Where Grace and Faith Meets- Noah

Remember faith is two things from Hebrews 11:1,6

1) Having hope in things that are not seen

or having a heavenly perspective

 

and

 

2) Believing that God exists and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him 

 

But through faith, we still have to seek Him every day while waiting on Him. His grace will enable us to have faith to rest in Him with the day-to-day and the long-term. We need to remember these guidelines as we study about Noah in Hebrews 11 verse 7

 

"By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith"

 

 

Noah had FAITH and lived by GRACE as he waited on what was not seen

 



He knew God existed and trusted that God was going to bring rain and save him on this huge ark that he had to build. This of course only happened because Noah found grace in God's eyes (Genesis 6:8). He was different from others. The world was corrupt and only did what came from their evil hearts. It was only through God's grace that Noah was able to live in the world. Even seeing all the evil around him, Noah knew God existed and had faith in Him and walked with Him through grace.

 

In chapter six of Genesis in verses 13-22 God showed grace to Noah to pick him to build the ark. He was not going to be destroyed because he was chosen by God. Noah wasn't perfect. He just diligently sought God and God rewarded him by sparing his life and allowing him to build the ark through grace.

 

In verse 18 God states

 

" But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall go into the ark—you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you."

 

Noah had faith when it concerned the covenant, even though God picked him to build the ark and be saved. What was the covenant? Noah didn't know what it was until after the flood. He had faith that God was going to tell him because God said it. He was rewarded because of his faith. Noah had to have faith in God's promise but also lived by grace motivated by something he didn't know. God gave him grace day by day to build the ark and faith as he waited to see how things were going to unfold.    

 

Every step Noah took was from God.

    God told him to build an ark - Noah did

    God told him to get the proper animals - Noah did

    God tells him to just get into the ark - Noah did

    Once they are in the ark, God shuts the door - not Noah

    Everyone not in the ark died - Noah and his family was alive

 

Noah had complete faith in God. He trusted that God would do everything that He said He would and allowed God to do it all. God rewarded Noah or did what He promised because of Noah's faith.

 

After the flood and Noah and his family gets out of the ark, because of faith and God's faithfulness, Noah makes a sacrifice out of thankfulness and devotion. This is even before God gives what the covenant was. Noah had so much faith in his faithful God that he didn't ask God about it. He trusted God. God rewarded him and all mankind.