Sermon Series: The Story of Noah, You’re Gonna Love It!

October 20, 2024

Sermon Part 2: “Walk With God Like Noah!”

Noah walked with God, and the question every born-again Christian should ask of themselves is: Will I?

Happy Sunday Saints!

Introduction:

As I mentioned in last Sunday’s Sermon, in my humble opinion, Noah’s expression of faith in God is “unparalleled” in Scripture. He lived on the earth at a time when “every person” on earth was evil, and the earth was filled with violence. In the history of the world, never has there been an age equal to that in which Noah lived. The thoughts and imaginations of the heart of “every person” before God were only evil without ceasing. Genesis 6:12 says that, “God had looked on the earth and all flesh had corrupted his way.” Mankind had not just fallen into sin, all of human creation had become “Sin,” and the earth was full of corruption.

But, Noah found grace in the sight of God. The Bible declares that Noah was a “just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.” (Gen. 6:9) It was not by Noah’s self- works, but by God’s divine mercy and grace that he found favor with God. For as from the day of Adam’s transgression in the Garden of Eden, all of mankind was born into sin. (Rom. 5:19). 

Noah was not always perfect in his performance in life, as evidenced by his drunkenness and issue with His son Ham and grandson Canaan after the flood. (Gen. 9: 20-22) Parts 3 and 4 of the Series will deal directly with this incident. Indeed, no man except Jesus Christ has ever lived a perfectly sinless life, and it is by His finished works on the cross that we have been made the Righteousness of God. (II Cor. 5:21) Only by grace through faith are we saved and not by human wisdom, ingenuity, or works lest anyone should boast. (Eph. 2:8-9) Yes, God’s grace can and does cover and erase a multitude of mistakes! Somebody shout “Amen, thank God for the shed blood of Jesus Christ!” Jesus is the only “Eternal Hero” the world will ever know.

Noah’s heart was perfect/complete towards God. He loved God, worshiped only God, was thankful unto God, and proclaimed God’s Righteousness among the wicked people of his age without wavering. (II Pet. 2:5) Together, God and Noah, a Preacher of Righteousness walked in harmony and stood against man’s sin in the world.

Today, I want us to focus on Gen. 6:9, where Moses the author of Genesis, recorded that Noah “walked with God.” As New Testament, born again Christians, we are also instructed to walk with God. (Eph. 5:1-2, Col. 2:6, I Thess. 4:1& I John 1:7) If we learn to follow Noah’s example of walking with God, then all of the New Covenant Promises God has given to us through Jesus Christ’s finished works, will flow freely into our lives.
Jesus Christ came that we might have “life and life more abundantly;” to the full, till it overflows into the lives of other people. (John 10:10) If we walk with God, we will reap from all of the exceedingly great and precious Promises of God. (Eph. 3:20) So let’s go deeper into the relationship of God and Noah; and receive the engrafted Word of God with meekness, which is able to prosper our souls. (James 1:21)

Those Who Walk With God Receive “Insider Information” about the Doings of God

In the Hebrew language the phrase, “Noah walked with God,” conveys the same meaning that it did, in Gen. 5:24, as Moses wrote that, “Enoch walked with God.” Enoch walked with God and never tasted death, as God took him up to Heaven. The phrase “Noah walked with God” can also be read this way, “Noah walked in God.” Like Enoch, Noah had an intimate relationship with God. Noah went up and down, in and out, to and fro, arm in arm with God, and ever grew closer to Him. Noah and God were, “One!”

My, my, my today, as born-again Christians, God in Christ Jesus has made our hearts perfect, and declared that we are “ONE” in Him. God in us, and we in Him. (Heb.10:12-14, Gal. 3:28 & I John 4:15) And, oh how I wish we would take full advantage of the daily opportunity we have to “walk in God”…up and down, to and fro, arm in arm in the Spirit. If you will, to walk with God as married folks and lovers of Him! Not ever being conformed to the thinking and ways of this world, but being transformed into the image of God’s dear son Jesus in all conversation and godliness. (Rom.12:1-2) Walking perfectly in Jesus. Yes, we can and must walk perfectly in Christ’s life!

