Topical Bible: Faith: Noah, in Building the Ark

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Noah stands as a paragon of faith in the biblical narrative, particularly in the account of the building of the ark as recorded in Genesis. His account is a profound testament to unwavering trust in God amidst a world steeped in corruption and disbelief.

Biblical Context

The account of Noah is found in Genesis 6-9. During Noah's time, humanity had become exceedingly wicked, prompting God to express regret over creating mankind. Genesis 6:5-6 states, "Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time. And the LORD regretted that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him in His heart."

In contrast to the pervasive corruption, Noah is described as a righteous man. Genesis 6:9 declares, "Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation; Noah walked with God." This distinction set Noah apart and made him the recipient of God's favor and instructions for salvation.

Divine Command and Noah's Obedience

God's command to Noah was both extraordinary and daunting. He was instructed to build an ark of specific dimensions and materials to preserve his family and pairs of every living creature from the impending flood. Genesis 6:14-16 provides the detailed instructions: "Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; make rooms in the ark and coat it with pitch inside and out. And this is how you are to build it: The ark is to be three hundred cubits long, fifty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high. You are to make a roof for the ark, finish its walls to within a cubit of the top, and put a door in the side of the ark. You are to make it with lower, middle, and upper decks."

Noah's faith is evidenced by his immediate and complete obedience to God's command. Despite the lack of precedent for such a task and the likely ridicule from his contemporaries, Noah proceeded with the construction of the ark. Genesis 6:22 succinctly states, "So Noah did everything precisely as God had commanded him."

Faith Amidst Skepticism

Noah's faith was not merely passive belief but active trust in God's word, demonstrated through his actions. Hebrews 11:7 highlights Noah's faith: "By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith."

The building of the ark likely spanned many years, during which Noah would have faced skepticism and scorn from those around him. Yet, his faith did not waver. His steadfastness serves as a powerful example of trusting in God's promises, even when they seem improbable or when faced with opposition.

The Fulfillment of God's Promise

Noah's faith was ultimately vindicated when the floodwaters came, as God had foretold. Genesis 7:11-12 describes the event: "In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, on the seventeenth day of the second month—on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened. And the rain fell upon the earth for forty days and forty nights."

Noah's obedience and faith resulted in the preservation of his family and the continuation of life on earth. Genesis 8:1 notes, "But God remembered Noah and all the animals and livestock that were with him in the ark, and He sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded."

Legacy of Faith

Noah's faith in building the ark is a foundational account of trust in divine instruction and the righteousness that comes through faith. His life exemplifies the belief that faith is not merely intellectual assent but involves action in accordance with God's will, even when faced with uncertainty or derision. Noah's account continues to inspire believers to trust in God's promises and to act in faith, regardless of the circumstances.

Nave's Topical Index

Genesis 6:14-22
Make you an ark of gopher wood; rooms shall you make in the ark, and shall pitch it within and without with pitch.
Nave's Topical Index

Hebrews 11:7
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Noah's Faith, Fear, Obedience, and Salvation
... If they did not think so, at any rate the fact that Noah carried out ... to the full,
and invested all he had in the building of this ... How his faith condemned them! ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 36 1890/noahs faith fear obedience and.htm

From the Fall to the Flood.
... Noah built the ark according to the pattern given him by ... The building of this Ark
was not only an object ... the time but a satisfactory proof of the faith of the ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter ii from the fall.htm

Noah's Justice
... divine in Noah's faith,"I mean his patience. He knew that a flood was to come"he
set to work in faith to build his ark"and that ark was in building for ...
/.../kingsley/twenty-five village sermons/sermon x noahs justice.htm

The Survival of the Fittest.
... righteousness which is according to faith."Heb.11 ... a mortal, attained immortality
the Babylonian Noah recounts the ... account then follows of the building of the ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/kent/the making of a nation/study iv the survival of.htm

The First Chapter: the Great Reverence with which we Should ...
... And because they are Yours and true, I must accept them all with faith and gratitude. ...
Behold, Noah, a just man, worked a hundred years building the ark that ...
/.../kempis/the imitation of christ/the first chapter the great.htm

Ten Reasons Demonstrating the Commandment of the Sabbath to be ...
... to Adam in his innocency: whilst holding his happiness, not by faith in Christ's ...
ark, and lived builder of the church so long as Noah was building the ark ...
/.../bayly/the practice of piety/ten reasons demonstrating the commandment.htm

With How Great Reverence Christ must be Received
... 4. Behold, Noah, that just man, laboured for a ... of Israel, was seven years building
his magnificent ... curiosity, nor sensuality, only steadfast faith, devout hope ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/kempis/imitation of christ/chapter i with how great.htm

Nisibene Hymns. Hymn i. O God of Mercies who Didst Refresh Noah ...
... It falls not as the building of the sand, for I have ... for on Thy rock have I built
my faith; the secret ... The foundation of Noah was on a rock; the dwelling place ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/nisibene hymns hymn i o.htm

Chapter vi
... obeyed orders as Hebrews 11:7 rightly says: "by faith.". ... usually assumed that during
all this time Noah preached to ... words had not been many, the building of the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter vi.htm

Genesis
... substitute was providentially provided, and Abraham's faith, which had ... precise and
minute instructions for the building of the ... Noah must now be in the ark; for ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/genesis.htm