Noah’s Ark

Bible Passage: Genesis 6-9

Genesis 6:11–21 NASB95

Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and the earth was filled with violence. God looked on the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth. Then God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence because of them; and behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth. “Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; you shall make the ark with rooms, and shall cover it inside and out with pitch. “This is how you shall make it: the length of the ark three hundred cubits, its breadth fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. “You shall make a window for the ark, and finish it to a cubit from the top; and set the door of the ark in the side of it; you shall make it with lower, second, and third decks. “Behold, I, even I am bringing the flood of water upon the earth, to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life, from under heaven; everything that is on the earth shall perish. “But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. “And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every kind into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female. “Of the birds after their kind, and of the animals after their kind, of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, two of every kind will come to you to keep them alive. “As for you, take for yourself some of all food which is edible, and gather it to yourself; and it shall be for food for you and for them.”

Genesis 6:22 NASB95

Thus Noah did; according to all that God had commanded him, so he did.

#1. Noah was dedicated to the details.

He didn’t make the ark according to his design or select the animals that he thought would be important for survival. Noah paid attention to the details of God’s Word and followed them exactly.

As Christians, we also work hard to learn the details of God’s Word and to obey them, understanding that the perfect obedience God requires only comes from Jesus and not ourselves.

i. Helpful Consideration vs. Harsh Criticism

Being considerate of the circumstances of your situation and the circumstances of others is a good and loving thing to do. If we see a detail that others do not notice and we can point it out to avoid harm or serious consequences, it is often loving to point it out.

Many times the difference between helpful consideration and harsh criticism is our pride.

Noah didn’t question God’s design for the ark or His plan of salvation, because he knew his place and was humble.

When you see a better way to do something or you notice someone making a mistake, is your response an attempt to make them better or to make you look better?

God can’t be better than He is, so what He commands us is for our benefit, not His.

Noah obeyed God’s instructions down to the last detail and built the ark because he recognized that God knew best and that God was for him, and we should follow Noah’s example.

#2. Noah was patient in the process.

Genesis 5:32 NASB95

Noah was five hundred years old, and Noah became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Genesis 7:6 NASB95

Now Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of water came upon the earth.

He didn’t have to see results right away or have the approval of others to follow God’s plan. He patiently did the work and waited on God to bring the rain.

In God’s perfect patience, He also sent Jesus at the right moment of history, “in the fulness of time,” to live, die, and resurrect in our place.

ii. Patience vs. Impatience

Patience is what happens when you want something to occur and you don’t have the ability to make it happen immediately, so you choose to wait. This means that being patient requires trust in someone or something more powerful than you are.

Many times the difference between patience and impatience is our personal feeling of control.

We experience and express sinful anger when we become aware of our inability to control something or someone, because we do not trust God or others not to hurt us.

We associate control with safety in our minds, when the truth is that we control nothing and our safety lies in God’s power and plan the same as it did for Noah and his family in our story today.

QUESTIONS:

Do you know the details of God’s Word?

Are you obeying God or judging Him?

Do you point out problems to be critical and tear down, or to be considerate and build up?

Are you trusting in God, or are you angry and impatient toward God and others?

BENEDICTION

Proverbs 3:5–8 NASB95

Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones.