So, God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth.
Genesis 6:13 NIV
The story of Noah in Genesis 6:13 exemplifies a profound partnership between a faithful individual and God’s divine plan. When God designates a person for His purpose, He not only reveals His intentions but also extends an invitation for collaboration. Understanding God’s heart and His purpose is a remarkable privilege. This privilege grants us the opportunity to work alongside Him in fulfilling His will. In the case of Noah, amid a world tainted by sin and devoid of God’s word, God chose to reveal His plans to this faithful remnant.
In the days of Noah, God’s word was scarce due to the prevailing sinfulness. Nevertheless, Noah found favour in God’s sight, and He revealed His divine plan to him. Noah stood apart in his faith and righteousness. He became God’s remnant—one selected for God’s divine purpose, in his generation. It’s essential to comprehend that when God begins to unveil His plans to an individual, He simultaneously provides the instructions that define that person’s role in accomplishing His purpose. These instructions are similar to a mantle of authority that God bestows upon those He selects for His work. Noah, though he might not have foreseen the immense responsibility awaiting him, remained steadfast in his righteousness.
This is to emphasise that we must remain steadfast in righteousness. We must not join the multitude to do evil. Like Noah, we must maintain our right standing before God, even if we’re the only one. God’s day of reckoning is coming, then it might be too late to make amends.
Furthermore, in this narrative, we learn that God may not disclose the complete plan and set of instructions at once. However, when He does unveil His plan, He provides the necessary guidance. This process underscores the kind of heart God seeks—a heart willing to place unwavering trust in the Lord, regardless of whether it aligns with human logic. Such a heart is required for God to extend an invitation to partnership in His work unto a man.
Noah’s obedience is a striking example. His compliance demonstrated absolute faith in God. It didn’t matter that rain had never fallen before; when God spoke, Noah believed and acted promptly.
Noah was warned by God about things that he could not yet see. But he had faith and respect for God, so he built a large boat to save his family. With his faith, Noah showed that the world was wrong. And he became one of those who are made right with God through faith. God called Abraham to travel to another place that he promised to give him. Abraham did not know where that other place was. But he obeyed God and started traveling because he had faith.
Hebrews 11:7-8 ERV
Hebrews 11:7-8 sheds further light on this, emphasizing that faith is essential for accomplishing God’s purpose. We, too, must cling to God’s words with unwavering faith and carry out His instructions without hesitation. Noah’s example is a powerful illustration of this principle.
Likewise, we must cling to God and His word with faith. Without faith, we cannot fulfil God’s purpose for our lives. We must unconditionally follow God’s guidance. Noah serves as an exemplar. “Noah did everything just as God commanded him” (Genesis 6:22). He did not merely listen to God’s instructions; he followed them to the letter without reservation. His obedient nature was evident in his unwavering commitment to carrying out every task God had assigned him.
It’s not enough to be counted among the remnant unless, like Noah, we obediently carry out all that God commands. This is the ultimate purpose God has for our lives.
The narrative of Noah offers a profound lesson about faith and obedience. God’s call, when followed with unwavering faith and obedience, unveils His divine plan in our lives. To be in partnership with God in fulfilling His purpose, we must trust and obey, even when His instructions defy conventional wisdom. Like Noah, who constructed an ark in obedience to God, we, too, must act in faith and obey God’s commands. As we navigate life’s complexities, we should strive to be like Noah, standing steadfast righteousness, unwaveringly obedient and faithful to God’s will. In obedience lies the fulfilment of God’s ultimate purpose for our lives.
