Most people are familiar with the story of Noah, the just and righteous man whom God selected to prepare a very special vessel. God provided him with the perfect blueprint to follow and Noah, in obedience, followed God's "specs" flawlessly. We find this account of Noah in the 6th chapter of the Book of Genesis.

Noah, a servant of God FIRST, lived in the days of old when evil compassed the world, as it was known at that time.

"Now it came about, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them, that the sons of God (called Fallen Angels by most ancient writers and scholars) saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose."
Genesis 6:1, 2 NASB

In that era, peoples' lifespan averaged from 400 to over 900 years. (Methuselah, Noah's grandfather, was the oldest man living at 969 years). In verse three of that same chapter, we read that God made an important and timely decision.

"Then the LORD said, 'My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh: nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years."
Genesis 6:3 NASB

The compass of evil in the world had expanded in such a way that the LORD became filled with great grief, so He decided to begin cutting back the life span of man. We see the consequences of the sons of God or Fallen angels acting in opposition to God in Verse 4. "There were now Giants in the earth after the sons of God came in to the daughters of men." Genesis 6:4 KJV

They bore children who became mighty men, and God watched men's wickedness going on continually. In fact, every evil imagination of the thoughts of man's heart was continually evil. (See verse 5). The LORD God rued that he had even made man. In verse 6 he said, "I will destroy man whom I have CREATED from off the face of the earth -- man, beast, creeping things, birds." Genesis 6:6 KJV

However, the one person who truly pleased God was the man, Noah. In Verse 8, it states for the first time in scripture that Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. God informed Noah of his decision to destroy man in verse 13. "I will destroy man whom I have CREATED from off the face of the earth -- man, beast, creeping things, birds."

Then God instructed Noah to do something both distinctive and unique. Noah was to build an ark (an ancient word for a box-like structure). He was to use gopher wood, possibly something similar to cypress. Cypress seals well, and will not rot or get worms. This particular wood was also buoyant in water and did not easily sink. God told Noah to build many rooms (meaning NESTS) in his vessel; and to pitch it with pitch (God's Super Glue - a covering that would result in a seal of protection for all those who would enter).

God was interested in a particular dimension for this special boat as well. When you consider it, the size was overwhelming with one cubit at approximately 18 - 25 inches long). Think of a piece of equipment that could hold hundreds of freight cars weighing several millions of pounds each.

Although Noah would get a nifty skylight and of course, his side door, he had no promise for a TV set in every nest. God's plan included bringing a flood to destroy all flesh anywhere there was breath of life, and Noah would be too busy inside that ark than to be sitting around with his remote watching old movie classics or documentaries. In fact, Noah, himself was becoming the classic of his time and the documentary people would read about and talk about for generations to come.

In the Scriptures, we see that Noah was the only man who had walked with God since the time of Enoch his great grandfather. Enoch pleased God so much that God translated him directly from earth. We read in Hebrews 11:5 "By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, and was not found, because God had taken him, for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God." We read two verses later that Noah also listed as one of the great heroes of faith. "By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith." Hebrews 11:7 NKJV

The foolishness of man started far back. In the first part of Genesis after God created the heavens and earth, daylight and the light of night, the waters and moving creatures, sea animals and birds, and then man, he saw everything he had made and in Genesis 1:31 he said IT WAS GOOD. He then pronounced a blessing on Adam and Eve by telling them to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth, and have dominion over all those animals and birds and fish.

Then man and woman sinned, and of course they blamed each other, and we started going downhill FAST ever since. God in his mercy made a way out for us all in Genesis 3:15 when he gave a prophecy that he would restore man's dominion over the earth through the seed of the woman (His wonderful prophecy that Christ would come). However, the lineage had to be authentic (a God-selected lineage) to do that, and Satan wanted to mess that up just as he did Adam and Eve the first time there in the garden. When those sons of God came down and married the women here on earth, the line was becoming destroyed¹.

Those fallen angels had become evil creatures from the time they left their first estate and followed old Lucifer. We read about them again in the book of Jude verse 6, 7 where it tells us how God had to later reserve them in chains for what they were doing both here then again later on in Genesis 18 when they attempted to take "men" for the same purposes as they were doing here with these daughters of men.
There, it says "And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example suffering the vengeance of eternal fire." Nothing would satisfy them.

Satan in his evil ways was having a great time bringing man down -- ALL BUT FOR NOAH and his little family. Therefore, God said he would establish a wonderful covenant with Noah, which was a promise of preservation and security to Noah and his family, based on Noah's condition of faith and obedience and his love for God. Because of that faith and obedience, his fellowship with God was no less than wonderful and blessed.

It is my prayer that God can look at us and say the same thing about OUR faith and obedience to Him!

