The Righteous Farmer's Voyage

Last month we discussed disobedience and the consequences that follow. After great consideration (three minutes of really loud singing while listening to the radio) we decided to concentrate this month on obedience. The question then turned to the starting point and Noah came up as a long faithful servant.

Pre-Flood Problems  
World, we have a problem!!! Ungodliness was all over the known world and life seemed good for those who did not care for following God’s ways because they lived lawless and without conscience knowledge of life with God. Now that did not mean that no one knew God but many had forgotten Him.  

The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” Genesis 6:5-7

Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight, and the earth was filled with violence. And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. Genesis 6:11-12

God was not pleased with His most honored creation and saw the damage that they had done to the earth. Saddened by this, God decided to do something drastic which would wipe out everything so He could start all over again.

The people living on earth at the time were living long lives which allowed for many to discover the good and bad situations of life. These men and women were vile and lived in much wickedness with little regard for life. They cared more for their own selves and ignored their fellow man and God’s commission to be caretakers of the land, water, and animals. They wanted for nothing because they figured they had everything needed to live. They were missing one element, God.

One Man’s Righteousness
Noah, son of Lamech, was a righteous man. Scripture tells us that he was blameless in his generation and walked with God all his days. His lineage was the in the line of Seth, son of Adam and he was brought up knowing God. He was a good man who did what was right in the eyes of God and yet his obedience was about to be tested.

Those of us who are up in age can probably recall now disgraced comedian Bill Cosby’s skit on Noah and the conversation with God about the Ark. He took many liberties but I can see some of the skit being accurate. We are not told that Noah questioned God the way Mr. Cosby spoke of and I confess that I would have had a touch of doubt but God prevails no matter what. Noah trusted that God knew what He was doing.

Noah, without question did as God commanded because he feared and revered God as Holy. He did everything that God had told him to do even though it took many years to build it. He also took time to gather the animals but when the time came, he was ready.

The whole time Noah and the family were building the Ark they suffered ridicule from external family members, friends, and other scoffers who did not know they were going to die. As the rains started and Noah closed himself and the inhabitants of the new world within, many started to cry out in fear and regret but God closed the ears of all aboard. Noah remained obedient and let God guide the Ark to the place He pleased.

Noah had to be patient and wait on God. The water subsided after many days and foliage began to grow. It took some time but the earth dried enough to walk upon it and the first thing Noah did was set up an altar to God and gave thanks with a blood offering, sending the aroma of the sacrifice to God. Noah was obedient in all things.

Obedience Is The Key
Without obedience we are lost. That goes with life as a whole to include the life after we leave this world. Having the faith, trust, and obedience to God’s Word and Will in our lives does not always make things easy but it does grant us peace and joy when we need it the most. Listening, learning, and following are the first steps in obedience.

Brothers and Sisters we are in the time that Jesus warned us about when He said, “as in the days of Noah”. People are not concerning themselves with God and have lost focus on the truths of living for Him. It is only a matter of time so we must be ready for He will come just as a thief in the night. If we live expecting Him then we should be living for Him, not against Him.

Be Blessed in these times and be safe. Take every precaution against the viruses and pestilence that are prevalent in the world today. Boost your immune systems to fight against the physical and boost your faith and trust in God to fight against the spiritual that would keep us from Him.

God’s Love to All,

 In His Embrace,
Rob, Servant of God