Noah faith’s witness…2 Heb. 11:7 (148)
In verse 7 which is now before us three things claim attention. First, Noah’s faith and its ground, namely the warning he had received from God. Second, the effects of his faith, namely, internally, the impulse of “fear”; externally, his obedience in making the ark under God’s orders. Third, the consequences of his faith, namely, the saving of his house, the condemning of the world, his becoming heir of the righteousness which is by faith.”
“By faith Noah, being warned of God…, moved with fear, prepared an ark…”
- “Noah was saved by grace through faith; and yet not by a faith that was inactive—Eph. 2:10 follows v. 9! Faith was the spring of all his works: a faith which was a supernatural principle that sovereign grace had wrought in him. God had determined to send a flood and destroy the wicked world, but ere doing so, He acquainted Noah with His purpose. He has done the same with us: see Rom. 1:18.” Pink Artur W
- That Divine warning was the ground of Noah’s faith. Gen. 6:13; 19:14, Pro. 22:3; 27:12, Eze. 3:17–19, Matt. 3:7; 2Pet. 3:6. He argued not, nor reasoned about its incredibility, he believed God. The threatening, as well as the promise of God, is the object of faith.
- Hitherto there had been no rain Gen. 2:6, then why expect an overwhelming deluge? It seemed utterly unlikely God would destroy the whole human race, and His mercy be thus utterly swallowed up by His avenging justice. The threatening judgment was a long way off (120 years: Genesis 6:3), and during that time the world might well repent and reform. When he preached to men 2Pet. 2:5 none believed his message: why then should he be so fearful, when every one else was at ease?
- To build an ark of such huge dimensions was an enormous undertaking. And even if the flood came, how could the ark float with such an immensely heavy burden—it had no anchor to stay her… no steering-wheel to direct. Noah was quite inexperienced nautically. Moreover, for him and his family to dwell for an indefinite period in a sealed ark was far from a pleasant prospect unto the flesh and blood. But against all these carnal objections faith offered a steady resistance, and believed God!
- “Moved with fear.” ch. 5:7. This evidenced the reality and power of his faith, for saving faith not only “worketh by love” Gal. 5:6, but in “fear and trembling” Phil. 2:12. A reverential awe of God is a sure fruit of saving faith. That “fear” acted as an impetus and operated as a powerful motive in his building of the ark. “His believing the word of God, had this effect on him … a reverential fear it is of God’s threatenings. He considered the greatness, the holiness, and the power of God, with the vengeance becoming those holy properties of His nature, which He threatened to bring on the world. Seeing God by faith under this representation of Him, he was filled with a reverential fear of Him. See Haba. 3:16, Ps. 119:120, Mal, 2:5” John Owen.
- “Prepared an ark to the saving of his house.” Gen. 6:18; 7:1, 23; 8:16, Eze. 14:14, 20, 1Pe. 3:20. As Matthew Henry says, “Faith first influences our affections and then our actions.” “Faith without works is dead” Jas 2:20. “Thus did Noah: according to all that God commanded him…” Gen. 6:22. Faith in Noah caused him to persevere, amid many difficulties and discouragements. Thus, the work of faith and patience, a Godly fear, an act of obedience, a means to his preservation—for God’s covenant with him Gen. 6:18, and a type of Christ. As it was by faith-obedience he prepared the ark, so by faith’s obedience came the “saving of his house.” God always honors those who honor Him. This temporal salvation was a figure of the eternal salvation unto which we are pressing forward for note that the destruction of the and-deluvians was an eternal one—for their spirits are now “in prison” (1 Pet. 3:19)! Observe it is our responsibility to seek after our own salvation and those committed to us: see Acts 2:40, 2Tim. 4:16.
