You’ve likely heard about Noah’s ark.

Perhaps, Noah and the Flood? But have you heard about Noah’s obedience? Or Noah and his righteousness? By taking a deep dive into the life of Noah, we can learn a lot from him. Let’s get started.

1. Noah Was Warned (We Have Been Warned)

In Hebrews 11:7a, we read “By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen”. We turn to Genesis 6 for the details.

“11 Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. 13 And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth. 14 Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch.” (Genesis 6:11-14)

“17 For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die. 18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. 19 And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ark to keep them alive with you. They shall be male and female.” (Genesis 6:17-19)

Noah was warned by God about the future, that the world would be destroyed. However, within the warning, there was a promise; that because of his devotion to God, he would be given an opportunity for salvation for him and his family.

In the Gospel of Luke, we read Jesus’ words, foretelling of things to come, “as it was in the days of Noah“.

“26 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27 They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, 29 but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all— 30 so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.” (Luke 17:26-30)

God has made a covenant not to destroy the earth in a global disaster, but all creation is still heading toward destruction because of sin. And if that’s true, we should get laser-focused on our faith and devotion to God, understanding that this world is not our final home.

2. Noah Obeyed (We Should Obey)

Hebrews 11:7b – “in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household.” We turn back to Genesis to get the details.

“5 And Noah did all that the LORD had commanded him. 6 Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters came upon the earth. 7 And Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him went into the ark to escape the waters of the flood. 8 Of clean animals, and of animals that are not clean, and of birds, and of everything that creeps on the ground, 9 two and two, male and female, went into the ark with Noah, as God had commanded Noah.” (Genesis 7:5-9)

“20 The waters prevailed above the mountains, covering them fifteen cubits deep. 21 And all flesh died that moved on the earth, birds, livestock, beasts, all swarming creatures that swarm on the earth, and all mankind. 22 Everything on the dry land in whose nostrils was the breath of life died. 23 He blotted out every living thing that was on the face of the ground, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens. They were blotted out from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those who were with him in the ark.” (Genesis 7:20-23)

Noah didn’t just listen, he obeyed and acted. He didn’t know for sure when or how the flood would come, but he had faith that it would happen. And he acted accordingly. And Hebrews tells us that Noah obeyed in reverent fear.

What does that kind of obedience look like today? How does that work in our modern Western society? How can we be obedient even when it’s not popular? Do we understand what it means to truly live in reverence of God?

3. Noah Received Righteousness (We’re Called To Righteousness)

Hebrews 11:7c – “By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.” Read what happens next in Genesis 8.

“1 But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided. 2 The fountains of the deep and the windows of the heavens were closed, the rain from the heavens was restrained, 3 and the waters receded from the earth continually.” (Genesis 8:1-3a)

“15 Then God said to Noah, 16 ‘Go out from the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons’ wives with you. 17 Bring out with you every living thing that is with you of all flesh—birds and animals and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth—that they may swarm on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth.'” (Genesis 8:15-17)

Noah’s faith made him righteous. Then we see a second faithful response by Noah; one of thanksgiving and worship.

4. Noah Received Covenant (We Can Receive Covenant)

At the end of faith, within that righteousness, there is covenant. There is nothing more valuable nor powerful. Our final passages are found in Genesis 8 and 9.

“20 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 And when the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, the LORD said in his heart, ‘I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done. 22 While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.'” (Genesis 8:20-22)

“12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: 13 I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.” (Genesis 9:12-15)

Noah’s life is a pointer for us; both an opportunity to receive righteousness, and a New Covenant offered through Jesus.

Some scholars believe there are up to 8 major covenants in Scripture. However, all agree on 5 major covenants: Noah, Abraham, Israel, and David, for God’s chosen people; all pointing to the final, New Covenant which is for you and me.

“14 And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” (Luke 22:14-20)

If you have a church background, that passage sounded familiar. It is one of the Gospel Communion accounts. But without an understanding of covenant, it’s somewhat meaningless, and we’re just going through the motions.

Covenant communion points us back to the cross.

Our communion points back to our opportunity to receive righteousness. Not obtained from what we have done, but what Christ did for us, receive the death penalty for our sin.

Belief in this, and Christ’s glorious resurrection three days later, brings us our moment of faith. Followed by obedience and reverence to our King Jesus, leading us toward that moment when He shall return.

Join the Conversation; Share Your Thoughts

• Describe a life of faithful obedience and reverence. (What does a faithful, obedient, reverent life look like this year?)
• What will “the days of Noah” from Luke 17:26-27 look like? (In your city or town, describe the scene right before.)