It’s very interesting that in reading Moses’ account of the life of Noah captured in Genesis Chapters 5-9, there is not a single mention of Noah ever saying anything to God. Not while building the Ark for 120-years, during the flood, or after the flood, is there a single word written about Noah talking to God. By Noah, there is not a single question asked, doubt spoken, fear conveyed, nor comment made about anything to God!

In the written record of the story of Noah, God did all the talking, and Noah faithfully listened and obeyed God in everything he was commanded to do. Praise God, even when Noah could see from the Ark that the land was dry, he still waited for God’s direction before disembarking with his family and the animals onto dry land. (Gen. 8:13-16)

Now, let’s take a close look at God’s communication with Noah before the flood at Gen. 6:13-22. I believe contained therein is something that can help us better understand why perhaps there is nothing written of Noah talking with God. The Passage talks about God’s judgment of the earth and people, the events that were to unfold, as well as the instructions given to Noah to build the Ark. See if you can pick up something else very important that God told Noah to do.

13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

14 Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.

15 And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.

16 A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.

17 And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.

18 But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee.

19 And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female.

20 Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive.

21 And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them.

22 Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.

As we see in the Passage, God did all the talking, and Noah listened and obeyed. God told Noah that the whole earth was wicked and full of violence, that He was going to destroy the earth by water, and all people in the earth would perish. In detail, God provided to Noah instructions on constructing the Ark and who would be its passengers (himself, his wife, his sons and their wives, along with every animal of the earth two of each kind), and God promised that He would establish His Covenant with them. God also told Noah to gather all kinds of food sufficient for his family and the animals. But, there is one other thing in the Passage God Commanded Noah to do. Did you catch it?

God told Noah to “behold” it all. (Gen. 6:13, 17) Everything God spoke to Noah, he told him to see it; get an image of it. I have taught before that when God says, “behold,” to His people, it conveys the meaning to “see things and comprehend them in the heart.” To look in the Spirit and make certain that you see it, because it’s the truth what you see. What you see is “God’s Doings.”

In beholding God’s Commands and Promises in the Spirit, we are to meditate on them until what we see in our hearts is real and truth to us. We are to see it, receive it, and then seize it to ownership! What we see in the Spirit is to become more real even, than the material things we can see and comprehend through our physical senses in the world. This is the walk of faith. “For we walk by faith, and not by sight.” (II Cor. 5:7) Remember at II Corinthians 4:18, the Apostle Paul wrote:

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

In Noah’s heart, by the Spirit of God, God revealed to him “everything” that He had spoken. This makes perfect since, given that the Bible says, that Noah, “walked with God.” That Noah was walking in God, up and down, to and fro, arm and arm. God, if you will, freely gave to Noah, “Insider Information!” Information, imagination, and wisdom that only comes from God Almighty to show Himself strong on Noah’s behalf.

Further, I believe through the eyes of faith, God showed Noah the impending destruction of the earth and people, by water. What horror that must have been to behold. Faith sees not what is visible, but invisible. (Heb.11:1-2) Noah saw the “Doings of God,” which are beyond human reasoning and comprehension.

I believe in the Spirit, God showed Noah all of the fountains of the great deep beneath the earth breaking up, and the windows of heaven opening up, and water flooding and swallowing up the whole earth and people in it. Just as it happened. (Gen. 7:11)

There was no need for Noah to question or comment to God on the things he had seen in the Spirit, because He had “Oneness” with God. The things God revealed, Noah was fully persuaded were true and going to happen, just as God said they would. And, being fully persuaded, Noah and his sons with all diligence and perseverance moved to build the Ark; having an inner-man Witness and Peace from God of what was to come.

