In Genesis 3, we read about sin being introduced into the world. Just three chapters later, the sins of man had progressed and compounded to such a point that “the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). It is because of this great wickedness that God decided to destroy mankind (Genesis 6:6-7).
In the next chapter, God sent a flood which destroyed nearly all of mankind (Genesis 7:23). But Noah and his household were spared. “Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord” (Genesis 6:8). We read a few things about Noah before, during, and after the events of the flood that show how he was different from the others who perished and why he found favor with God and was saved.
He Walked with God
“These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God” (Genesis 6:9). We already noticed the severe corruption of mankind. However, Noah did not allow his society to influence him. He did not walk in the ways of the world. He walked with God. For this reason, God offered salvation to him if he would take advantage of it. “Then the Lord said to Noah, ‘Enter the ark, you and all your household, for you alone I have seen to be righteous before Me in this time’” (Genesis 7:1).
He Obeyed God
After telling Noah that He would destroy the earth, God gave him instructions about building the ark – floor plans, dimensions, type of wood, number of animals, and so on (Genesis 6:13-21). After receiving these instructions, Noah obeyed what God told him. “Thus Noah did; according to all that God had commanded him, so he did” (Genesis 6:22). There is a similar statement in the next chapter: “Noah did according to all that the Lord had commanded him” (Genesis 7:5). While Noah found favor (grace) with the Lord, he still needed to obey Him so that he would not perish in the flood. The Hebrew writer described the faith of Noah and how he “prepared an ark for the salvation of his household” (Hebrews 11:7). He received grace, but he had to obey God to take advantage of that grace.
He Waited for God
The flood began “in the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month” (Genesis 7:11). After the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat, Noah sent out the raven and the dove to find out if the earth was inhabitable again. After this, “Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and behold, the surface of the ground was dried up.” This took place “in the six hundred and first year, in the first month, on the first of the month” (Genesis 8:13). After being confined to the ark for almost a year, one might expect Noah to immediately exit the ark as soon as he knew the earth was dried. But he did not. Instead, he waited almost a full two months for God to give him the instruction to leave (Genesis 8:14-16). He did not presume to know what was right. He waited for God’s commands.
He Sacrificed to God
The first thing we read of Noah doing after leaving the ark was that he “built an altar to the Lord, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar” (Genesis 8:20). Serving God and offering worship to Him was not an afterthought for Noah. It took precedence over everything else.
Conclusion
We can learn a lot from Noah’s example. Just as Noah lived in an exceedingly wicked time, we also live “in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation” (Philippians 2:15). As Noah found favor before God, we have God’s grace that has been extended to us (Titus 2:11).
In order to take advantage of God’s grace, we need to be like Noah. Noah walked with God (Genesis 6:9), and we must “walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light” (1 John 1:7). “Noah did according to all that the Lord had commanded him” (Genesis 7:5). We must obey the Lord and follow the pattern that He has left for us (Hebrews 5:9; 2 Timothy 1:13). Noah did not act presumptuously and assume to know what would please God (Genesis 8:15-16). We must not be presumptuous but rather “do all in the name of [by the authority of] the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17). Noah put his service to God first (Genesis 8:20). We must also have our priorities in order and “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).
We can be saved as Noah was if we will serve the Lord as Noah did.
