason why he obeyed God in everything and exactly. Genesis 6:22 says, “Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did.” Genesis 7:5 says, “And Noah did according to all that the Lord commanded him.” Saving faith as it is pictured throughout the Bible obeys God. Saving faith is willing to do
everything God commands them to do. Noah did not leave off anything God told him to do in making preparations for the flood. Is our faith such that we do everything God requires of us or do we simply choose those parts of His law we prefer to do? Noah’s faith obeyed God exactly as God told him to do things. God told Noah some very specific things about how to build the ark (Genesis 6:14-21) and Noah did things exactly as God commanded him to do it. Are we careful about following the pattern the way God gave it to us or do we take liberties where God has given us none? 2 Timothy 1:13 says, “Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.”