God's Righteous Will Live by Faith [Genesis 7]

1Then the LORD said to Noah, "Enter the ark, you and all your household, for you alone I have seen to be righteous before Me in this time.

 16Those that entered, male and female of all flesh, entered as God had commanded him; and the LORD closed it behind him.17Then the flood came upon the earth for forty days, and the water increased and lifted up the ark, so that it rose above the earth. 18The water prevailed and increased greatly upon the earth, and the ark floated on the surface of the water. 19The water prevailed more and more upon the earth, so that all the high mountains everywhere under the heavens were covered. 20The water prevailed fifteen cubits higher, and the mountains were covered. 21All flesh that moved on the earth perished, birds and cattle and beasts and every swarming thing that swarms upon the earth, and all mankind; 22of all that was on the dry land, all in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, died. 23Thus He blotted out every living thing that was upon the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky, and they were blotted out from the earth; and only Noah was left, together with those that were with him in the ark.  24The water prevailed upon the earth one hundred and fifty days.


 How many children's books and stories have we read about Noah and the ark?  The story has been written about and expanded on so many times one starts to wonder what is fact and what is surmise.  As I read the account straight from the Bible this morning I kept asking myself, "Where are the mockers?  What about the other people who watched him build the ark?"  This account had nothing about them.  Instead the focus was the relationship between God and Noah.  Another three times you see the words that we saw in chapter 6 repeated, "Noah did according to all that the LORD had commanded him." (v.5, 9 and 16)


In Hebrews 11, God mentions Noah's faith, "By faith Noah after being warned about what was not yet seen, in reverence built an ark to deliver his family.  By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith." (Hebrews 11:7, Holman CSB). Right before this verse it says, "Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6, Holman CSB).  My prayer today is that God would give me Noah's kind of faith.  Even if I am the only one, I want to draw near to God and seek Him diligently.

 

In Matthew 4 Jesus Andrew, Simon Peter, James and John were compelled by Jesus' invitation to follow Him.  "Immediately they left their nets and followed Him." (Matt. 4:20)


Lord, I praise You that You never get tired of new beginnings. You were willing to start all over with man and your creation.  I am so grateful that You saw one alone who was righteous and that it brought You pleasure.  Give me faith today to trust You in what is not yet seen and to leave what is consuming me and  follow You completely.

Verna McCrillis, 2/23/2010