When God calls someone to join Him in His activity, it is always a privilege and a responsibility. In Noah’s case, God chose him to be a suitable representative of the human race.
Then the Lord said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you alone are righteous before me in this generation” (Genesis 7:1).
Noah was a willing partner with God. In every instance, it is God’s grace that initiates the relationship. Noah responded to God’s gracious calling by following God’s directions.
Throughout the flood narrative, Noah is silent. God gives the directions and Noah obeys without question.
God tells Noah that the animal population consists of seven pairs of clean animals and one pair of unclean animals. Interestingly, God includes the preservation of the animals that are not clean.
Without comment or question, “Noah did all that the Lord had commanded him” (Genesis 7:5).
Noah is given a week’s warning before the onset of the flood.
Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters came on the earth.
And after seven days the waters of the flood came on the earth (Genesis 7:6 and 10).
In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the windows of the heavens were opened.
The rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights (Genesis 7:11-12).
Noah was 600 years old when the flood began, and one of his sons would have been 100 years old. After the flood, Noah had about one-third of his life left.
There are two sources of flood waters. One was a tidal wave from the eruption of ocean waters, and the other was a massive downpour.
There is no doubt that the two sources of water are intended to recall waters above and below that were described in Genesis 1:6-7. The flood uncreates and returns the earth to a pre-creation period when there was only water.
When all of Noah’s family and the animals entered the ark, “the Lord shut him in” (Genesis 7:16).
Verses 17-24 are reminiscent of Genesis 3. Inside the ark parallels inside the garden. Outside the ark parallels outside the garden. Inside, there is salvation; outside, there is not.
If Noah is to emerge alive from the ark, it will be because of the grace and protecting presence of God. Divine mercy, rather than human skill, will be the determining factor.
Reflections
When “election” is a theological term, it refers to God’s choice of humans. It is an immense privilege and blessing to be one of God’s chosen. While it is the blessing of a lifetime, our election goes beyond personal blessing.
God elects humans to partner with Him in the redemption of the world. Noah and his family were privileged to be called by God to repopulate the earth, but they had to work for years constructing the ark. They also had to endure nearly one year on the ark with a boatload of animals.
We need to know our appointment in God’s work. We won’t be required to construct an ark, but we will be called to live out God’s love, grace, patience, and more in acts of service where the Spirit leads.
Noah didn’t know how to build the ark or pilot a ship. God showed him how to do what was necessary and all Noah had to do was follow His directions.
When we have a God-sized job to do, we can be assured that we can’t accomplish it. However, God will supply all we need to accomplish His will. Our role is to simply trust God’s guidance and obey His directions.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 