Noah was a significant biblical figure who is best known for building an ark and gathering animals of each species to survive the Great Flood that God sent to destroy the evil and corrupted world. Noah’s story is told primarily in Genesis chapters 6-9. Here is an overview of Noah’s life and role in the Bible:
Noah’s Family Background
Noah was the son of Lamech and descended from Adam through Seth (Genesis 5:28-29). His grandfather was Methuselah, who lived to be 969 years old, the oldest recorded age in the Bible (Genesis 5:27). Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth (Genesis 5:32).
God’s Favor on Noah
Noah found favor in God’s eyes because he was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time who had become wicked and corrupt (Genesis 6:8-9). The Bible describes Noah as a man who “walked faithfully with God” (Genesis 6:9), implying he obeyed God’s commands and had an intimate, close relationship with Him.
God’s Judgment and the Ark
As human wickedness increased, God was “grieved that he had made man on the earth” and decided to “blot out man” through a flood (Genesis 6:6-7). However, because Noah was righteous, God told him about His plan and instructed him to build a massive ark to preserve himself, his family, and representatives of each land animal species (Genesis 6:13-21). Noah did everything God commanded him (Genesis 6:22).
The ark was 300 cubits long (about 450 feet or 140 meters), with three decks and rooms inside (Genesis 6:14-16). Noah brought a male and female of every living creature into the ark, as God had instructed him (Genesis 7:1-3).
The Great Flood
After Noah finished building the ark over many years, God sent the floodwaters to cover the earth for 40 days and 40 nights (Genesis 7:4, 12, 17). The flood wiped out all life on dry land, covering even the highest mountains by over 20 feet of water (Genesis 7:19-20). Everything perished that was not inside the ark.
After 150 days, the waters began to recede. The ark eventually came to rest on the mountains of Ararat (Genesis 8:3-4). Noah waited 40 more days and sent out a raven and dove to check if the land had dried (Genesis 8:6-12). When the ground was dry enough, God instructed Noah to exit the ark with all the creatures (Genesis 8:15-17).
Noah’s Descendants and God’s Covenant
Noah built an altar and offered sacrifices to God, and God placed a rainbow in the sky as a sign of His covenant that He would never again destroy the earth with a flood (Genesis 8:20-22, 9:11-17). Noah lived 350 years after the flood and died at 950 years old (Genesis 9:28-29).
The human race began again through Noah’s three sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth. From these sons descended the nations that spread throughout the earth after the Tower of Babel story (Genesis 10:32, 11:1-9). Shem’s name means “name” or “fame,” and he became the ancestor of the Semitic people, including Abraham, Isaac, and Israel.
Key Lessons from Noah’s Life
1. Noah was faithful to obey God despite living in a sinful world. His life illustrates not conforming to the evil patterns of the world.
2. Noah persevered in doing God’s will despite the enormous task of building the ark over many years and the ridicule he likely faced.
3. God punishes sin but graciously protects the righteous and makes provision for their salvation. The ark points to Christ as the only refuge from God’s final judgment on the world’s sin.
4. After the flood, God renews the creation. He redeems a people for Himself beginning with Noah, making possible the plan of salvation unfolding throughout the rest of the Bible.
5. God’s covenant with Noah shows He desires to dwell with His people and promises them a blessed future forever. The sign of the rainbow symbolizes God’s mercy and faithfulness.
Noah in Later Scripture
The New Testament contains several references to Noah and the flood:
– Jesus compared the suddenness of His second coming to the way the flood came in Noah’s time (Matthew 24:37-39).
– Noah constructed the ark by faith in God’s warning about the flood, and this righteous example is held up along with others who lived by faith (Hebrews 11:7).
– God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was built; this patience of God led to salvation. Likewise, in the present He waits patiently, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance (1 Peter 3:20, 2 Peter 3:9).
– The spirits of those who perished in Noah’s flood are now in prison (1 Peter 3:19-20).
– Just as the flood destroyed the ancient world, the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire and destruction on the day of judgment when the ungodly will perish (2 Peter 3:5-7).
Noah’s story has captured the imagination of believers and nonbelievers alike for millennia. As one of the major figures in Genesis, Noah laid the foundation for God’s continued plan of redemption after wiping the slate clean through the flood judgment. He serves as an example of steadfast faith in God’s Word and obedience to His commands despite the evil in the world. The Flood and ark remind us of the coming final judgment on sin as well as God’s mercy in providing salvation to all who trust in Him.