By Verse 19 God's mercy went into action. Noah was to bring one male and one female of every living creature on earth, as well as every bird and creeping thing into the ark (Maybe God did not want to CREATE THEM ALL OVER AGAIN). Noah was also to bring food for them all as well and in this monumental task, Noah obeyed without question or complaint.

The Ark was finally built (100 years) and it was time to enter the vessel. God said to Noah, "Come thou and all thy house into the ark - for thee I have seen righteousness before me in this generation." I love that verse... God said, "COME." And Noah came. God did not tell Noah to GO into the Ark because GOD would be inside waiting so the family could be safe with him regardless of what happened around them.

• No matter what we go through as Christians, God is there with us, ready and waiting to keep us safe with him regardless of what circumstances or situation we might be in. Do we trust him in that?

John chapter 10:9 says - "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture." (NKJV) Pasture in this passage means REST, or a place of comfort and a place to GRAZE and FEED. (A time to CHEW ON God's WORDS to us). Once Noah, his family, and the animals were in the ark God SHUT them in and sealed the door showing once again that protection from all storms going on around and that would inevitably come Noah's way, just as they do ours.

"As the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage, until the day 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."
Matthew 24:37+

He is coming to receive US unto himself ALSO and we will find that ultimate REST IN HIM. Even so Come Lord Jesus Come!

In seven days, the rains began falling and continued for 40 straight days and 40 straight nights. As Noah listened to God's commands, he continued to be obedient in absolutely everything.

All the flesh that was left on the earth drowned - every living substance was destroyed including those giants, and those daughters of men and everybody who was around. Think about the highest peak at Mt. Ararat which is 17,000 feet, and you get an idea of how high the flood state was for 150 days. Only Noah and his family who were with him in the Ark remained alive - Because Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord AND he PLEASED the Lord.

As we ready our own ships for sailing, do we know what to watch out for so that we too will have tightly sealed, preserved crafts, made of a wood that will not rot nor perish and that are sealed with God's redemptive covering and protection? Are we buoyant and unsinkable in OUR faith like with the gopher wood?

In Verse 8, 9, Noah was called righteous by the Lord. Although we know he was not sinless, he WAS upright and genuine.

In Verse 9 we see that he came from good stock. God recognized the value of his lineage.

We are not perfect in ourselves, but Christ is righteous in us. God wants us as boat builders to be upright and genuine (mature in him).

Are we from Good Stock? In Christ, we become part of his born-again stock.

Acts 17:28 "For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, for we are also his offspring."

Hebrews 13:21 "He makes you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen."

At this time of his life, Noah was a living testimony in his generation both to his family and to those around him.

At this time of our lives, God also wants us as a witness and testimony in our generation to our family and those around us. When people see in us following God, he draws them in like matter to want to know him. Our lives should be a continuous witness, not just by the things we say but by what we do, or it will drive a wedge that only God can break apart.)

Acts 22:14, 15 "The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard."

For example:

Saul, who began as a persecutor of the church and breathed threats and murder against the Lord's people Acts 9:1 As Paul Was eventually willing to die himself for the name of the Lord Acts 21:13

John, the son of thunder went from asking the Lord if he wanted him and James to command fire to come down from heaven in Luke 9:53,54 to be coming tolerable of others as he shared in 1 John 4:7 that we should love one another.

Think for a minute about how you lived before you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and how you live now. What is ONE difference in the way you live now?

• Noah stayed in Fellowship with God
• Noah walked with God even in difficult times
• Noah's friendship with God brought him into a loving fellowship with him
• God watched Noah and everyday he saw courage and independence from the world
• We have fellowship with God
• We walk with God during difficult times too
• We have a friendship with God when we stay in fellowship with him and other Christians
• Does God see courage in our lives? He wants to give us courage when we sense the world drawing in too close. He will never put us through more than we can bear. (See I Corinthians 10:13)

The Lord God sees that same courage in you and me even in our weaknesses, tears, and disappointments, because he looks at us even in our weaknesses through the eyes of the Lord Jesus who is in us. God uses us to help one another in these times of need.

Look at the following possible problem areas; see if they apply.

• FINANCIAL
• UNSAVED LOVED ONES
• PERSONAL HEALTH PROBLEMS
• FAMILY HEALTH PROBLEMS
• A LOVED ONE's HEALTH PROBLEM
• TRIALS AT A JOB
• PERSECUTIONS FOR FAITH
• DISABILITIES
• TRAGEDIES
• MISFORTUNES
• TROUBLES WITH SEEKING GOD FOR HIS PERFECT WILL

When God watched the man Noah, he saw real courage as HE lived in a world of utter chaos. In the NIV, 2 Corinthians 12:9, 10 the word speaks to us clearly.

"My grace is sufficient for YOU for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in WEAKNESSES, in INSULTS, in HARDSHIPS, in PERSECUTIONS, in DIFFICULTIES, for when I am weak, then I am strong."

