Noah

Imagine with me if you will that Noah and his family have just sat down to dinner one night when Noah begins to speak. As the food is being passed around, with just a hint of pride in his voice, he announces "So, I finished the ark today." "Great, it's about time." somebody says, through smiles and quiet chuckles from just about everybody at the table, everybody that is except Noah's wife, who is absolutely thrilled at the news, because her honey-do list has been put on hold for the past 100 years until Noah's new hobby was finished. Her face lights up like the Fourth of July. That is, until she hears the next few words that come out of Noah's mouth. "And I, uh, talked to God again today." Shem pipes up, barely able to keep from laughing, and says "Oh yeah dad? And what did the big guy have to say this time?" With hesitation in his voice Noah pauses and says "He said we have to go into ark." There must have been a giant thud when everybody's jaw hit the table, but I am sure you could have heard a pin drop after he finished saying, "along with a pair or so of every living creature on earth."

Now you see, it was ok with Noah's family that Noah had built this giant boat in the back yard. It was no doubt a little bit frustrating and embarrassing at first when they had to explain to all their friends and neighbors why their now 600 year old father had suddenly decided to build a massive boat in the back yard, in the middle of nowhere, but they figured he's retired now and he's found himself a nice hobby to keep busy with. Of course, they weren't too happy when they had been recruited into service, but hey, Noah probably wasn't going to be around much longer and this gave them the opportunity to spend some quality time with dear ole dad. Little did they know, it would take some 100 years to build the ark. Even Noah's wife, who had her own questions about what her husband was doing, was happy to see father and sons working together, even if it was on a strange project. All of that was great, but actually going into the ark? Now that was another issue altogether.

"For how long?" someone asked. "I don't really know" "Pairs of every creature on earth?" asked someone else. "Yes" said Noah. "How are they all going to get here? "I don't know." "How are we going to store and feed them?" "I don't know" "Is there anything you do know dad?" "Yes, God told me to do it." For us, the reader it might be easy to look smugly at Noah's family and think, its obvious: God said to do it and if you don't you're going to die with everybody else! But I have to imagine, although the text does not specifically say it, that Noah's family was, at best, skeptical about what was going on. And at worst, they probably thought dear old dad had finally gone senile. I mean building an ark in the middle of nowhere is one thing, but taking up residence inside it, with a WHOLE LOT of animals as your neighbors is something else altogether. Besides, what would the neighbors think? They were already the novelty of the neighborhood with the gigantic boat sitting in the backyard. What would people think now if they were to all get inside of it? You have to remember, God spoke to Noah, not Noah's family. So all they had to go on is their father's word. Who among us, even as life long Christians would be eager to do something so strange.

But I am sure, that Noah too was also filled with just as many question, fears, and hesitations as his family. He knew a flood was coming, but God hadn't briefed him on all the details. So when his family began the interrogation, it's hard for me to believe that Noah stood strong and proud as the pillar of faith that he would later come to be known as. Just imagine yourself in his shoes. You have already taken a great leap of faith by building a big boat in the middle of nowhere and now God is calling you to do even stranger tasks. And not just you, but your entire family. Or put yourself in the family's shoes. Perhaps you grew up in the home of a minister or a military family and can relate, having to follow a call that does not seem to be your own. And yet, in spite of all their fear, confusion, and anxiety Noah and his family got on the ark.

It must have been an incredible experience when Noah's family first heard the cacophony of noises growing in the distance. I imagine they were going through another normal quiet day of house work and chores, when the ground began to shake. As they all rushed outside to see what was going on, just over the horizon, they could see an endless line flood of animals just over the horizon heading their way. Creatures of every shape, size, and color from every corner of the earth converging in their backyard. Everyone of these new houseguests along with Noah's family would be packed into an ark which seemed to be shrinking with every passing minute. What a pleasant experience that would be.

Of course there must have also been plenty of bewildered onlookers and hecklers gathered around surprised to see what amounted to the world's first zoo. Their comments couldn't have been kind. We worry and fret over what is said about us when we make stands for our faith at school, work, or even church, but the nay-sayers who would have come to heckle Noah were so evil that they had led to the destruction of all life on earth. I can't imagine their words were very kind or supportive. But Noah and his family continued their work in spite of all the criticism and doubt and they made sure that all the animals and themselves were on the ark.

And then God shut the door.

What a scary moment that must have been. I am sure you've jumped when something unexpectedly fell with a crash. But this was no plate breaking on the floor. Noah and his family were running around making sure all the animals are in their stalls and all of a sudden a massive wooden door closes shut by itself. The ark goes dark and everyone's spine begins to tingle with anticipation...but they had to wait another seven days, holding their breath to see what would happen next.

Finally, after a week of endless waiting had passed the light that was peering through the small openings in the ark began to grow dim as black clouds began to gather overhead. The first thunderclaps could be heard in the distance and the first drops of rain could just be heard falling on the roof of the ark. Then the drops began to pick up size and speed and the thunder got louder and before anyone knew it, the flood had begun.

As much as we tend to romanticize the ark in children's stories, I think that it must have been absolutely terrifying on the ark. I can just see Noah and his family huddled together praying in some dark corner of ark as the world they used to know is collapsing all around them. How terrifying it must have been to hear people on the outside banging and clawing against the walls of the ark crying out to Noah to let them in as the waves began to crash on all sides. The sound of water bursting forth from the earth and animals crying in fear must have been deafening. This was no fairy tale, it was a horror story of the most unimaginable kind. For forty days and for forty nights the storm continued, until they heard the most terrifying sound of all.

Silence.

The only noises to be heard were the call of hungry animals needing to be fed and the endless lapping of water against the ark.

It is important to remember that the flood did not last for only forty days and nights. It rained for forty days and forty nights, but according to the text Noah and his family were on the ark for months. Even if you're not claustrophobic, that must have seemed like an eternity. So what did they do for months and months on a stinky, dark, stuffy ark with no tv, no cell phones, no internet, and not even a board game to play. I imagine there was a lot of praying and thinking that went on by everyone. It could not have been a time of great joy. Yes they were alive and they had each other, but they had lost everything and everyone they had ever known. We often forget about Noah's sons' wives. They had lost their entire families by following their husbands, their father, and his god. Of course they were happy to be alive, but they were trapped with their in-laws. I think that says enough. There had to come a point, and it probably came constantly, when they all thought about what God had done and realized that they were the only people left on earth. What had happened? A year ago they were all going about their lives as normal, doing the chores, cooking dinner, going to work. But now nothing would ever be the same.

Perhaps you've found yourself in a position like Noah and his family. You’ve been faithful, you’ve followed God’s calling and you did exactly what He has asked, but life couldn’t be more chaotic. Instead of life being easier, there is more to do, there is less money, people want more out of you, you fell pulled in a thousand different directions, you are riddled with doubt, in short life isn’t easy, in fact, it’s really, really hard.

Welcome to the Christian life.

Despite the message that is so often proclaimed by Christian televangelists and Christian pop literature, life, the Christian life in particular, is anything but easy. Unfortunately, the gospel, despite popular misconception, is not a guide to happiness, unlike so many self-help books that line bookstore shelves. If anything it will make your life that much more difficult. Look at those who were closest to Christ, the disciples. They gave up everything that they had, left everyone that they knew and followed Him. Even after the Resurrection they continued to spread the Gospel throughout the world. But despite their faithful service, none of them escaped persecution, and very few of them were not martyred. Christ Himself said "they persecuted me, they will persecute you." Paul told Timothy that anyone who lives a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But even beyond persecution, there is nothing in gospels that tells us that becoming a Christian will suddenly make our lives better and pain free. Yes we are saved, but we still live in a fallen world and we still suffer through the effects of that fallen world, disease, death, pain, loss, the list goes on and on. Our happiness is not necessarily of this world, it is eternal.

Noah and his family must have had a thousand questions rolling around in their heads. The emotions they experienced must have been intense: sadness, anxiety, loss, fear. God told Noah there would be rain for 40 days and 40 nights, so what were they thinking on day 75 when they were still on the ark, or day 100, or 120? Probably the same types of questions we have when the storms of life come our way. Where is god? Why doesn't He do something? Why does He let his people suffer? How long is this going to last? What is going to happen? Are we going to live?

