God Uses People: Noah

Have you ever noticed that many Bible stories contain great ‘life lessons?’  

 

I am beginning a series of messages about how God uses people to do great things. The list is long, of course, of great stories in the Bible, and many of the stories have a ‘star’ in the center: a man or woman of faith who responded to God’s call in a time of crisis. I began with the story of Noah and the great flood.

 

You no doubt remember the story:  In the days after the Fall of man and expulsion from the garden, humanity grew to populate the earth. (The one thing they did according to God!) Unfortunately, man turned his back on God and his ways and quickly devolved into what is described as almost animal-like behavior: Then 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.” Genesis 6:5

 

God searched the earth and only found one righteous man, Noah. He and his wife and three sons were living quietly, following God, and earning their living. God called them into service and asked them to build a giant ship called an “Ark,” when the time came, animal kingdom representatives would come on the Ark. Then, Noah and his family would be closed into the Ark, and floodwaters would cover the earth. All others would be destroyed; only the animals and Noah and his family would survive!

  

Noah and his family obeyed God and worked for many years to build this great ship. He was mocked and ridiculed by all who knew him and saw the great ship he was building; his faith and obedience to God proved to cause him great pain! But then the waters came and swallowed the earth – everyone died. It was an act of profound judgment by God! Finally, the waters receded, and the Ark was opened. Noah and his family, instructed to “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth,” went about the task of rebuilding their lives and serving God. Genesis 9:1 The story ends with God offering a covenant with Noah and the new humanity, stating that God would never again destroy man with a great flood. The rainbow was given as a sign so that all would remember that God punished sin and took the issue seriously. The offer of grace, using the Ark, as directed by God, was also a key feature of the story. The Ark was a sign that demonstrated God’s mercy and his patience and concern for sinful man.

  

What a great story, and what a wonder that an ordinary man of faith, with great conviction, can serve God in a way that forever alters the course of humanity! This story is full of eternal truths for us to consider: 

God cares for sinful humanity; God, who is concerned for justice, must judge sin; God offers us mercy and forgiveness simply because of his loving and gracious character; and, finally, God can perform wonderful, marvelous, and eternally life-changing things through the service of his people of faith. Wow!

 

Let me challenge you to consider these great lessons and follow the God who loves you and invites you to serve him in a way that helps others and enriches your life.

 

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Thank you for listening. We will see you next week!