Another powerful portion of scripture comes to us from the 73rd Psalm.

Psalm 73:25, 26; 28 Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works.

Noah was Set Apart for the Lord. He chose not to walk with those who were going in the opposite direction. What choices are we making to stay set apart for God?

Blessed is the man who walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
Psalm 1:1

And be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God
Romans 12:2

Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to disnonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified and meet for the master's use and prepared unto every good work.
2 Timothy 2:19-21

When we read about Noah's Conduct, Thoroughness, and Willingness, Genesis shows us that Noah had a "God-like-attitude." His spiritual position remained in tact and he set his standards high. He lived his life in obedience. In obeying God, his response was immediate. He did not ask God why. When God said it, Noah did it. Would we have been so willing? Noah's willing servant attitude was possible because he kept his focus on God.

You and I can have "God-like-attitudes" as well. God just needs to POLISH THE MIRRORS OF OUR SOULS, which are SO in need of REFINEMENT. (I know mine is!) We can be willing servants who stand alone and apart from those things that pull us away from our Lord of Lords. We can set our standards high with God's word as our measuring stick by focusing on FAITH and BELIEF in his word. Rom. 6:16 SAYS: Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey, whether of sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousness?

Noah was Right with God. Even when surrounded by evil Noah stayed right with God.

Evil or worldly things surround us too, but there is no reason why we cannot be right with God in what we do regardless of what goes on around us. We cannot run from the world, because we still have to live in the world. The people around us will see the Lord Jesus in us by how we respond to them and how we respond to what is going on around us. That is being right with God.

He has given us the perfect "BIBLE" blueprint to follow just as he did Noah. Below are some other supplies we should keep in stock.

Eye Protection: Boat Builders need this to be guided correctly in the construction task and to keep all foreign particles out. "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye." Psalm 32:8

Full Body Coveralls and Brimmed Hat: Boat Builders must wear these for protection from any alien, adverse, or unfamiliar matter as well. "our waist girded with truth, our breastplate of Righteousness, our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, our shields of faith and helmets of salvation, and keep(ing) in hand our sword of the spirit" Ephesians 6:1-17 (paraphrased)

Air Supply: A full daily dose of the Holy Spirit is vital for life for every boat builder. John 20 tells us He will breathe his fresh breath on each one of us (to give us life).

Pitch: We must stay saturated with that pitch. God's seal of protection holds our spiritual vessel together in Christ.

Compass: : We need to remember to carry a good compass. This helps us in understanding God's Word and keeps us on course. (In the book of James, it says if anyone lacks wisdom let him ask of God who promises to give that wisdom to you liberally)

Anchor: : No vessel would be complete without a Good Anchor, which is that Solid Foundation in Jesus Christ.

The Cockpit is used for fellowship and body ministry (where the entire crew come together) to strengthen, encourage, and uplift one another.

The Topside provides us a place where we can go to get above the fray, because we need a place for rest and reflection.

The Galley keeps our Spiritual Food, Living Water, and Storage fresh, because of our need for a healthy diet of God's Word, a portion of His Spirit, and the ability to RIGHTFULLY Divide that Word as it is stored in our minds and hearts.

The Chart Room is that special area provided for serious study of God's Word. (A place where we can get down to serious study time with the Lord.) When we research the scriptures, we begin to see it unfold before our eyes!

The Hull represents our bodies presented as living sacrifices to the Lord. (See Romans 12:1, 2).

Are we watching our Budget constraints? Salvation is free, but the walk is costly. Have we taken the time to count the cost? God can make beauty out of even hand-me-down Christians but this is one area of our lives where we do not want to pinch pennies.

There is also the depth our Ocean as we consider how deep we are willing to go with the Lord. Are we going to be shallow Christians or strong towers in Christ?

Our Captain knows how to STEER our vessels correctly, regardless of where we might find ourselves during the trip, whether in a trial, a blessing, or in that time of patient waiting. Storms are ahead. Just as with Noah, it rains on the just and the unjust.

Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord because he remained upright, genuine, and obedient, and he walked with the Lord even in difficult times. HE PLEASED THE LORD. It was obvious to the world around him that he belonged to God, and God blessed him.

It is my prayer that God can look at us and say the same thing about OUR faith and obedience to Him!

References:

• Pink, Arthur, GLEANINGS IN GENESIS, ©Moody Press 1922, 1950.
• Morris, Henry, GENESIS RECORD, ©Baker Book House 1976.
• Thomas, Griffith, GENESIS, A DEVOTIONAL COMMENTARY, ©Eerdmans's 1946 reprinted 1983.

¹Some modern Christians have called these sons of God Sethites. Hearts for Christ Ministries recommends the readers do their own research in that area.