“The Righteousness of Noah”

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

BIBLE READING: Genesis 6-7

“And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth… But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.” (Genesis 6.12, 8)

In a world of total wickedness and violence, Noah was different. I’m sure others noticed, and probably called him weird; but God called him righteous (Genesis 6.9; 7.1). Noah behaved differently but he also tried to tell others what it meant to live righteously (2 Peter 2.5). God patiently waited, but when the flood came, only Noah and his family were saved (1 Peter 3.20).

We’re not told much about the life of Noah; but the few details we’re given are both profound and instructive.

• Noah walked with God (6.9b). This language points back to the perfect relationship of God with humanity in the garden (Genesis 3.8). In scripture, ‘walking’ refers to a way of life. Paul would teach that walking with God means proper living through deliberate rejection of worldly desires (Ephesians 4.1; contrasted by improper walking in Ephesians 2.1-3). God’s desire is that humanity ‘do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with him’ (Micah 6.5), but in scripture, very few people are described as having walked with God (see Genesis 5.22-24).
• Noah doesn’t say a word. In fact, we’re given no record of him speaking until after the flood. When God told Noah about the coming flood, Noah listened. When God instructed him to build the ark, he acted. He didn’t ask for clarification or offer input. He kept his mouth shut and…
• Noah did all the LORD commanded (6.22; 7.5). Noah understood what was coming. He recognized God was the source of this impending doom and he saw God’s grace is making it known. He also understood there was only one way to be saved. I’m not suggesting we should blindly follow whatever we’re told to do. But if our relationship with is rooted in a right understanding of his authority and power, simple obedience makes perfect sense.

Noah’s silence is both deafening and instructive. More importantly, Noah’s righteousness was seen by God through his actions of faith. Because he feared God, he acted to save his family and those around him from judgment (Hebrews 11.7).

We have much liberty as we practice our faith, but our think-sos are a dangerous and deceptive factor. How much better off we would be if we trusted God more and practiced simple obedience! We are conditioned to question motives and demand answers; but the reality is, it doesn’t really matter when it comes to God. If we believe that he makes all things good by his words, we just need to trust and obey them with fear and humility. The fact is, we may never understand God’s ‘why’ for everything on this side of life. But if we know what he wants us to do, we can do it… and that’s how we practice righteousness, like Noah.

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