Part 1 – Flexibility Training – Reading
Today’s reading is going to be shorter than normal because you will need a bit of background information. There are some things you need to know about Noah and the times in which he lived.
First, imagine yourself in a world that is totally messed up. Everyone is out only for himself. People have lost the kindness and generosity that they once had. It seems only a handful of people love God and are willing to do what it takes to serve Him faithful. If that sounds like the world you live in, it is. That is the result of The Fall. That is what we saw with Adam and Eve, and what we saw in the example of Cain. There have always and will always be people who are ready and eager to break every concept of morality (especially those ways of living that God has said are good) just because they consider themselves first and foremost.
In chapter 5, that we skipped, it tells of the descendants of Adam that lead to Noah. The interesting thing is, if you figure out everyone’s birth years, you’ll see that Adam was still alive when Noah’s father was born. (If you are curious to see that timeline, click HERE.) Noah could have heard from his father the stories that Adam himself told of the Garden of Eden. The vast majority of those living lives of selfishness and evil had the chance to hear with their own ears straight from Adam how God created the world – what He had in mind with the amazing garden and fellowship with Him — except Father Adam and Mother Eve had blown it, just like all their descendants were now blowing it.
In this portion of the Bible, we find that God “regretted” having made man to dwell on the earth. Some translation even read it to say that God “repented” that He had made man. When the Bible says this, it doesn’t mean that God made a mistake. It is not possible for God to sin or make mistakes for which He must be sorry and repent because God is light (righteous) and in Him is no darkness (sin/mistakes) at all (1 John 1:5).
And don’t think that the wickedness and sin of men surprised God. He knew before He ever began His act of creation that sin would come into the world. And from before the beginning, He had a plan in place that would ultimately lead to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross to pay the vast penalty for this sin and rebellion. Nothing was going to mess that plan up. God is the Creator of the Universe. He can do anything, including making everything work for His purposes. More on that in the story of Joseph. But for now, just know when you read that phrase, “the Lord regretted”, it means that God grieved greatly over the sins of man.
Second thing, just in case you are curious what a cubit is, it’s the approximate measure of an adult’s arm from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger – about a foot and a half, or half a meter.
Let’s read the beginning of Noah’s biography found in Genesis 6:
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.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.
These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. And Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
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. And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch. This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark 300 cubits, its breadth 50 cubits, and its height 30 cubits. Make a roof for the ark, and finish it to a cubit above, and set the door of the ark in its side. Make it with lower, second, and third decks. For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die. But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ark to keep them alive with you. They shall be male and female. Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, of every creeping thing of the ground, according to its kind, two of every sort shall come in to you to keep them alive. Also take with you every sort of food that is eaten, and store it up. It shall serve as food for you and for them.” Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him. (Genesis 6:5-22. ESV.)
It says the people of Noah’s time were extremely corrupt and wicked. So much so that God decided to destroy them all, save the 8 of Noah’s family. In Peter’s first letter, he called Noah a “preacher of righteousness”. So it’s quite possible that Noah spent part of his time building the boat and part of his time warning the people that God’s judgement was coming. They had a chance to change their ways and be saved from the coming flood. But they chose to continue in their evil ways. God was patient with them for a time. But soon that time ended.
PART 2 – Strength Training – Memory & Thinking
Don’t give up! Memorize the verse below and keep reviewing the verses from the previous days.
2 Peter 2:9 So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment.
Genesis 4:7 You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”
Genesis 2:24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
There are many references to Noah throughout the Bible. Below are just a few for you to reflect on.
Genesis 6:8 (ESV)
But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.
1 Peter 3:20-21 (NLT)
… God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat. Only eight people were saved from drowning in that terrible flood. And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 2:5, & vs 9-10 (ESV)
if [God] did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly… then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority.
Hebrews 11:6-7 (NIV)
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.
Jude 1:14-16 (ESV)
It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage. [I include this verse in with this section about Noah because he was also a righteous man during this age of evil. Jude spoke about how even Enoch preached against those who participated in wicked behaviors.]
Part 3 – Cardio Training – Prayer
As you spend time praying today, take time to talk to God about all the evil you see in your community, in your country, in our world. Ask God to give strength to His people who are trying to live in righteous ways, just like Noah. It’s okay to ask God to bring evil-doers to justice. That is what Jude says Enoch preached. Use the Bible verse above to help you pray for justice in our fallen world, and for the strength of Christians to stand firm in righteousness. You might try something like this:
Our Father, You are the Creator of the world. All that You created was good. But like our Father Adam, we have chosen to do deeds of ungodliness. We are loud-mouthed boasters. We are grumblers and malcontents. And we are worthy of the judgement that you are bringing to the world. Father, open the eyes of Your Church to those sins we commit. Help us confess them and turn away from them. Help us to be more like Noah, a righteous man willing to stand firm in obedience to You even when all those around us are doing such evil things. Father, for those who refuse to obey You, for those who hurt and oppress Your people, for those who lie and cheat to get their own selfish ways, for those who teach others to despise authority and follow their evil passions, we ask that You would bring them to justice. Let them reap the penalty of their wicked ways. Help us to stay faithful to You and love You more each day so that, like Noah, we may find favor as we walk with You.
Part 4 – Endurance Training
We don’t know how long Noah took to build his boat. Nor do we know the opposition he faced as he went about the task of building that boat. We do know he persevered in boat-building, completing the mission God had given him. Let me encourage you to continue to read and study the Bible. The Christian life is not made victorious in one day, but in walking with God each and every day just as Noah did as he built that boat.
So keep reading!
Faith Gym 