The Stories that Made Life Pt. 1 – Noah

There is so much that makes life, and these are the stories that made my life sensible. These are the stories that brought meaning to me as a Christian. They also brought meaning to me as a young woman, and yes, as a follower and believer of Christ. As much as they were or wanted to be, they meant something to me from an early age, with understanding coming as I was ageing myself.

Noah and the Ark

This is one of the first stories that I read early in my life. In the Bible, the story is in the book of Genesis 6 to 7. For more understanding, read the whole story of Noah found between chapters 5 and 10 in the book of Genesis.

The Story begins with how men started multiplying and wickedness increasing after the sons of God, angels desired the daughters of men. With this interaction, giants were born on earth leading to even more evil and wickedness on earth.

These sons (children) between angels and daughters of men were giants – Nephilims. This is to say they were not men nor were they angels. They were offspring of sin and evil desires. They were a new creation that had no place on earth nor in heaven. The interaction and the fruit had to be dealt with.

With the increase of sin and evil in the face of the earth, the increase of wickedness in man’s thoughts and desires, and the fall of more angels on earth due to desires, God was grieved. It was here that the following happened;

Lessons Learned from the Story of Noah and the Ark

• God reproached, regretted in His heart on man’s creation
• God reduced the days of man to 120 years
• God willed to destroy every living thing on earth
• Noah obtained favour in the sight of God
• God directs Noah to build the ark
• Noah builds the ark
• God closed the gate, and the rain fell for 40 days and 40 nights
• God saves his lineage, and family from the destruction of the flood because of Noah
• Earth, every living beast, man and bird were destroyed.

God reproached and regretted in His heart man’s creation.

It was not that sin did not exist, the increase of sin, continued to darken the love of man to God. In the heart of man, God was no more. There was wickedness, violence, sin and evil. And this is not what rejoices, glorify or bring joy to the Father. Man forgot His being, maker, and creator and went on after his flesh and desires. How do we know this? The Word is clear. And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Genesis 6:5.

God reduced the days of man to 120 years.

The story of Noah comes just after the Lineage of Adam (descendants of Adam). As written in the Book of Genesis Chapter 5. It is here we understand the reduction of man’s days to 120. God noted. From Adam who lived 930 years, to Seth (912); Enos (905); Caina (910); Mahalaleel (895); Jared (962); Enoch (365 – and was no more for God took him); Methuselah (969); Lamech (777) and Noah for 950. It was clear that reducing man’s days on earth was vital. The more men lived if they had no fear of God in all those long years, it was obvious a pain to the heavens. Sorrow to the Spirit.

God willed to destroy every living thing on earth.

The LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.  And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and everything that is in the earth shall die.

Noah, Grace, Obedience & Salvation

Noah obtained favour in the sight of God.

 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. Noah was a just man and perfect in his generation, and Noah walked with God.  But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee.  And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

Noah is directed to build the ark;

Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits. A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.

God closed the gate, and the rain fell for 40 days and 40 nights.

 And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights. And the flood was forty days upon the earth, and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth. They that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in.

Through Noah’s favour, his lineage, and family were saved from the destruction of the flood.

 And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood.

God told Noah

For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights, and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth. Earth, every living beast, man and bird out of the ark were destroyed.  And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth, and the ark went upon the face of the waters.
And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered. Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail, and the mountains were covered.
And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man: All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died.
… every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.  And the waters prevailed upon the earth a hundred and fifty days. Genesis 7:24

Why is Noah’s time reference important?

As much as we would choose to stand on this account, story as just another Bible story, there is more to this. The flood happened thousands of years before Jesus. Yet, in His teaching, the Lord noted the following on the last days and His second coming;

But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Why did Jesus note this to the listeners?

• Noah did not build the ark in secret ONLY that
• People were about their businesses and nothing about God
• People were not interested to know or seek an understanding of why whatever was happening was happening.
• Nowhere in the Bible are we informed of anyone who went to Noah or asked him what was happening
• And this is what is to happen (happening) to the coming of that day
• Of course, Noah was informed about the rain, the coming of the flood and the time to get in the ark
• Of course, men are informed of the coming of Christ and the end of the days, the Holy Spirit speaks as well to each of us, believers or not, on what interests the Father’s heart. It is the pursuit of that voice, that opens us to know more about God, the coming of the Lord and living, walking in the Spirit, and choosing God daily.
• How consumed are we with knowing something we are not interested in?

Here We Are

• The Word says, that all who come to Him must believe, He is. Yet man says in his heart, I need to see to believe. What foolishness is that in man’s heart?

• Believe, He is for He is, and then He can reveal Himself to you. Yet, man wants to see to believe. Will this ever work? No. Will man ever get it? Yes, once he crosses to the other side. But, by then, it will be too late.

• The difference between then and now; the Spirit of God, by the grace of Christ, keeps on calling, knocking, urging and speaking with the children of men to turn. Thus making whatever is and coming even more crucial. Are you aware when He does so?

• 70 years, 80 years. Living all these days, and never once, respond or obey the voice that says, COME. How vanity it all is, yet man, questions the love of God to, for and in him. They lived, walked and trusted God. They lived 900 years. What is 70 years? O man. Turn. Believe, He is. For He is. And He is coming.

Questioning how?

Have you ever inspected, watched and observed NATURE? Why. Have you ever learnt anything from your observation?

I have. There must be a Creator. There is a Creator. And there has always been a Creator. Sustaining Life in everything. I must have a creator. He must be. the LORD is my Creator. I have a Father. He is my Father. I am my Father’s. His beloved. He loves me. He came for me. Saved me. Died for me. Resurrected. Is coming to get me back home. And this is how, once beginning to observe, you believe HE IS. It is a beautiful journey of love, surrender and obedience.

Remember how the ark kept and sustained Noah and his family in the rain and flood? Forty days, forty nights? And over one hundred and fifty days after the rain?

• Jesus is that ark. Yes, Jesus, is the ark. God Himself is sustaining, keeping and preserving man through the flood and to the after. We are in Him.

The ark that saved us from the destruction in the present moment and to come.

Because Jesus noted this, it is important to take heed as told (refer to the end day’s sermon). This is one of the stories that made life meaningful to me from a young age. I am growing to understand revelation and discernment. As I walk with God, He keeps on teaching and revealing the Word to me. In the same story, God might have revealed something crucial to you. Please, write, share and let us together grow in the Word of God.

Remember: Wherever there is a crisis there is Christ!

Asante,

Yours,

Karah ^ ^