The Days of Noah

Over three millennia ago, Noah and his family found themselves living in days of exceptional evil. The Bible says that “the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Gen. 6:5).  It was so evil that “the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. (Gen. 6:6)
 
For a righteous man it was a tough time to be alive. But Genesis 6 tells us that Noah was “a righteous man, blameless in his time,” a man who “walked with God.” And because he did, “Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord” (Gen. 6:8–9).
 
No doubt there were others who feigned belief in God. But Noah was different. Noah acted on his beliefs. And because he did, he stood completely alone. You and I may sometimes feel that we are all alone in our faith. But Noah was really alone. God said to Noah, “You alone I have seen to be righteous before Me in this time” (Gen. 7:1, emphasis mine).
 
In such times, the temptation for Noah to compromise was relentless. It was tough to do the right thing. To remain true to his wife. To refuse the sexual temptation that came to him day in and day out. To be honest in his business dealings, even when it was to his own detriment. To say no to his children, when everyone else was saying yes. To speak up against the sinful activity that surrounded him. To be ostracized from everyone. To have no other person to support him when the attacks became unbearable. To believe that God would do what He said He would do, even though the human race had never before seen rain.
 
Noah and his family were it—the entire remaining remnant.
 
But “Noah did according to all that the Lord had commanded him” (Gen. 7:5). For 120 years Noah built the ark and preached an unpopular message. That’s a long time to stand alone.
 
Then the unthinkable happened. The rains came, and the whole world was judged. Noah and his family alone survived. They survived in an ark, built out of sheer faith and obedience.

—Steve Farrar

Steve Farrar is the author of many books, including the best-sellers Point Man and Finishing Strong, with his new book Battle Ready: Be Strong and of Good Courage in These Troubled Times soon to be released. Learn more at SteveFarrar.com.