One of the things I like so much about the story of Noah is that the first thing that God does after He decides to destroy the world and start all over again, the very first thing He does is tell Noah to build an ark. In fact, He tells Noah to build it before He says anything else. Notice, He doesn’t immediately begin His judgement by sending the flood to destroy all living things. Instead, He immediately begins the work of reconciling His creation back to Him. He gives grace to His creation before they ever suffer judgment. What a powerful statement by God. What an awesome deomonstration of His love. God’s love shining through the darkness as He begins to work His grace in the midstof a chaotic and sinful world. He commands Noah to build an ark. It is interesting to note that an ark is not just a boat. The Hebrew word being used here means a container in which you store the things you care most about. So what did God choose to store in His ark? It was the thing He cared most about: His people and His creation. Before the storm ever began, God’s grace was already at work.

So on day 127, when Noah is sitting in a dark corner of a dirty, humid, dark, smelly ark. I just can’t see him jumping up and down for joy and praising God. But I do think that he had a quite peace about him. Did he know exactly what was going to happen? No. But he had a faith that had grown and matured over a lifetime; a faith that taught him to look around and see the hand of God moving. Noah, then, could look back to the very first day when God told him to build the ark and retrace his steps up until that very moment and see God extending His grace to him and his family. Even though the ark wasn’t the best situation, and I can assure you that it was neither a comfortable nor pretty place to be in, Noah could continue on with hope because he didn’t see a dark, damp dirty ark, he saw the hand of God reaching out and extending grace. The ark wasn’t just a boat. It was an act of grace. God reached out his hand in the most chaotic situation mankind has ever known and wrapped his loving arms around His people.

God’s grace continues to be extended to us in ways both seen and unseen. Although we may not have an ark made of wood, we do have another place we can go into in which God continues to keep his people. It’s called the church. But the great think about the church is that it has no walls and no closed door like Noah’s ark. Yes the building we meet in on Sunday morning does have four walls, but that is not the church, it is just a building. Just like the ark wasn’t just a boat, the church isn’t just a building, it’s God’s people in whom He dwells, in and among working through and with them wherever the may be. For many Christians the church, both building and people, is a haven in the midst of the storm; a place to retreat and find peace and strength in a chaotic world. It serves as a physical reminder that even in the midst of chaos God is there. He has never and will never abandon His people, no matter what storm in life may come our way, especially if it is Him who has called us into the storm. He has called us and if we answer, he will provide. Maybe not in the way we would want with money, shelter, happiness, or safety. But with grace in times of trouble.

Here's the thing I love so much about this story. Chapter 7 ends and Noah is still on the ark. Yes, we know from hearing the story countless times that Noah and his family would eventually get off the ark and the world would be created anew, but of course not even that was a fairy tale ending. When chapter 7 ends Noah and his family are still on the ark and they have no idea when and if things are going to get better. They haven't read the rest of the story, they can only hope for God's grace. What I like so much about that is that it is just like real life. We are still on the ark. Our lives our full of trials and tribulations, with seemingly no end in sight. We try to live the Christian life and find our place in God’s plans, but it’s not easy, and so many times it seems like we are all alone. All it seems we can do is go on day to day living with hope; Hope, like Noah’s, that the God who called us will provide. The good news for Noah, and the good news for us, is that even in the midst of chaos God is there. Even when things seem like they can’t possibly get any worse God is there. When the bills come due, but there is no money in the bank, God is there. When the parent is diagnosed with cancer, God is there. When a child is lost to tragedy, God is there. Even when it seems that that God has abandoned us and all hope is gone. God is there. He never leaves us. He never forsakes us. Even if we can’t see His hand working until the situation we face is over and done with. God is there and He is working.

As the passage ends we leave Noah still on the ark in the middle of the storm, exactly where many of us find ourselves now. Darkness is all around, and waves are crashing on all sides. But even in the midst of all this chaos, God is with us. The God who called us will provide for our needs. He will not abandon us nor forsake us. But we do have on advantage that Noah did not. Noah had not read the end of his story. He did not know how it would all end. But we have read the end of our story, and we find our hope in the truth that one day the storms of life will pass away and all will be made new. The lion will lay down with the lamb and there will be no sorrow or weeping for the old things will have passed away and all things will be made new.


Imagine with me if you will that Noah and his family have just sat down to dinner one night when Noah begins to speak. As the food is being passed around, with just a hint of pride in his voice, he announces "So, I finished the ark today." "Great, it's about time." somebody says, through smiles and quiet chuckles from just about everybody at the table, everybody that is except Noah's wife, who is absolutely thrilled at the news, because her honey-do list has been put on hold for the past 100 years until Noah's new hobby was finished. Her face lights up like the Fourth of July. That is, until she hears the next few words that come out of Noah's mouth. "And I, uh, talked to God again today." Shem pipes up, barely able to keep from laughing, and says "Oh yeah dad? And what did the big guy have to say this time?" With hesitation in his voice Noah pauses and says "He said we have to go into ark." There must have been a giant thud when everybody's jaw hit the table, but I am sure you could have heard a pin drop after he finished saying, "along with a pair or so of every living creature on earth."

Now you see, it was ok with Noah's family that Noah had built this giant boat in the back yard. It was no doubt a little bit frustrating and embarrassing at first when they had to explain to all their friends and neighbors why their now 600 year old father had suddenly decided to build a massive boat in the back yard, in the middle of nowhere, but they figured he's retired now and he's found himself a nice hobby to keep him busy. Of course, they weren't too happy when they had been recruited into service, but hey, Noah probably wasn't going to be around much longer and this gave them the opportunity to spend some quality time with dear ole dad. Little did they know, it would take some 100 years to build the ark. Even Noah's wife, who had her own questions about what her husband was doing, was happy to see father and sons working together, even if it was on a strange project. All of that was great, but, actually going into the ark? Now that was another issue altogether.

"For how long?" someone asked. "I don't really know" "Pairs of every creature on earth?" asked someone else. "Yes" said Noah. "How are they all going to get here? "I don't know." "How are we going to store and feed them?" "I don't know" "Is there anything you do know dad?" "Yes, God told me to do it." For us, the reader it might be easy to look smugly at Noah's family and think, its obvious: God said to do it and if you don't you're going to die with everybody else! But I have to imagine, although the text does not specifically say it, that Noah's family was, at best, skeptical about what was going on. And at worst, they probably thought dear old dad had finally gone senile. I mean building an ark in the middle of nowhere is one thing, but taking up residence inside it, with a WHOLE LOT of animals as your neighbors is something else altogether. Besides, what would the neighbors think? They were already the novelty of the neighborhood with the gigantic boat sitting in the backyard. What would people think now if they were to all get inside of it? You have to remember, God spoke to Noah, not Noah's family. So all they had to go on is their father's word. Who among us, even as life long Christians would be eager to do something so strange.

But I am sure, that Noah too was also filled with just as many question, fears, and hesitations as his family. He knew a flood was coming, but God hadn't briefed him on all the details. So when his family began the interrogation, it's hard for me to believe that Noah stood strong and proud as the pillar of faith that he would later come to be known as. Just imagine yourself in his shoes. You have already taken a great leap of faith by building a big boat in the middle of nowhere, and now God is calling you to do even stranger tasks. And not just you, but your entire family. Or put yourself in the family's shoes. Perhaps you grew up in the home of a minister or a military family and can relate, having to follow a call that does not seem to be your own. And yet, in spite of all their fear, confusion, and anxiety Noah and his family got on the ark.

It must have been an incredible experience when Noah's family first heard the cacophony of noises growing in the distance. I imagine they were going through another normal quiet day of house work and chores, when the ground began to shake. As they all rushed outside to see what was going on, just over the horizon, they could see an endless line flood of animals heading their way. Creatures of every shape, size, and color from every corner of the earth converging in their backyard. Everyone of these new houseguests along with Noah's family would be packed into an ark which seemed to be shrinking with every passing minute. What a pleasant experience that would be.

Of course there must have also been plenty of bewildered onlookers and hecklers gathered around surprised to see what amounted to the world's first zoo. Their comments couldn't have been kind. We worry and fret over what is said about us when we make stands for our faith at school, work, or even church, but the nay-sayers who would have come to heckle Noah were so evil that they had led to the destruction of all life on earth. I can't imagine their words were very kind or supportive. But Noah and his family continued their work in spite of all the criticism and doubt and they made sure that all the animals and themselves were on the ark.