Oh, with what great love, for the many decades (120-years in total) that Noah was preparing the Ark, in the Spirit of Christ, that he stood before a wicked and deprived people and called on them to repent and turn to God before the rain would start. (I Pet.3:18-20)

I can imagine that Noah begged the people to come into the Ark of safety, but they laughed him to scorn. Noah, ever preaching and hoping someone would heed God’s call. But, all the while knowing that only he and his family (eight precious souls) and the animals, would enter the Ark and be saved.

Furthermore, after the Ark was built, God gave Noah additional Insider Information. God told Noah to come into the Ark, for in “seven days” it would begin to rain; to rain “40-days and 40- nights” and every living thing on the earth would be destroyed. (Gen.7:1-4)

Saints, walking with God is not always easy and can seem at times, without many human companions, like a lonely path traveled. Noah surely had other family members and extended family, neighbors, and host of other people who he knew and loved that had rejected the Word of God and would perish. This must have weighed heavily on his heart, notwithstanding all human life and every living thing was going to be destroyed. Jesus Christ said at Matthew 7:13-14, that we are to enter into the “Strait Gate” for “narrow is the way” that leads to life, and few there are that find it.”

After the Ark was completed, the eight souls and chosen animals entered in and God shut the door. And then, it rained 40-days just like God said it would. (Gen. 7:15-17) As the waters rose and subsumed the earth, destroying every living substance, the Ark of Noah rested above it all. God, if you will, set Noah and his family on top of the world. For the Righteous are always above and never beneath! (Deut. 28:13)

The writer of Hebrews summed-up Noah’s story best, recorded at Hebrews 11:7:

By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, (reverence) 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.

Yes, whatever God says, shall come to pass. For God always makes good on His promise. (Numbers 23:19)

God is the Covenant Making and Keeping God

Throughout the Holy Bible, we see that God makes and keeps Covenants with His people. Let me say that again, God always makes and keeps a Covenant with His people. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ and have accepted Him as Savior and Lord, you are in a Covenant with God, right now!

A “Covenant” is a sacred agreement between God and His children. God, the “maker” of the Covenant sets forth specific conditions, and in turn He promises to bless us, as we obey these conditions. The Holy Bible presents seven major covenants, from Genesis to Revelation, including five in the Old Testament that are considered foundational to, and build upon, God’s Redemptive Plan for mankind. They are as follows: the Adamic Covenant, Noahic Covenant, Abrahamic Covenant, Mosaic Covenant, Davidic Covenant, New Covenant, and Everlasting Covenant.

Whenever I think about God the “Maker and Keeper of Covenants,” Deuteronomy 7:9 comes to mind. God through Moses spoke these Words to the children of Israel:

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations.

God said to Israel they were to, “Know” that He is God, to “Know” that He is faithful, to “Know” that He “keeps” Covenant, and to “Know” that He steadfastly loves them who love Him and keep His Commandments to a thousand generations.

Now let me show you something. Examine the word “KNOW.” Within the word “KNOW,” is the word “NOW.” So, I like to think of God saying it this way to the children of Israel, as well as to us today: “NOW KNOW, meaning at this moment and always afterwards.
NOW KNOW that the Lord Your God, is God!
NOW KNOW He is the faithful God who keeps covenant!
NOW KNOW that God steadfastly loves those who love him and keep His Commandments to a thousand generations!

Saying it this way rehearses and reinforces the terms of God’s Covenant, (in our case the New Covenant) and that it is in effect and continually working for us. As we go about doing our part in obeying the terms of the Covenant, the power of the Holy Ghost within us, becomes effectual to release all the Covenant-Promises of God on our behalf and others. Promises that are far greater than those made to God’s people in various ages under the Old Covenant. (Heb. 8:6) Glory be to God!

So, we have identified the “Noahic Covenant” as one of the seven major Covenants of God in the Holy Bible. Praise God, God found a “KNOW” in Noah, as his heart was perfect toward God, and he walked with God. Just as God, in the Spirit, revealed to Noah the judgment and destruction of every living thing in the earth by water, God also revealed His “Covenant” to Noah. At Genesis 6:17-18, God introduces His Covenant with Noah saying:

And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.

