It Was By Faith That Noah Built A Large Boat To Save His Family From The Flood: Hebrews 11:7

It Was By Faith That Noah Built A Large Boat To Save His Family From The Flood

Hebrews 11:7 New American Standard Bible

7 By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

            It was God who warned Noah about things not yet seen. Does this refer to rain itself or to the flood. In my opinion what I believe Noah was warned about the things not yet seen that is referred to here is the flood that would cover the earth. From the time of Adam, no one had seen a flood that covered the entire earth. We don’t know everything that took place upon the earth at this point, but to see a guy begin to build a large ark that would take over one hundred years in the middle of the desert would seem foolish to the human mind and logic. But often the ways and plans of God are higher and different than mans (Isaiah 55:8-9).

            Noah was warned. The word warned means to utter an oracle, divinely intimate; by impl. (comp. the secular sense of 5532) to constitute a firm for business, i.e. (gen.) bear as a title:—be called, be admonished (warned) of God, reveal, speak.[1] God spoke to Noah in an audible voice and warned him of what was coming to earth. Noah had two choices. He could respond in faith and obedience, or he would reject the word of the Lord. It is no different today. God has given us His word. He has given us warnings of things to come, and He has given us warnings of what eternity looks like when we reject Him and His ways. There are many today who are no different than those on the earth during the days of Noah. They view those who follow Jesus Christ and build their lives upon Christ as foolish. But those who know the Living God have heard the word of God and have heeded the word of God.

            The writer of Hebrews continues in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household[2]. The word reverence means to be circumspect, i.e. (by impl.) to be apprehensive; religiously, to reverence:—(moved with) fear.[3] Noah was moved by his reverence and fear of God. Many may claim they love and serve Jesus Christ, but do their lives reflect the love they have for Him. Jesus said those who love me will obey my commands. If we truly know the Living God, the choices we make daily will be reflected because of our fear for the Living God. It is not a fear that we live in constant state of believing we will be punished. But it is a reverence to know that there is a God, and we are not Him. He is greater than we are, and we are accountable for the lives we live on this earth.

            Because of the reverence Noah had he prepared an ark for the salvation of his household. If we truly have love and reverence for Jesus Christ, then we choose to live for Him. We understand our lives no longer belong to us. They belong to Him. He is called to be both Lord and Savior. Noah demonstrated his faith in the Living God and His word that when God spoke and warned Noah, Noah responded by building an ark. True biblical saving faith results in action that moves us toward God and His purposes. For if we are left to ourselves, we will destroy ourselves.

            The writer of Hebrews continues by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. [4] The word condemned means to judge against, i.e. sentence:—condemn, damn.[5] Those who live for the world and its ways will be condemned. John 3:18 states He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.[6] Those who fail to believe and place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ has chosen condemnation and judgement. God offers mercy. During Noah’s day it was God who extended mercy to Noah. It was Noah’s response to Almighty God that enabled mercy to be released into the life of Noah. God’s desire is that none would perish, but all come to everlasting life.

            Why did Noah become and heir of righteousness? Because of his faith in the Living God. Because of faith alone Noah was saved. But is true biblical saving faith absent from action? The answer is no. James tells us faith without works is dead. To claim that we love and live for the Living God but fail to rightly respond to His word is simply as deception. There are many today who may claim to love Jesus and even attend a local church. But sadly, many of these attend local churches that fly a flag the represents a life style that is contrary to God and His word. From Noah’s life and many others in scripture we see that true saving faith results from rightly responding to the word of God.

            When Jesus calls people to follow Him, He calls them to repentance. He calls them to turn from the sin that entangles them and is destroying their lives, and to give Him their lives to receive new life. The great exchange that takes place with Jesus is that we receive grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness when we place our faith and trust in Jesus Christ. We release our sin and shame into His hands, and it is washed away by His precious blood. May we heed the voice of the Lord today. May we honor His word. May we like Noah respond in faith and understand the only way we can be saved from the judgement of Almighty God that is coming to earth is through faith in Jesus Christ alone.

Prayer

Father thank you for your grace. Thank you for providing a way for man and woman to be saved. Thank you that all we have is based on faith. That all you provide is a gift and is received by saving faith in your Son Jesus Christ. Jesus thank you for saving us. Thank you for the cross, the nails, the scourging, the suffering and humiliation. Thank you that you choose to hang upon the cross because of your love for us. Thank you Holy Spirit for opening my eyes. Thank you for leading and guiding me each day. May your will be done and my heart surrendered to all that you desire.

[1] James Strong, A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009), 78.

[2] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Heb 11:7.

[3] James Strong, A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009), 33.

[4] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Heb 11:7.

[5] James Strong, A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009), 40.

[6] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 3:18.