Sunday: Preparation for the Flood
Read Genesis 6:13-7:10. What lesson can we learn from this amazing account of early human history?
Like Daniel, Noah is a prophet who predicts the end of the world. The Hebrew word for the “ark” (tevah) (Genesis 6:14) is the same rare Egyptian loanword that was used for the “ark,” in which the infant Moses was hidden, who was preserved in order to save Israel from Egypt (Exodus 2:3).
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Also, some have seen in the general structure of the ark parallels to the ark of the tabernacle (Exodus 25:10). Just as the ark of the Flood will permit the survival of humankind, so the ark of the covenant, a sign of God’s presence in the midst of His people (Exodus 25:22), points to God’s work of salvation for His people.
The phrase “Noah did; according to all that God commanded” (Genesis 6:22, NKJV) concludes the preparatory section. The verb ‘asah, “did,” referring to Noah’s action, responds to the verb ‘asah, “make,” in God’s command, which started the section (Genesis 6:14) and is repeated five times (Genesis 6:14-16). This echo between God’s command and Noah’s response suggests Noah’s absolute obedience to what God had told him to do, to ‘asah. It is also interesting that this phrase is also used in the context of the building of the ark of the covenant (Exodus 39:32, Exodus 39:42; Exodus 40:16).
“God gave Noah the exact dimensions of the ark and explicit directions in regard to its construction in every particular. Human wisdom could not have devised a structure of so great strength and durability. God was the designer, and Noah the master builder.” — Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 92.
Again, the parallel between the two “arks” reaffirms their common redemptive function. Noah’s obedience is thus described as a part of God’s plan of salvation. Noah was saved simply because he had that faith to do what God commanded him to do (see Hebrews 11:7). He was an early example of a faith that manifests itself in obedience, the only kind of faith that matters (James 2:20).
In short, though Noah “found grace in the eyes of the LORD” (Genesis 6:8), it was in response to this grace, already given him, that Noah acted faithfully and obediently to God’s commands. Isn’t that how it should be with all of us?
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Read 2 Peter 2:5-9. Why was only Noah’s family saved? What lesson can we learn from the Noah story regarding our role in warning the world about coming judgment? |
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Painters and artists who drew Noah's ark have time and again failed to read their Bible. Noah nor anyone before that time knew anything about boats. They do not have bows and sterns to cruise, speed or steer. Ark in case of Noah, Moses and Ark of Covenant I believe has sole purpose of 'salvation'- save from danger. We may not have a physical ark but we can tell someone of the message of John 12:32, salvation, as asked in today's lesson.
Jesus is God's the Ark, today, yesterday and tomorrow !
Lifestyle Evangelism - for six hundred years Noah's lifestyle was a witness of the character of the LORD, and then the LORD asked him to step out in faith to build this giant object lesson to illustrate His Plan of Salvation - obey His instructions and be saved or reject them and be destroyed.
I believe it is now the time to combine the message that the LORD is love with the warning of the hour of His Judgment. I believe we will soon face a world wide crisis and have to choose whom we will follow.
The only safe lifestyle right now is to buy "real gold" from Him Who has it! And "oil", for direct use and for reserve. There was never any time to waste, but now it is our last chance to get ready! The whole world is going to collapse and our safepass is to grab onto Jesus hands.
This year Australia had some of the worst flooding in living memory. 23 lives were lost, about 30000 homes and businesses were seriously damaged, and the estimated cost to the community is well over $2 billion. Interestingly, we knew beforehand it was going to be bad. Several East Coast lows formed over the Pacific Ocean and they literally sucked the water up and dumped it on the land. South-east Queensland, Northern NSW, and western Sydney were the worst affected areas. The Met Office issues warnings so that people could be evacuated, The police and emergency services warned us not to drive through floodwaters. However, people stubbornly refused to leave their homes and had to be rescued later by helicopter. People still drove their cars through raging floodwaters and suddenly found that their cars lost traction and were swept off roads in floodways and creeks.
Why is it that in the face of all the warnings, some people prefer to try and outthink what the Met Office calls a significant rain event? Some of them said they sat out the last big flood so they will sit this one out. Some people have a lot of confidence in themselves!
Noah had his work cut out trying to warn people about a significant rain event too. And he was not a success - only 8 people survived. One of the big problems is that if you are having a good time, you are not in the mood to listen to warning messages. Self-confidence leads to significant deafness when it comes to dangerous circumstances.
Thanks Maurice.
May I add that Noah and his family were saved because they got into the ark. I don't know how righteous Mrs. Noah and the rest of the passengers were. But they got onboard. I am sure the neighbor down the street would have been spared if he/she had gotten in the ark!!! Noah's story shows me God's grace. We just have to listen to Him.
Could it be that God saved Noah and his family and animals via an ark because He had not yet done what He needed to do with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, Jesus, Paul, the 12 Apostles, EGW, etc., and etc.? So now He also needs us to continue this with us till Jesus comes again for us?
The lesson that is learned is reiterated by Christ. Be prepared. Matthew 24:44. There were ten virgins who went to a wedding feast, Well you know the parable, five were prepared for the delay and five were not. Are we prepared to keep our lanterns burning till He comes the second time, this time as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, in all His glory with a host of Angels?
