Bible Characters – Noah
(Genesis 6 to 9)
The real events and story surrounding Noah tells us how serious it is when people turn away from God and engage in sin and evil without considering God, and the consequences of their actions (Genesis 6:5-7). Because we see here, that we are dealing with God, who is personal, holy and sovereign, He cannot and will not tolerate rebellion against Himself.
Yet, a single faithful, reverent and God-fearing heart, namely Noah’s heart, is at the centre of this account – that heart is mouldable and surrendered, so that God is able to accomplish His plan of salvation (Genesis 6:8) not only preserving a remnant of people for Himself – bringing Noah and his family through the flood to dry land – but also securing the human ancestry of our Messiah, Jesus Christ, our personal Lord and Saviour (Luke 3:36). While the events about the flood, the building of the Ark (a ship without a rudder!) the preservation of human-kind and animals are remarkable, the focus has to be on the disposition of heart that Noah displayed – obedience to God. Notably though, at that point after the flood, evil was not eliminated (Genesis 9:18-27) and a perfect redeemer (that is Jesus Christ) had yet to come.
The rainbow is a symbol of the covenant God makes with Noah, promising that God will never again destroy His creation by water (Genesis 9:12-17). Nevertheless, the Bible also reveals to us that on Judgement Day, when Jesus returns the second and last time, God will separate Himself from all evil, as the earth will be destroyed by fire (2 Peter 3:10-12).
God still deals with evil and sin today (2 Peter 2:1-22). He judges both, and there are temporal and eternal consequences. However, if we come to our Lord Jesus Christ, with a repentant, humble and obedient heart, confessing our sins to Him, “He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleans us from all wickedness” (1 John 1:9). Jesus provides every surrendered heart that turns to Him and away from sin this promise. Amen.
For further study:
Gardner P. New International Encyclopedia of Bible Characters: The Complete Who’s Who in the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2001.
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