Noah's Altar: Influential Worship

Genesis 8:20–22 NASB95

20 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 The Lord smelled the soothing aroma; and the Lord said to Himself, “I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done. 22 “While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, And cold and heat, And summer and winter, And day and night Shall not cease.”

Intro: I’m sure most, if not all of us have seen one or more episodes of Family Feud. If neither family has reached 300 points after the 3rd round, they play sudden-death, which two people compete to give the number 1 answer to a question. Well, imagine you were in that sudden-death round, and you had to think of the number 1 answer, and one your questions was: When you hear the name “Noah”, tell me the next word that comes to your mind?

If we did a real survey, I’m confident the answer would be “Ark”. I’m sure the second would be “Flood”. While both are very important, today I want to focus on “Noah’s Altar”. And show you that Noah’s worship with his altar was a worship with powerful influence on the mind and decisions of GOD. And it is my prayer that what we learn about Noah’s worship will mature our worship that it grips God’s heart!

Theme/Series: As a reminder, this year’s theme is “My Worship is a Lifestyle”. And our current study deals with examining the roots of true worship. And what better place for that examination than Genesis, where life began. Here we are today looking at Noah’s Altar, and subtitle would be Worship That Influences.

What led to Noah’s Altar?

Before we get deep into the altar itself and this occasion of worship, it is very important to grasp what precedes and motivates his worship.

Degradation of humanity

Recall when we studied the end of Genesis 4 when Adam and Eve have Seth, Seth has Enosh, and then people, particularly Seth’s bloodline, began calling on the Lord. But they were doing so among a society that was growing away from GOD. By the time we reach Genesis 6, we learn that Seth’s bloodline, called the ‘Sons of God’, become attracted to and start having relations with ‘the daughters of men’. Good and evil don’t mix, and for humanity, there’s a large tendency to lean toward evil once you start dating it.

This leads to an extreme degradation of humanity. They are described as being greatly wicked, only evil intentions, corrupt, and full of violence. It got so bad, that our creator, the GOD of all flesh, couldn’t stand to see this state humanity and made him feel that he shouldn’t have created humans. Not only did he feel that way, he pronounced that every creature that had breath, would be destroyed!

Deliverance offered to Noah and his family

The end of life on earth was a sure thing. But there was one man living differently, because he walked with GOD by faith. He was considered righteous and blameless in his generation, and for that GOD had favor upon him. What did that favor mean, what did it look like?

It meant deliverance for Noah and his family. Deliverance from the destruction that was coming.

God’s favor was extended in commanding Noah to build an Ark, and executed through Noah’s obedience. GOD planned to flood the entire earth and they had to get in that Ark! Never witnessed this level of rain, but by Faith!

Devastation of life

Chapter 7 begins with GOD telling him to get in the ark, because rain is about to come down. That’s exactly what happens. Now for a moment, I need you to spiritually imagine this experience:

Folk been wondering what and why you’re building.

They’re doing everything in life as usual.

Then the rains starts, goes one day nonstop, maybe not much to worry about. But then the next day, and the next, without stopping.

Then the ocean waters are rushing further on the land.

Then you can see and hear the panic from nearby civilization. People are climbing trees trying to escape deep water levels.

You start hearing sounds of yells, cries, and screams for help!

You start hearing the wailing from all the animals not on the ark.

Wherever you called home is getting washed away. Your hangouts are falling to the ground.

You start processing that some close relatives, distant relatives, and friends are out there.

BUT THERE’S NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE!

It rains like this for 40 days and nights, and every mountain peak is covered, and all you can see is water, and it stays that way from 6 months!!!

Then over the next 6 months, the waters begin receding.

As you look out, you can see dead bodies floating. As the land becomes dry, you can see dead humans and animals across the land. A total devastation of life!!!

Application: Sometimes we talk about Noah as if they were on the ark totally untouched or insensitive to this great pain of death. No no, this was a tough devastation to witness!!

Dedication of Noah

Noah and his family step off the ark, and they’re stepping into a renewed creation! And as Noah considers why this great magnitude of destruction GOD? He knows that it was because of the magnitude sin!! Then looking out at his wife, his sons and their daughters, realizing that GOD found favor in him to protect and deliver his family. As he considers everything, and what he should do now that he’s off the ark, the first thought he has is WORSHIP GOD!! Worship? Absolutely! GOD found Noah to be righteous in his day, but he nor his family were morally perfect. So as Noah considers worship, it is heartfelt, grateful for his salvation!!

So he begins grabbing and mounding up stones to build an altar for a sacrifice. He had a pair of unclean animals, but 7 pairs of clean animals. Now some would take one animal, feel that’s sufficient to offer. Not Noah. He took some of EVERY clean beast and birds: cows, sheep, elk, goat, oxen, buffalo, turkey, quail, chicken, etc. And offered the first recorded burnt offerings on an altar.

With a burnt offering, the animal was completely consumed by fire. Additionally, the altar was elevated so he had to lift the animals up. The term ‘offered’ literally means to ‘ascend’ or ‘lift up’. The total consumption and lifting up, meant that Noah was expressing "GOD, with this worship, I’m trying to reach you with ALL OF MY SOUL!!!” I’m dedicating ALL OF ME!!!

Application: When is the last time you felt you were trying to reach GOD with all of you? What can move that? Consider the degradation, devastation, and deliverance!!!

Response from GOD

I’ve grilled a few pieces of meat in my backyard, and you can smell next door. But y’all know you can be blocks away from Gates or Jack Stack and smell it. The magnitude of the sacrifice is different!

It wasn’t just the amount animals Noah offered up, it was his heart!! GOD smelled his sacrifice from heaven and it was a soothing smell. The purpose of altar worship was not one sided. It emerged as a place of communication and exchange with GOD. Thus the fact that GOD smelled it, means his worship influenced GOD. Thus, now we see worship progress from ‘acceptance’ to include ‘influence’. What influence Bro. Evans? It is seen in how GOD responded with two promises. First, GOD said in his heart, I won’t curse the ground no more. Thus this influence is reaching back to the beginning when GOD cursed the ground due to Adam. Because realizes how ignorant humans are. Secondly, he promises to not destroy every living being “AS I HAVE DONE”. That being with flood waters. That’s furthered in the following statement “while the earth remains”. It certainly has an expiration date, but in the meantime, God’s promise is that the routine and seasons of life on earth will never cease! That reaches forward!

Conclusion: When you consider your worship lifestyle, are you aiming to grip the heart of GOD with how you live and walk with GOD? How grateful are you of the deliverance he has offered and granted us in Christ? Do you realize the devastation and degradation we’ve been saved from? When we answer those questions right, we will worship in a way that sends an soothing aroma before GOD! Capable of influence within his will!!