Genesis 6:12-22 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. (15) This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark 300
cubits, its breadth 50 cubits, and its height 30 cubits. (16) Make a roof for
the ark, and finish it to a cubit above, and set the door of the ark in its
side. Make it with lower, second, and third decks. (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. (20) Of the birds according to
their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, of every creeping
thing of the ground, according to its kind, two of every sort shall come in to
you to keep them alive. (21) Also take with you every sort of food that is
eaten, and store it up. It shall serve as food for you and for them." (22)
Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.
We see in this text God’s just judgement and condemnation of sin. The first
phrase of verse 12 harks back to Genesis 1, where God looks on the earth, on
what He has created and sees that it is good. Now just five chapters later God
looks upon the earth that He created, upon mankind, and sees that it have become
altogether corrupt, it is tragic to say the least! God responds as God must, in
just judgement and condemnation. He sends a flood upon the earth. Yet in the
midst this judgement, God is merciful and gracious, He saves Noah and his
family. As we noted yesterday, God is not obliged to save anyone, yet in His
sovereign goodness, He chooses to save Noah and his family. When God saves Noah,
the response of faith from Noah is remarkable. God gives Noah a startling
command, build an ark 135 metres long, 22.5 metres wide and 13.5 metres high!
Noah is told to build this ark and to take into the ark animals of every kind,
every sort of food and his family, and they will be saved from the flood. How
would you react if you were given such a command? How did Noah respond? Verse 22
tells us, “Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.”
How this challenges us, how it makes our faith, trust and obedience
look so weak, even when we have cause to have a faith stronger that Noah’s by
virtue of all that which we have been given from God. Pray today that God might
give you faith, trust and obedience like that of Noah’s.
Faithful Father, Your love, grace, mercy and goodness towards us has
been unfailing, You have been faithful to us since before we were born. We thank
You that in Your faithfulness You saved us through the Lord Jesus Christ,
planting faith in us and calling us to live in obedience to You. Father this
morning the faith of Noah rebukes our poor faith, it exposes how little we trust
and obey You, please in Your grace and by Your Spirit, strengthen our faith,
trust and obedience today. Amen
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