Hebrews 11:7
Hebrews 11:7 says, “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.” Among other things, this passage teaches faith is about obedience, righteousness, and will lead on to a good reward.
Genesis 6:13-22 outlines the specifications by which God expected Noah to prepare for the impending flood. God gave some very specific designs and instructions to Noah. The dimensions of the ark are outlined (interestingly, the dimensions were ideal for keeping a boat afloat). Commands regarding the animals that were to be brought aboard the ark. God’s plans to flood the earth were revealed. Noah, a man noted to have great faith, obeyed God. Genesis 6:22 says, “Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did.” Further, Genesis 7:5 emphasizes this fact as it says, “And Noah did according to all that the Lord commanded him.” Faith is about obedience. No wonder the Bible says “...Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord” (Genesis 6:8).
Another lesson learned from Noah and his family concerns righteous living. Moses recorded of the situation before the flood in Genesis 6:5-6: “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.” Peter explains the ancient world and their sinful condition when he wrote that God, “... did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly” (2Peter 2:5). In the ancient sinful world, Noah was one who lived righteously. As Peter described in this passage, he was a “preacher of righteousness.” The writer of Hebrews said that Noah “moved with fear” (Hebrews 11:7). This presents a great lesson for the Christian today — it is indeed possible to be righteous even when everyone else is unrighteous. Further, it is possible to raise a godly family in an ungodly world. Paul said it eloquently when he wrote: “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1Corinthians 10:13).
One final lesson that is taught by the life of Noah is the rewards God gives those who know and love Him. The latter part of Hebrews 11:7 says Noah “...became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.” The latter part of Genesis 6:9 points to the righteousness of Noah by saying, “Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God.” Noah’s faith, based on evidence (see Hebrews 11:1), caused him to live (walk) righteously and thus became an heir of righteousness. That is, he inherited the blessing God has reserved for those who live righteously.
These three lessons learned from the life of Noah — faith is about obedience, righteousness is about moral living, and this righteous life is about a great reward — all have great application to the child of God in present time. The life of Noah shows us faith is not some abstract idea which will cause one to have good feelings about life. It is based on evidence and reality (Hebrews 11:1). The person who has genuine faith in God will genuinely obey God. The faithful will obey God meticulously and willingly. Noah built the ark to the exact designs which God had provided. Today, people will obey God by being baptized, taking the Lord’s supper on the first day of the week, meeting with the saints, and a host of other things which could be mentioned. Genuine faith will produce obedience.
Genuine faith will also produce righteousness. 1Johh 3:7 says, “Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.” Today when a Christian is “perfect in his generations,” and walks (lives) with God even as Noah was just and walked with God (see 1John 1:7) the Christian can be righteous. This righteousness comes by godly living.
Genuine faith will bring about the inheritance of righteousness which God has promised. Jesus spoke of good deeds, prayers, and fasting all done in secret. For each of them He said that God would reward openly (Matthew 6:4, 6, 18). Assuredly, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17). While there are certainly blessings in this life for righteous living, the ultimate blessing is in the life to come. One day, the righteous will hear the words of Christ as he sweetly says, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord” (Matthew 25:21, 23). Just as in the days of Noah, Christians today can experience the rewards of faithful living.
-J
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