Preparation for the Flood
Read Genesis 6:13–7:10. What lesson can we learn from this amazing
account of early human history?
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Like Daniel, Noah is a prophet who predicts the end of the world. The
Hebrew word for the “ark” (tevah) (Gen. 6:14) is the same rare Egyptian
loanword that was used for the “ark,” in which the infant Moses was hid-
den, who was preserved in order to save Israel from Egypt (Exod. 2:3).
Also, some have seen in the general structure of the ark parallels to
the ark of the tabernacle (Exod. 25:10). Just as the ark of the Flood will
permit the survival of humankind, so the ark of the covenant, a sign
of God’s presence in the midst of His people (Exod. 25:22), points to
God’s work of salvation for His people.
The phrase “Noah did; according to all that God commanded” (Gen.
6:22, NKJV) concludes the preparatory section. The verb ‘asah, “did,”
referring to Noah’s action, responds to the verb ‘asah, “make,” in God’s
command, which began the section (Gen. 6:14) and is repeated five
times (Gen. 6:14–16). This echo between God’s command and Noah’s
response suggests Noah’s absolute obedience to what God had told
him to do, to ‘asah. It is interesting that this phrase also is used in the
context of the building of the ark of the covenant (Exod. 39:32, 42;
Exod. 40:16).
“God gave Noah the exact dimensions of the ark and explicit direc-
tions in regard to its construction in every particular. Human wisdom
could not have devised a structure of so great strength and durability.
God was the designer, and Noah the master builder.”—Ellen G. White,
Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 92.
Again, the parallel between the two “arks” reaffirms their common
redemptive function. Noah’s obedience is thus described as a part of
God’s plan of salvation. Noah was saved simply because he had that
faith to do what God commanded him to do (see Heb. 11:7). He was
an early example of a faith that manifests itself in obedience, the only
kind of faith that matters (James 2:20).
In short, though Noah “found grace in the eyes of the Lord” (Gen.
6:8), it was in response to this grace, already given him, that Noah
acted faithfully and obediently to God’s commands. Isn’t that how it
should be with all of us?
Read 2 Peter 2:5–9. Why was only Noah’s family saved? What
lesson can we learn from the Noah story regarding our role in
warning the world about coming judgment?