But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee.

Here again perhaps is another reason why there is nothing written in Scripture about Noah talking to God about fears, doubt, or unbelief about the events that were to unfold, nor any concerns for the safety of his family and himself while building the Ark and preaching Righteousness. Because Noah knew he had a Covenant with God. God promised to establish His Covenant with Noah, and showed the promises of the Covenant to him. Noah, “behold” “…with thee will I establish my Covenant with you,” says the Lord.

Noah’s part in the Covenant was to build the Ark and bring his family and the animals into it. In revealing God’s Covenant to Noah, I believe God opened the eyes of his spirit, and allowed him to see that both he and his seed would be made the heirs of the world. Noah saw God’s blessings bestowed upon him to be fruitful, abundantly multiply and replenish the new earth, in like manner, as God had blessed Adam under the Adamic Covenant. (Gen.1:28-30 & specified for Noah beginning in Gen. 9:1.) Regarding this precious Covenant-Promise: Noah saw it, received it, and seized it in his heart. He could not be made to doubt God and the Promise of His Word.

Noah trusted God with all of his heart to keep the Covenant- Promises made to him. Without wavering, Noah held on to the Promise while building the Ark for 120-years, for the 40-days and 40-nights of rain destroying the earth, and during the many days (estimated 371-days) he and his family and the animals were aboard the Ark waiting for dry land to walk on.

For again, Noah had a “KNOW” in him that remained throughout his life in walking with God! Never doubting, nor complaining about anything to God.
(Side Bar: In Christian Circles, many Christians have incorrectly been taught, or assumed, that Noah and his family were in the Ark for a total of 40-days and nights. But, that is incorrect. From Genesis 7:17-24 & 8:3-19, Biblical scholars have calculated 371-days; from entry of Noah and the animals into the Ark on the same day the Flood began, the rains lasting 40-days, to the waters prevailing on the earth 150-days, to the gradual subsiding of the waters 150-days, then the surface of the ground drying on day 350, and to disembarkation on day 371.)
Yea, just as Noah never murmured against God, we are also commanded by the Apostle Paul not to either. Philippians 2:14-16:

Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

After the Flood and Noah disembarking from the Ark onto dry land, recorded at Genesis 9:1-17, God established His Covenant with Noah, and an Everlasting Covenant. Also important, note that God spoke His Covenant to Noah’s sons with him, and revealed it to them all. This is the way God does business. When a man, as did Noah, greatly delights in the Commandments of God and obeys them, he is blessed, his seed is made mighty upon the earth, and wealth and riches shall be in his house! (Psalm 112:1-3)

Verses 1-10, contain the terms of the Noahic Covenant, which was in many respects is the same as the Adamic Covenant, with a few additions: (See Verses 1-10)

9 And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.

10 And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth.

God gave to Noah and his sons’ dominion over the new world. Noah was made the “heir of Righteousness, which comes by faith in God in Christ.” (Heb.11:7) Never forget this Scripture, it holds the key for receiving all of the Promises of God given to us under the New Covenant. That is, by faith in God in Christ’s finished works on the cross, we have become the heirs of Righteousness. Heirs of God, joint heirs with Jesus Christ. (Rom. 8:16-17) Glory be to God for the things He has done!

To the terms of the Noahic Covenant, God put fear in animals of Noah and his sons. He also added that Noah and his sons were not to consume the blood of animals, nor were they to take the life of another human being; as mankind is made in the image of God. (Vs. 4-6) God remembering how Cain slew his brother Able, and brought murder into the spectrum of sins committed by mankind. (Gen. 4:8)

But let me also back up and say what led to God establishing His Covenant and Everlasting Covenant with Noah, the “first thing” Noah did after disembarking from the Ark, was he built an altar unto God, and he made a “free-will” and “liberal” offering unto God from among every “clean” animal. Some experts say it could have been as many as 100 animals. Noah wanted God, his family and the whole earth to know that the Lord God, is God, and there is none besides Him. Giving thanks unto God for the things he had done, and in gratitude for the Covenant God had established with him. (Gen. 8:20-22)