And then God shut the door. What a scary moment that must have been. I am sure you've jumped when something unexpectedly fell with a crash. But this was no plate breaking on the floor. Noah and his family were running around making sure all the animals are in their stalls and all of a sudden a massive wooden door closes shut by itself. The ark goes dark and everyone's spine begins to tingle with anticipation. But they had to wait another seven days, holding their breath to see what would happen next.

Finally, after a week of endless waiting had passed the light that was peering through the small openings in the ark began to grow dim as black clouds began to gather overhead and the first thunderclaps could be heard in the distance and the first drops of rain could just be heard falling on the roof of the ark. Then the drops began to pick up size and speed and the thunder got louder and before anyone knew it, the flood had begun.

As much as we tend to romanticize the ark in children's stories, I think that it must have been absolutely terrifying on the ark. I can just see Noah and his family huddled together praying in some dark corner of ark as the world they used to know is collapsing all around them. How terrifying it must have been to hear people on the outside banging against the walls of the ark crying out to Noah to let them in as the waves began to crash on all sides. The sound of water bursting forth from the earth and animals crying in fear must have been deafening. This was no fairy tale, it was a horror story of the most unimaginable kind. For forty days and for forty nights the storm continued, until they heard the most terrifying sound of all. [PAUSE] Silence. The only noises to be heard were the call of hungry animals needing to be fed and the endless lapping of water against the ark.

It is important to remember that the flood did not last for only forty days and nights. It rained for forty days and forty nights, but according to the text Noah and his family were on the ark for months. Even if you're not claustrophobic, that must have seemed like an eternity. So what did they do for months and months on a stinky, dark, stuffy ark with no tv, no cell phones, no internet, and not even a board game to play. I imagine there was a lot of praying and thinking that went on by everyone. It could not have been a time of great joy. Yes they were alive and they had each other, but they had lost everything and everyone they had ever known. We often forget about Noah's sons' wives. They had lost their entire families by following their husbands, their father, and his god. Of course they were happy to be alive, but they were trapped with their in-laws. I think that says enough. There had to come a point, and it probably came constantly, when they all thought about what God had done and realized that they were the only people left on earth. What had happened? A year ago they were all going about their lives as normal, doing the chores, cooking dinner, going to work. But now nothing would ever be the same.

Perhaps you've found yourself in a position like Noah and his family. You’ve been faithful, you’ve followed God’s calling and you did exactly what He has asked, but life couldn’t be more chaotic. Instead of life being easier, there is more to do, there is less money, people want more out of you, you fell pulled in a thousand different directions, you are riddled with doubt, in short life isn’t easy, in fact, it’s really, really hard.

Welcome to the Christian life.

Despite the message that is so often proclaimed by Christian televangelists and Christian pop literature, life, the Christian life in particular, is anything but easy. Unfortunately, the gospel, despite popular misconception, is not a guide to happiness, unlike so many self-help books that line bookstore shelves. If anything it will make your life that much more difficult. Look at those who were closest to Christ, the disciples. They gave up everything that they had, left everyone that they knew and followed Him. Even after the Resurrection they continued to spread the Gospel throughout the world. But despite their faithful service, none of them escaped persecution, and very few of them were not martyred. Christ Himself said "they persecuted me, they will persecute you." Paul told Timothy that anyone who lives a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But even beyond persecution, there is nothing in gospels that tells us that becoming a Christian will suddenly make our lives better and pain free. Yes we are saved, but we still live in a fallen world and we still suffer through the effects of that fallen world, disease, death, pain, loss, the list goes on and on. Our happiness is not necessarily of this world, it is eternal.

Noah and his family must have had a thousand questions rolling around in their heads. The emotions they experienced must have been intense: sadness, anxiety, loss, fear. God told Noah there would be rain for 40 days and 40 nights, so what were they thinking on day 75 when they were still on the ark, or day 100, or 120? Probably the same types of questions we have when the storms of life come our way. Where is god? Why doesn't He do something? Why does He let his people suffer? How long is this going to last? What is going to happen? Are we going to live?