1Thessalonians 4:17.
We are prepared if we garner a relationship with Christ, by persuing righteousness, godliness, faith, patience, love, gentleness, and give witness to the good confession.
1Timothy 6:11-15.
So many lessons highlight the word 'obedience'. I am beginning to wonder if the faith of SDA is based on 'obedience' to the ‘28 Fundamental Believes’ or on the Word of God.
In my opinion, if Noah followed God’s word by faith, doing exactly as he had heard it (even though there was no evidence that it would be as he had heard), he did this because he loved God; therefore ‘obedience’ is the resulting quality of the person who nurtures a loving and trusting relationship with his/her Maker.
“Why was only Noah’s family saved”? Was it not because only they followed through with actions based on the Word of God? Noah spent a long time warning everyone he came in contact with, and obviously also those who may have helped him build the arc were not 'convinced'.
If he would not have done what he ‘did’, he, his family, and all life with breath in it would have perished as well. If we by faith do that which the Word of God reveals to us, will we not also be saved?
I agree. Today's lesson left a bad taste in my mouth. And it's not that I don't believe in obedience. It's just the emphasis seems so cold. Noah walked with God. He had a close friendship with Him. So when God called him to build the ark, it's preposterous to think he would say "I think I'll do it my own way." Of course he would obey God as he had learned to trust Him. And that to me is what our lives should be like.
Brigitte, why do you object to highlighting "obedience." If you read Hebrews 11, you can see that The Holy Spirit inspired the writer to demonstrate that faith always results in obedience. Our obedience demonstrates faith. There is no faith without obedience. (See James 2:14) That's why Luke says that the Holy Spirit is given to them who obey Him. (Acts 5:32)
Brigitte, I would like to understand your comment better. If Noah had not obeyed, we would not be here and there would not have been a redeemer. Obedience is vital. I know obedience rubs some the wrong way, but without obedience how will our faith in God grow? If Adam and Eve had obeyed, this whole situation would not have happened. Don’t you ever wish they had obeyed?
Karen - I do not object to ‘obedience’ as such, though, if it is in relation to following God’s Word by faith, if at all, I consider it the immature form of ‘faith’.
In my opinion, if the lesson-studies highlight anything, it should be faith and not obedience. Faith is faith, there is no other word to take its place when following God’s leadings. Faith is by itself a process - living, active faith. It does not suddenly become/turn into/or need obedience to be complete; faith remains faith and obedience remains obedience. If understood properly, their meanings are different and not interchangeable.
I see 'living life' by the believer - acting by faith upon the Word of God - is equal to 'accepting and engaging' in the act of the living, creative faith our Creator God established at the Beginning of time to communicate with all who He gave breath and a free will.
I see ‘obedience’ to be the promptings of the mind for a still immature, reluctant heart to lead it to engage in the actions it knows are God’s Will, or right. Allowing oneself to live by faith is the decision by the convicted heart to place faith above ‘understanding’; this does not need obedience - it is FAITH.
I hope this explanation is shedding some more light on what I was attemoting to express previously!
Hebrews 9:27 (CSB) And just as it is appointed for people to die once -- and after this, a judgment --
I have seen too many people lose faith in God because of failed end time settings in the last 70 years. It's not a pure motivation, righteousness is !
We must recognize the difficulty Noah faced when trying to impress the people around him concerning the urgency of his message, for they had never witnessed a calamity or a judgment of God. It is difficult also for us in these days to impress our generation. Even for those of us who know the prophecies it becomes increasingly easy to be completely absorbed in the interests and pleasures of this world. But the message God has committed to the Advent people is the most comprehensive of all time. However, like the people of Noah's day our generation has willfully dull ears. "The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ . . . should shine unto them" (2 Cor. 4:4).
When our friends and family call on us we do as they ask if it is in our will to do so because we love them and we want to preserve the peaceable loving relationship with them, and, we want their approval and affinity.
How much more then should we hear and harken to the call of God in whom we live and move and have our being? Our Creator and our unrelenting comfort. And why call ye me Lord Lord and not do the things that I say…Luke 6:46
Being a parent is a big lesson of the way God loves us through our stubbornness and rebellion. When your child calls to you for help you answer. When they are hurting you want to take the pain away. When they are mean you forgive easily because you know the foolishness that is wrapped up in their hearts. You rebuke them and try to steer them away from danger. When they are lonely you long with all your heart to comfort them. When they are wayward you long for them to return home to the safety of your love. That is the love of God in us. That is the love of God toward us.
Today's lesson refers to the five-time repeated "...echo between God’s command and Noah’s response" which the lesson proposes "suggests Noah’s absolute obedience to what God had told him to do..."
Following on from what I invited yesterday regarding being intentional about noticing the subconsicous, implicit assumptions through which we understand God's Ways, how is your mind viewing the notions of "command" and "absolute obedicence" that existed between God and Noah? Did God merely tell Noah what to do and Noah merely comply? Or might there be more or 'other' to what is going on that reflects "higher" ways of interaction between God and humans -something more and different in quality than what we typically use those words to mean? If so, what might some of those differences be?