“So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him.” (Genesis 6:22)

Noah’s decision to build an ark in an area where there was no large body of water around required an extreme act of faith.  In fact, it had never rained on Earth before. So in one of the greatest acts of faith in human history, Noah cut down his first gopher tree to start building the ark.

It was such a bold act of faith that Noah was memorialized in (Hebrews 11:7), known as the Hall of 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.”

This verse gives us a number of important insights into what inspired Noah build the Ark. First of all, we read that he was “divinely warned.” God spoke to Noah. In the book of Romans it says that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17) Your faith will grow when you read what the Bible says and then take the next step and put it into action.

We also read that Noah “moved with godly fear.” Noah had a reverence for, or a fear of, the Lord.  Here is a great quote I have heard on fearing the God “Holy fear is the key to God’s sure foundation, unlocking the treasuries of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. Along with the love of God, it composes the very foundation of life! We will soon learn that we cannot truly love God until we fear Him, nor can we properly fear Him until we love Him.”

Noah’s walk with God caused him to work for God. And one must always precede the other. If you walk with God, you will want to work for God. Works don’t save you; faith does. But if your faith is real, then it will produce works. That is how Noah’s faith worked when God told him to build the ark.

“When we walk in faith, wisdom and boldness, incredible things can happen” 

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I am grateful that You are the Rock that I can stand on and an ever present help in times of need. Lord, in those times I feel weak in faith, remind me of Your faithfulness and love for me. May Your Spirit lead me to draw close to You and trust in Extreme ways as Noah did. Help me to always choose Your Word over my feelings. I choose to have faith and trust in You. Help me to grow in wisdom and to be intentional with my life. Give me opportunities to step out in boldness to love, give and share my faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen.