Monday, June 15, 2015

Hebrews 11:7 -- By faith, Noah

The earth had been cursed when Adam sinned. Then Cain sinned and matters got worse for Cain specifically, which caused Cain to build a city because everything organic that he attempted to cultivate became cursed. The earth seems to have been a harsh place for those who lived before the flood.  Unlike the garden in Eden, which was well-watered and lush, the rest of the earth had been awaiting man's dominion. But now man's dominion was no longer connected to God. It is unclear if the mist that came up and watered the earth was of any help to the ante-diluvians. At that time, water was above the sky and the earth's "air" atmosphere was surrounded by water.  The Bible states this and modern science states this as well. There seems to have been no rain.
But then, God told Noah that a flood would come. God had been telling others as well. Enoch preached destruction and named his son Methusaleh to prophecy about the coming destruction.
It seems that Noah had never seen such a thing as rain or flood. It might have been hard for him to even conceive of such a thing as a flood. But he understood that God was Creator and that his own idea of nature was limited. He believed God. Paul writes that Noah's faith condemned the world. An interesting thought that we should ponder. Noah's faithful behavior had an effect on God's dealing with the rest of the world.    
Moreover, there is an inheritance awaiting those who are faith: that inheritance is righteousness. Righteousness, or right standing, is something we receive as a gift and inheritance from God.


By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.
It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith.
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
By faith Noah, having been divinely warned concerning the things not yet seen, having feared, did prepare an ark to the salvation of his house, through which he did condemn the world, and of the righteousness according to faith he became heir.

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