Topical Bible: Obedience: Noah

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Noah stands as a quintessential example of obedience in the Bible, demonstrating unwavering faith and compliance with God's commands amidst a corrupt and disobedient world. His account is primarily found in the Book of Genesis, chapters 6 through 9, where his actions are depicted as a response to divine instruction.

Context and Background

During Noah's time, the earth was filled with violence and corruption. Genesis 6:5-6 describes the state of humanity: "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 this context, Noah is introduced as a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and one who walked with God (Genesis 6:9).

Divine Command and Noah's Response

God decided to bring judgment upon the earth through a great flood but chose to preserve Noah and his family due to Noah's righteousness. In Genesis 6:13-14 , God instructs Noah: "Then God said to Noah, 'The end of all living creatures has come before Me, because through them the earth is filled with violence. Now behold, I will destroy both them and the earth. Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; make rooms in the ark and coat it with pitch inside and out.'"

Noah's obedience is highlighted by his meticulous adherence to God's detailed instructions for building the ark. Genesis 6:22 succinctly states, "So Noah did everything precisely as God had commanded him." This verse underscores Noah's complete submission to God's will, reflecting his faith and trust in God's plan.

The Flood and Preservation

Noah's obedience extended beyond the construction of the ark. He gathered his family and pairs of every living creature as God commanded (Genesis 7:5): "And Noah did all that the LORD had commanded him." His actions ensured the preservation of life on earth, as God had promised.

The floodwaters came as foretold, and Noah, his family, and the animals were safely housed in the ark. Genesis 7:23 records the fulfillment of God's judgment and Noah's deliverance: "Every living thing on the face of the earth was destroyed—man and livestock, crawling creatures and birds of the air; they were blotted out from the earth, and only Noah and those with him in the ark remained."

Covenant and Legacy

After the flood, God established a covenant with Noah, promising never to destroy the earth by flood again and setting the rainbow as a sign of this covenant (Genesis 9:11-13). Noah's obedience not only preserved humanity but also established a new beginning for creation under God's promise.

Noah's legacy of obedience is further affirmed in the New Testament. Hebrews 11:7 commends 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."

Conclusion

Noah's account is a powerful testament to the importance of obedience to God. His life exemplifies how faith and obedience are intertwined, leading to divine favor and fulfillment of God's promises. Noah's unwavering commitment to God's commands amidst a sinful world serves as an enduring model for believers seeking to live in accordance with God's will.

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Genesis 6:9,22
These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.
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Genesis 7:5
And Noah did according to all that the LORD commanded him.
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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.
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Library

Noah's Faith, Fear, Obedience, and Salvation
... Noah's Faith, Fear, Obedience, and Salvation. A Sermon (No.2147). Delivered ...
Noah's obedience followed the command as he learned it. I ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 36 1890/noahs faith fear obedience and.htm

Obedience: Its Place in Holy Scripture.
... Here let us specially notice how, with any new beginning in the history of God's
kingdom, obedience always comes into special prominence. 1. Take Noah, the new ...
/.../murray/the school of obedience/i obedience its place in.htm

The Saint among Sinners
... 4. We pass by the details of the construction of the ark to draw the final
lesson from the exact obedience of Noah. We have the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the saint among sinners.htm

Obedience to Parents.
... The individual practice of respect, obedience, confidence; and gratitude is necessary
for the ... you should imitate the example of the two sons of Noah in order ...
/.../sainte-foi/serious hours of a young lady/chapter xix obedience to parents.htm

That the Ark which Noah was Ordered to Make Figures in Every ...
... Moreover, inasmuch as God commanded Noah, a just man, and, as the truthful Scripture ...
daughters-in-law, and along with the animals who, in obedience to God's ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 26 that the ark which.htm

The Blessings of Noah Upon Shem and Japheth. (Gen. Ix. 18-27. )
... to be the servant of the father (for the name suggests servile obedience), who was ...
of Ham (Genesis 10:6); and because Ham, the youngest son of Noah, had caused ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the blessings of noah upon.htm

The Obedience of Faith
... The kind of faith which produces obedience is lord of the understanding, a royal
faith ... The infinite rolls, like Noah's flood, over the tops of the hills of the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/the obedience of faith.htm

'Clear Shining after Rain'
... must remove. 'God spake unto Noah, saying, Go forth ... and Noah went
forth.' Thus prompt must be our obedience. A sacrifice of ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/clear shining after rain.htm

The Promise.
... man, the best of all the beings it contained, was subjected to a trial of obedience. ...
Noah, whose father had been alive in the latter years of Adam's life, was ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson i the promise.htm

Chapter vii
... by v.7 (Dillmann, etc.). However, v.5 in a summary way. reported Noah's
obedience and so closed the paragraph. Now v.6 marks the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter vii.htm