We all know the story of Noah building an ark and taking two of every kind of animal on it and his family and getting on the ark while the Lord flooded the whole earth and wiped out mankind. But why Noah?
“But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” Genesis 6:8
Noah lived during a time when men lived a very long time. Men had begun to multiply and while the numbers of people were growing there was also corruption and wickedness. Men were doing whatever they pleased and the Lord was grieved by it. But Noah, he was different.
“These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God.” Genesis 6:9
I knew that God had chosen Noah to build the ark and to take his family and the animals on the ark in order to preserve mankind. And I knew that it was because the world was a corrupt place. But I guess reading it here today puts a new perspective on it, maybe because of the times that we live in. I am sure other people have said it before, but I do think that the last few years we have seen an increase in corruption in our world. People pretty much want to live however they want to and they want to ignore and even deny that God exists. I guess living in the world today and trying to walk with God, makes me identify a little closer to Noah and the fact that he walked with God even in the midst of the corruption surrounding him. So much so that God chose Noah to repopulate the earth.
Now I wonder what kind of things went through Noah’s mind in the year he spent closed up in the ark. First let’s think about being in a closed up area, with a bunch of animals. The only living people are your family. There are things to do every day like clean up after the animals, feed the animals, clean up after the animals. I can only imagine the way the place began to smell. I am sure it was dark in the boat. And there was probably a lot of noise. For forty days and nights of being cooped up in the boat you could hear the rain beating down on the boat. I wonder if in the middle of the dark, dank, smelly days of being on the ark if Noah felt favored by God? Oh we know he was because the alternative that the people on the outside of the ark was death and destruction. But I just bet being in the middle of it did not feel like very favorable conditions.
My point here is this, well actually I have a couple. First, let’s realize that Noah’s living conditions before the ark may not have been great. It’s hard sometimes to be the only person in your workplace, or your circle or maybe even your family that is walking with God. But Noah found favor with God because he walked with God, he held fast to his faith. Even in the midst of corruption. Even in the midst of a rebellious bunch of people Noah walked with God and he found favor with God.
Second, even though Noah found favor with God, he still had work to do. He built the ark and then he and his family still spent a year of their life floating along on a boat with a bunch of smelly animals. They worked out their faith that God had a plan to get them off the boat while in dark, probably not the most comfortable conditions. Just because your circumstances and your surroundings may be dark and smelly and you feel like they are droning on and on, you still may be just where God wants you for the moment. Our job is to walk it out with Him. To be set apart, like Noah was among rebellious people. To do the work that God has put in front of us, even if it is not the most desirable work. And to have faith that the sun is going to come out one day and we will be able to get off the boat.
“Then God said to Noah, ‘Go out from the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons’ wives with you.’” Genesis 8:15
“And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.’” Genesis 9:1
God found one good man who was walking with him, among all the corruption of the earth. I don’t know about you, but I for one, when God looks and sees the corruption surrounding us now, I hope that He can look at me and smile and that I can find favor with Him just because I am trying every day to walk with Him!
May His favor be upon you as it was with Noah!
Restore 