Noah is the next outstanding character we encounter in Genesis after Adam and Eve. Noah is remembered for building the ark. What a phenomenal feat it was to build such a large vessel before automation and large engineering machinery. Beyond the magnitude of the task Noah accepted, beyond the miraculous arrival of the animals (New International Version Bible, 1973/2017, Genesis 6:19-20), was a feature of Noah’s life which was his faith. He believed God when God gave him the directions, and Noah followed through. His faith sustained him through the building process, which Hodge (2018) estimates at 75 years, in which he endured ridicule. The 120 years mentioned in Genesis 3:6-7 is the countdown to the flood. Think about it: Noah built an ark many miles from any water; it had never rained on the earth, and his community was scoffing at what he was doing.
You may not be aware, but up until Noah’s day, it had never rained on the earth. Rain was a new phenomenon. What incredible faith Noah demonstrated by persisting in building a giant floating vessel over the span of decades, anticipating water falling from the sky. God asked Noah to step out by faith and do something incredible and God fulfilled his promise to Noah and saved Noah and his family from the flood’s destruction. Noah’s God is the same God who Christians serve today, and He has asked you to step out in faith and return to school. You have obeyed and taken the first step. Just as God proved Himself faithful in Noah’s day, God proves Himself faithful to all who follow Him by faith today. The rain falling from the sky was a total change in thinking for Noah and his contemporaries; it would have been as incredible as water starting to shoot from trees today. God did amazing, incredible things, and He still does today. We may not see water shooting from trees, but if we are faithful, we will see the movement of God in our lives. So, keep on building your ark – whatever task God has given to you, because He is faithful and will be with you to the end.
Consider how God has demonstrated His faithfulness to you as you have pursued efforts through faith.
For Noah’s story see Genesis 6 (new tab). Review How Long Did It Take For Noah to Build the Ark (new tab)
Upon successful completion of this discussion, you will be able to:
Recognize God’s call to step out by faith in action.
Instructions
Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.
Read the devotional material.
Respond to the following prompt:
What is God asking you to do by faith? What is your “ark”?
Submit/Post by the end day of the workshop.
You are not required to respond to any posts.
https://answersingenesis.org/bible-timeline/how-long-did-it-take-for-noah-to-build-the-ark/
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+6&version=NIV