Gtcotr/ws090920
Genesis 6 NJKV
5 Then the LORD saw that the
wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent
of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6 ¶ And the LORD was sorry
that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
7 So the LORD said, “I will
destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast,
creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.”
8 ¶ But Noah found grace in
the eyes of the LORD.
9 This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God.
Genesis 6:22 ¶ Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did.
I have gleaned so many principles from the accounts of Noah that have helped me to shape my life to become the person I am today. At least once each week I am faced with some new challenge that sends me back to the Word of God for answers, direction, encouragement, or restraint. Noah’s testimony is one that helps me gain strength in times of difficulty. When all the world seems wicked and evil and when it looks like God has absolutely no reason to continue putting up with us, Noah’s decisions help me shape my responses to the things around me which seem out of control. Three of the many lessons and principles of life I have learned from studying the accounts of Noah and what the Bible reveals about him are:
1.
Noah worked without reward.
a. The things most people
work for were not on his radar.
i. He was not working for
fame
ii. He was not working for
fortune
b. He was working simply to please God
Genesis 7:5 ¶ And Noah did according to all that the LORD commanded him.
1 Peter 3:20 who formerly were disobedient, when … once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared …, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.
God waited patiently on Noah to prepare the ark to the saving of his household.
2.
Noah stayed true to his message.
a. In the midst of such
wickedness and violence and sin, Noah stayed true to the one message God gave
him
b. It had to be difficult
…
i. But Noah was not a
poll-driven person
ii. Noah knew he would not
win a popularity contest
iii. Yet he stayed on target with the one message God gave him … “Get right with God!” before it’s too late …
2 Peter 2:5 and God did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly;
3.
Noah’s witness saved his family.
a. His sons were old
enough to choose for themselves
His
wife could have been like Job’s wife and not supported him, his ideas, 13 ¶ On the very same day Noah and Noah’s sons,
Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and Noah’s wife and the three wives of his sons with
them, entered the ark —
a. 14 or his work …
b. But in the end, his
whole household entered the ark willingly … at his word.
c. The Bible does not indicate that God spoke to anyone but Noah … Noah’s family had to trust him … evidently, he proved himself trustworthy … and I have imagined that was his goal.
Genesis 7
1 ¶ Then the LORD said to
Noah, “Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that
you are righteous before Me in this generation.
13 ¶ On the very same day Noah and Noah’s sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and Noah’s wife and the three wives of his sons with them, entered the ark —
Take-a-ways …
These are difficult times of wickedness, violence, and sin in the world. We need to see Noah as an example for us to follow.
·
Our focus should be on pleasing God, saving
family, and providing a better world for others.
·
The only way we can accomplish our goals is
to make sure we stay on point. Do not let the things of this world, a search
for fame, or a desire for fortune distract you from the message of the Gospel
of Christ.
·
Be a witness, especially to your family.
Family matters!
