As a husband and father, I realize that I have been entrusted with a great responsibility for providing for and protecting my family. Most men carry that same burden. We work hard at our occupation to provide shelter, food, and medical coverage for our families. We sacrifice to ensure that our children get the best opportunities for their education. We strive to ensure their safety by living in safe neighborhoods, purchasing safer vehicles and security systems for our homes. But to what extremes are we willing to go to save our families.
If the house on fire, most men would try to get their wives and children to safety. If an intruder was to threaten their family, most men would risk their lives to protect them. To what extreme would you go as a man to save your family?
The Bible tells us of a man named Noah. You remember him the guy with the Ark. There is more to this man than the guy who built a big boat to save a bunch of animals. Noah went to great extremes to save his family. In Hebrews 11:6, Noah life's is summarized this way...
"By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family."
The times in which Noah lived were so evil that God regretted ever making mankind to begin with. They had consistently turned their thoughts toward evil and their wickedness was so perverse and evil that God decided to destroy all living things and start over. That is where we are introduced to Noah in Genesis chapter 6.
Noah was a man of Peerless Character.
Genesis 6:8-9 tells us that Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord because he was the only man who was righteous, blameless among the people of his time and he walked with God. Noah countered the culture of his day. He was not a chameleon who conforms to the environment around him. He was unique. He was God's man among a godless generation. His relationship with God set him apart from all others. He was that kind of man before there ever was an ark. Because Noah was that kind of man, it saved his family.
Noah was a man who Precisely Obeyed God.
God told Noah that He was going to destroy the earth with a flood. He assigned Noah the task of building the ark. The place of refuge for Noah, his family and the animals necessary to be the "new beginning for the earth." God gave specific instructions to Noah. He provided details about the ark's dimensions and instructions for gathering the animals. The Bible tells us that Noah did everything just as God commanded him. (Genesis 6:22) That was no small task considering that ark wouldn't fit on a football field and stood as tall as a 5 story building. Remember there were no power tools, cranes or Home Depots during those days to assist him. But Noah did it all just like God told him to because it would save his family.
Noah also, was a man who Persevered by Faith
It took 100 years for Noah to build the ark. He experienced ridicule and insults. The task was daunting and laborious. Once the ark was completed and the animals gathered, the Lord instructed Noah and his family to enter the ark. God sealed the door shut and it started to rain. The rain came and floods came up. As evil mankind called out for rescue, there were none who survived except those in the ark; Noah, his family and the animals. They were on that ark for a year until the waters receded. When they finally exited the ark, they praised God for saving them. The journey of faith was difficult and scary, but by faith, Noah persevered. He persevered because he walked with God, each step of the way.
Noah was able to save his family because he was walked with God. His walk with God gave him the confidence to trust God's word even when it appeared ridiculous. As a result of being obedient to God's word, he built the ark and his family was saved. Noah is the example for all husbands and fathers who want to save their families in today's world.
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