In the Bible, the story of Noah takes up just a few of the early chapters in the Book of Genesis. After that, in the Old Testament, Noah is mentioned only briefly in the prophetic books of Isaiah and Ezekiel. In the New Testament, Jesus refers to him and he is also mentioned in the books of Hebrews and 1 Peter.
When Noah was born, Lamech, his father, gave him the name Noah and said, "This one will give us rest from our work and from the toil of our hands arising from the ground which the Lord has cursed." Gen 5:30.
Prophetically, Lamech understood that his baby son would contribute in some way toward the salvation of men and to their release from the curse that was pronounced upon the ground at the fall of Adam in the Garden of Eden.
Although relatively little is written about him, Noah is clearly chosen by God to act as an intermediary between himself and the inhabited world as it then was.
The first occurrence of the the word "covenant" in the Bible is in relation to Noah. This indicates just how significant God's choosing him was. Though the history of the Jews is usually traced from Abraham, God's redemptive dealings with mankind could be said to have begun with Noah. Before humanity was ready for an Abraham, the Noah stage marked the beginnings of a clarifying phase of God's preparing for the long story of salvation.
"Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. The Lord said, “ I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them. But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord." (Genesis 6:5-8)
God revealed his plan of destruction to Noah. A major flood had never before happened in the living memory of civilization at the time. Escaping the catastrophe by building an ark - a very large boat - that would save all who were on board when the flood came was itself an act of immense faith and confidence in what was, at the time, entirely unknown.
The building commences, but the size of the project and the small number of people involved in the building, meant that it took a very long time to finish - about 120 years!
Hebrews 11:7, the long list of heroes of faith, includes Noah. It points out that Noah condemns the world while inheriting for himself righteousness! The New Testament sees Noah as a preacher of righteousness. A hundred and twenty years building the ark was plenty of time for onlookers to ask questions and for Noah to explain what he was doing and why.
Those who rejected Noah's words of rebuke were washed away by the the waters of the flood. Once God had closed the door behind Noah and his family, there was no second chance, no way to "get on board," no way of escaping the inevitable. There comes a time when it is just too late. You have to reap what you have sown.
In the New Testament, Jesus compares the time of Noah with the end times - "they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark." (Matthew 24:38) It is a stark reminder that you should always make the most of what opportunities come your way to put things right between yourself and God and between each other.
In Genesis 9, it is recorded that God blessed Noah and made a covenant with him - God promises never again to flood the world. The rainbow in the sky was given to confirm the covenant. "This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth."
After the flood, the population of the world was now reduced to the size of Noah's family. The record of the early movements of families, tribes and nations was given a clear, new starting point. The context of the flood and the story of Noah is crucial for understanding the Bible and God's ongoing dealings with mankind.
When Noah was born, Lamech, his father, gave him the name Noah and said, "This one will give us rest from our work and from the toil of our hands arising from the ground which the Lord has cursed." Gen 5:30.
Prophetically, Lamech understood that his baby son would contribute in some way toward the salvation of men and to their release from the curse that was pronounced upon the ground at the fall of Adam in the Garden of Eden.
Although relatively little is written about him, Noah is clearly chosen by God to act as an intermediary between himself and the inhabited world as it then was.
The first occurrence of the the word "covenant" in the Bible is in relation to Noah. This indicates just how significant God's choosing him was. Though the history of the Jews is usually traced from Abraham, God's redemptive dealings with mankind could be said to have begun with Noah. Before humanity was ready for an Abraham, the Noah stage marked the beginnings of a clarifying phase of God's preparing for the long story of salvation.
"Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. The Lord said, “ I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them. But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord." (Genesis 6:5-8)
God revealed his plan of destruction to Noah. A major flood had never before happened in the living memory of civilization at the time. Escaping the catastrophe by building an ark - a very large boat - that would save all who were on board when the flood came was itself an act of immense faith and confidence in what was, at the time, entirely unknown.
The building commences, but the size of the project and the small number of people involved in the building, meant that it took a very long time to finish - about 120 years!
Hebrews 11:7, the long list of heroes of faith, includes Noah. It points out that Noah condemns the world while inheriting for himself righteousness! The New Testament sees Noah as a preacher of righteousness. A hundred and twenty years building the ark was plenty of time for onlookers to ask questions and for Noah to explain what he was doing and why.
Those who rejected Noah's words of rebuke were washed away by the the waters of the flood. Once God had closed the door behind Noah and his family, there was no second chance, no way to "get on board," no way of escaping the inevitable. There comes a time when it is just too late. You have to reap what you have sown.
In the New Testament, Jesus compares the time of Noah with the end times - "they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark." (Matthew 24:38) It is a stark reminder that you should always make the most of what opportunities come your way to put things right between yourself and God and between each other.
In Genesis 9, it is recorded that God blessed Noah and made a covenant with him - God promises never again to flood the world. The rainbow in the sky was given to confirm the covenant. "This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth."
After the flood, the population of the world was now reduced to the size of Noah's family. The record of the early movements of families, tribes and nations was given a clear, new starting point. The context of the flood and the story of Noah is crucial for understanding the Bible and God's ongoing dealings with mankind.
Would you like to advertise your business or ministry on LHF? Please contact us and ask about our advertising options