Every living thing on the face of the earth was wiped out; men and animals and the creatures that move along the ground and the birds of the air were wiped from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those with him in the ark. The waters flooded the earth for a hundred and fifty days.
Genesis 7:23–24 (NIV84)
The events we are reading about are so amazing that most of humanity considers them to be fiction. But the great flood, the ark, the saving of the animals, all these things we believe did actually happen. Though many scientists deny the possibility of the great flood, other scientists offer evidence for it. At six hundred years of age Noah finally saw the fulfillment of the promise God gave him. Can you imagine what faith it took for him to build the ark and believe that God would, in fact, bring all these animals into the ark? Yet, it happened. Noah became one of the great heroes of the faith recorded in what we call The Faith Hall of Fame.
By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith, he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
Hebrews 11:7 (NIV84)
So, what relevance does this historical story have for us today other than to provide an example of stellar faith? When we study the greater context from the rest of the Bible the purpose unfolds for us. Consider these references.
Jesus speaking:
“Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.”
Luke 17:26–27 (NIV84)
when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
1 Peter 3:19b–21 (NIV84)
scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
2 Peter 3:3–7 (NIV84)
The point is, that just as evil multiplied upon the earth leading up to the great flood, so it is now and will continue until the day that God’s judgment falls. This time it won’t be a flood, it will be the plagues spoken of by the prophets, and all things will be destroyed by fire. Faith in Jesus is our ark, our secure salvation. The population of the earth will be caught unaware, but…
My Prayer For You Today
that you will be prepared, as Noah was, a person who lives by faith and saves his family by faith.