One of the things I like so much about the story of Noah is that the first thing that God does after He decides to destroy the world and start all over again, the very first thing He does is tell Noah to build an ark. In fact, He tells Noah to build it before He says anything else. Notice, He doesn’t immediately begin His judgment by sending the flood to destroy all living things. Instead, He immediately begins the work of reconciling His creation back to Him. He gives grace to His creation before they ever suffer judgment. What a powerful statement by God. What an awesome demonstration of His love. God’s love shining through the darkness as He begins to work His grace in the midst of a chaotic and sinful world. He commands Noah to build an ark. It is interesting to note that an ark is not just a boat. The Hebrew word being used here means a container in which you store the things you care most about. So what did God choose to store in His ark? It was the thing He cared most about: His people and His creation. Before the storm ever began, God’s grace was already at work.

So on day 127, when Noah is sitting in a dark corner of a dirty, humid, dark, smelly ark. I just can’t see him jumping up and down for joy and praising God. But I do think that he had a quite peace about him. Did he know exactly what was going to happen? No. But he had a faith that had grown and matured over a lifetime; a faith that taught him to look around and see the hand of God moving. Noah, then, could look back to the very first day when God told him to build the ark and retrace his steps up until that very moment and see God extending His grace to him and his family. Even though the ark wasn’t the best situation, and I can assure you that it was neither a comfortable nor pretty place to be in, Noah could continue on with hope because he didn’t see a dark, damp dirty ark, he saw the hand of God reaching out and extending grace. The ark wasn’t just a boat. It was an act of grace. God reached out his hand in the most chaotic situation mankind has ever known and wrapped his loving arms around His people.

God’s grace continues to be extended to us in ways both seen and unseen. Although we may not have an ark made of wood, we do have another place we can go into in which God continues to keep his people. It’s called the church. But the great think about the church is that it has no walls and no closed door like Noah’s ark. Yes the building we meet in on Sunday morning does have four walls, but that is not the church, it is just a building. Just like the ark wasn’t just a boat, the church isn’t just a building, it’s God’s people in whom He dwells, in and among working through and with them wherever the may be. For many Christians the church, both building and people, is a haven in the midst of the storm; a place to retreat and find peace and strength in a chaotic world. It serves as a physical reminder that even in the midst of chaos God is there. He has never and will never abandon His people, no matter what storm in life may come our way, especially if it is Him who has called us into the storm. He has called us and if we answer, he will provide. Maybe not in the way we would want with money, shelter, happiness, or safety. But with grace in times of trouble.

Here's the thing I like so much about this story. Chapter 7 ends and Noah is still on the ark. Yes, we know from hearing the story countless times that Noah and his family would eventually get off the ark and the world would be created anew, but of course not even that was a fairy tale ending. When chapter 7 ends Noah and his family are still on the ark and they have no idea when and if things are going to get better. They haven't read the rest of the story, they can only hope for God's grace. What I like so much about that is that it is just like real life. We are still on the ark. Our lives our full of trials and tribulations, with seemingly no end in sight. We try to live the Christian life and find our place in God’s plans, but it’s not easy, and so many times it seems like we are all alone. All it seems we can do is go on day to day living with hope; Hope, like Noah’s, that the God who called us will provide. The good news for Noah, and the good news for us, is that even in the midst of chaos God is there. Even when things seem like they can’t possibly get any worse God is there. When the bills come due, but there is no money in the bank, God is there. When the parent is diagnosed with cancer, God is there. When a child is lost to tragedy, God is there. Even when it seems that that God has abandoned us and all hope is gone. God is there. He never leaves us. He never forsakes us. Even if we can’t see His hand working until the situation we face is over and done with. God is there and He is working.

As the passage ends we leave Noah still on the ark in the middle of the storm, exactly where many of us find ourselves now. Darkness is all around, and waves are crashing on all sides. But even in the midst of all this chaos, God is with us. The God who called us will provide for our needs. He will not abandon us nor forsake us. But we do have on advantage that Noah did not. Noah had not read the end of his story. He did not know how it would all end. But we have read the end of our story, and we find our hope in the truth that one day the storms of life will pass away and all will be made new. The lion will lay down with the lamb and there will be no sorrow or weeping for the old things will have passed away and all things will be made new.