This was acceptable and pleasing unto God, as He inhaled a sweet smelling savor. Yes, the aroma of Noah’s heart was sacrificed and filled with love, honor, and obedience to Him. Noah liberally gave of his substance to God “knowing” that God was His source and provider. As born-again Christians, we also are to be free-will givers unto the Lord, liberally giving of our material substance, as the Holy Ghost directs us. (II Cor. 9:7 & Gal. 6:7-8) Sadly however, surveys show that between 70 to as much as 90-percent of Christians withhold the tithe and offerings from God; choosing instead to use money to “care” for their own needs above God. Yet, many if not all of these same Christians will assert that they whole-heartedly love God.

After Noah’s sacrifice, God began to speak to Noah the elements of an Everlasting Covenant with Him and all of mankind. Genesis 8:21-22 says

And the Lord smelled a sweet savour; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

God is faithful. Since the days of Noah, has there been seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and not without ceasing? Absolutely! Finally, Genesis 9:11-17 records other elements of the Everlasting Covenant God made with Noah.

God Promised Noah that he would never again destroy the earth by water. He told Noah that the rainbow that is set within the clouds would serve as a token of remembrance of the Covenant; an Everlasting Covenant between God and mankind and all creatures on the earth. Specifically, the Everlasting Covenant reads as follows:

11 And I will establish my covenant with you, neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.

12 And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:

13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.

14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:

15 And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.

16 And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.

17 And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.

After the tumultuous rains and long days and nights upon the Ark, the rainbow must have given great relief, rest, and comfort to Noah and his family as they stood on dry land. As it served as a reminder of God’s great love and care for them, even during the most devastating of times. Isn’t it also wonderful that Lamech named his son “Noah,” meaning “rest” or “comfort,” and God chose to use a rainbow, as a symbol of peace and comfort for all ages to remember His Covenant?

When we see rainbows today, as born-again Christians, we “know” that every rainbow is a faithful sign of the Covenant made thousands and thousands of years ago between God and Noah, and all generations of humanity. The rainbow reminds us that we can trust God’s faithfulness no matter what we are going through. And, also that there will be seasons and days without ceasing with seed-time and harvest. Thus, we also can be assured that whatever the Promise contained in our New Covenant with God, God is faithful to bring it to pass. We can boldly and confidently say:

WE NOW KNOW that the Lord is God!
WE NOW KNOW that He is the faithful God who keeps Covenant!
WE NOW KNOW that God steadfastly loves those who love him and keep His Commandments to a thousand generations!

Truly, Noah’s relationship with God was of holy excellence. We thank God for His mercy and grace bestowed upon Noah. We honor Noah for his faithfulness in listening to, and obeying all that God Commanded and showed him to do. We commend Noah for being God’s Preacher of Righteousness without compromise in a world filled with evil, and his steadfastness in laboring to build the Ark, and to see God’s Promises through to manifestation.

If we learn and apply the faith example of Noah to our New Covenant in God in Christ to behold, listen, and obey the Commands of Christ, then we too will walk in God and enjoy the exceedingly rich Covenant-Promises given to us.

Are you willing to walk in God in Christ Jesus, no matter the cost? Are you willing to deny yourself and take up your cross and follow Jesus? Are you willing to wait on the Promises of God to come to past in your life no matter how long it takes? And, after you have received the good things of God’s Promises are you willing, like Noah, to liberally give to God of your substance in the form of tithes and offerings? If so, then Heaven belongs to you. Noah trusted God in all things, are you willing to do the same?

Amen, to the preaching of the Word of the Living God! The Lord willing, next week, we will delve deeper into the Everlasting Covenant God made with Noah and mankind, and an incident recorded of Noah’s drunkenness that resulted in the fracture of his family. See you then.
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