06-05 In Den Beginne - 6

The man that survived the flood Sermon 6: Genesis 6:10-8:22 We come to one of the most controversial stories in Scripture. But before we consider that, let’s consider who is telling the story. If you ask a Christian who tells this story, most would identify Noah, but the footnote in chapter 10 gives us a different clue. This is the story told by Noah’s sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth. Noah had these sons when he was 500 years old (5:23) and he entered the Ark when he was 600 years old (7:6). We don’t know how long it took Noah to build the Ark, but one thing is for certain: his sons watched him and helped him build it. And they tell us his story. As such, this history isn’t so much about the Ark, but about the man that built the Ark and how He heard and believed God and acted in unrelenting obedience. Judgment of God and Mercy toward Man Chapter six gives us God’s perspective on the earth. One of the notably features of these chapters is what is repeated for emphasis. The earth is corrupted and man’s way is corrupt (6:11-12) and God is going to destroy all flesh (6:13, 17). Noah’s Ark is often relegated to a children’s story and depicted in terms of a cute boat filled to the brim with animals. Nothing is farther from the truth and we do ourselves quite a disservice by trivializing such a significant piece of history. Chapters 6-9 teach us fear God like Noah did and appreciate His grace through obedience, like Noah. The design of the Ark is left very open… the sheer size of the Ark, however, stagger the imagination… it is the size of a container ship and made of gopher wood. 135m. x 22.5m. X 13.5m. Answers in Genesis makes a point that some kind of wind-obstruction would have pointed the Ark in the direction of the waves, which would have made the voyage much safer and more comfortable. The fixed rudder at the rear and fin for wind at the front are features that the oldest ship designs from Mesopotamia included. The Man that walked with God Noah learned a lesson from Enoch. He as the only one that found favor with God. What did his sons tell us about their father? He was a righteous man, but alone in this pursuit. The text reveals an exclusivity. Why tell us that Noah alone remained (7:23), unless that is how he felt? Hebrews tells us that Noah preached to His countrymen… he preached for - we assume - he full 120 years. No one outside of his family ever responded and no one entered the Ark with him. Noah modeled faithfulness to his sons. He also obeyed and persevered in his obedience. He finished what he started, he waited on God - even during long periods of not hearing from God. Even when things didn’t go smoothly. How do I know that? With a project of this magnitude things go wrong. How many buckets of pitch did he step in. How many times did he have to fix something vandals had broken. How many times did he hit his thumb with a hammer? Noah’s job was to build a boat and keep the animals alive… he did just that. Noah waited on God. In chapter 8:1 his sons write: God remembered Noah… why write that unless it felt like God had forgotten about them? They spent more than a year on that boat. Thankful for salvation, but when could they leave? I would like to have the dad’s look at their sons this morning… what would your son write about you? Would it be that you walked with God? That you model faithful perseverence and patience in waiting on God?