Noah: A Pattern of Exact Obedience
Base Text: Genesis 6:22
Support Text: Hebrews 11:7
Proposition
Noah’s faithful obedience demonstrates that pleasing God requires four essential pillars: unwavering faith, an attentive ear, reverent fear, and a righteous life.
Introduction
Noah remains one of the most remarkable figures in the Old Testament. Most of us remember him for the sheer scale of the Ark, the animals, and the flood. But the most important question isn't just what Noah built, but how he built it.
The Bible makes a profound statement in Genesis 6:22:
"Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him."
He didn’t cut corners. He didn’t "improve" on the blueprints. He didn’t add or take away. In this message, we will explore the spiritual qualities that allowed Noah to obey God perfectly, and how we can cultivate those same qualities in our lives today.
I. Noah Obeyed with Faith
Text: Hebrews 11:7
Noah’s obedience wasn’t based on a weather forecast; it was moved by faith. As Hebrews 11:6 reminds us, without faith, it is impossible to please God.
• Faith in the Unseen: Noah prepared a massive vessel for a flood when "things not yet seen" (rain and deep waters) were completely outside his experience.
• Conviction over Sight: True faith is the conviction of things not seen (Romans 8:24–25). Noah did not walk by sight; he walked by the Word of God (2 Corinthians 5:7).
• Beyond Thomas: While the apostle Thomas struggled to believe until he saw and touched the evidence, Noah believed and acted centuries before the first raindrop fell.
Application: God still demands obedience based on faith. Are you waiting for "visible proof" before you obey a command of God, or are you moving forward simply because He said so?
II. Noah Obeyed with Attentive Ears
Text: Hebrews 11:7
Noah’s faith was rooted in his ability to listen. Romans 10:17 tells us that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
• Being Warned: The phrase "being warned by God" suggests that Noah was in a posture to listen. He wasn't distracted by the noise of his generation.
• Precision in Hearing: Listening poorly leads to confusion; listening well leads to exact obedience. Jesus frequently exhorted His followers to "take heed how you hear" (Luke 8:18).
• Receiving the Word: Only those with a "good and noble heart" hear the Word, retain it, and produce fruit through patience (Luke 8:15).
• Avoiding Self-Deception: Listening to the Word without doing what it says is a form of spiritual self-deception (James 1:22).
Application: Listening to the Bible without intending to change is like looking in a mirror and immediately forgetting what you look like. We must be "doers" of what we hear.
III. Noah Obeyed with the Fear of God
Text: Hebrews 11:7
The text says Noah was "moved with fear" (reverent fear). In the Bible, this "fear" is not a paralyzing terror, but a profound respect and awe for God’s authority.
The Result of Reverent Fear
Scripture Reference
- It is the beginning of wisdom Proverbs 1:7
- It provides security and a fountain of life Proverbs 14:26–27
- It causes us to turn away from evil Proverbs 16:6
- It prevents us from "adding or taking away" Revelation 22:18–19
Noah respected God enough to follow the blueprints exactly. In contrast, men like Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1–2) failed because they lacked this reverence, offering "unauthorized fire" that God had not commanded.
Application: Reverent fear is demonstrated in the details. Do we respect God’s commands enough to follow them even when they seem "small" or "inconvenient"?
IV. Noah Obeyed with Righteousness
Text: 2 Peter 2:5
Noah didn't just build a boat; he built a testimony. He is called a "preacher of righteousness."
• Living in the Contrast: While Noah worked on the Ark, the world around him was consumed by eating, drinking, and marrying—ignoring God entirely (Matthew 24:37–38).
• Saving the Family: Noah’s righteousness wasn't just for himself; it provided a hedge of protection for his household.
• Influencing the World: Like Noah (and later, Lot), we are called to remain righteous even in the midst of a corrupt society (2 Peter 2:7–8). Our conduct should be so irreproachable that it points others to the truth (1 Peter 3:1).
Application: A righteous life is a loud sermon. Your integrity at work, your purity in private, and your love for others are "preaching" even when you aren't speaking.
- Preaching on Micah 4:1–8 A Future Vision of the Kingdom
- Preaching on Psalm 78 - Forgetting the Power of God
- Preaching on Proverbs 3 - Wise Counsel for Everyone
Conclusion
Noah "did all that God commanded him." He finished the task because he possessed:
1. Faith to see the unseen.
2. Attentive Ears to catch every detail.
3. Fear to respect the Designer.
4. Righteousness to stand apart from the crowd.
