Editor's Corner
In the book of Genesis, there was an interesting account of a man named Noah. He was the son of Lamech and the tenth in descent from Adam in the line of Seth (Gen. 5:28,29). His name means 'rest'. He received this name because Lamech foresaw that through him God would comfort the race and partially alleviate the effects of teh Edenic curse.
1. Noah found favour in the eyes of the Lord (Gen. 6:8,9)
Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time and Noah walked with God. Though the earth which he lived in was filled with violence and corruption (Gen. 6:1-13), he was uniquely righteous in a totally corrupt age. Likewise, the world which we live in today is just as degenerated like the time of Noah. But, Noah found favour in the eyes of the Lord. He lived righteously, faultless and walked with his God. Today, all of us can find favour in God's eyes through the Lord (Prov. 8:35). We can be made righteous through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe (Rom 3:21-26). We can walk with God "for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light of the Lord; walk as children of light (Eph. 5:8)
2. Noah was a preacher of righteousness (2 Pet. 2:5)
When he was 480 years old, 120 years before the Flood (Ge. 6:3), he was warned of God that the world would be destroyed by water (Heb. 11:7). HE was then given exact instructions for building the ark (Gen. 6:14-16). While engaged in this task of ark-building, he warned men of the coming catastrophe; when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water (1 Pet. 3.20)
Noah preached faithfully concerning the impending destruction to the people of his era. He did not slack in the building o the ark nor his task in proclaiming the truth about judgement. He presevered on although the result of his labor was discouraging. None was converted. Only his immediate family was spared. Eight souls were sheltered inside teh ark from the deluge. It was sheer faith in God and persistent preaching for a long period of 120 years. Truly, Noah earned the title as "a preacher of righteousness". The Lord has commissioned all believers 'to go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation (Mark 16:15). We are to be faithful in our witnessing and sharing the Good News to the inhabitants of our time. Our focused task is to proclaim the Word and leave the results to God. Some may plant; while others may water, but God was causing te growth (1 Cor. 3:6-9). Remember that all believers is commissioned by the Lord into the harvest fields (John 4:35).
3. Noah built an altar to the Lord (Gen. 8:20)
The Flood came in Noah's 600th year; increased steadily for 40 days, maintained it's mountain-covering depth for 110 more days, and then subsided sufficiently for Noah to disembark in the mountain of Ararat after another 221 days. To determine whether it was safe to disembark, Noah send forth first a raven and then a dove at regular intervals (Gen. 8:6-10). The freshly-plucked olive leaf proved to him that such sturdy plants had already begun to grow on the mountain heights. God commanded him to disembark and Noah built an altar and offered clean animals as burnt-offerings to God. The Lord then promised never to send another universal flood, confirming it with the rainbow sign (Gen. 8:21-22; 9:9-17).
Noah built an altar before the Lord. He was thankful to God for the Salvation of his own life and that of his loved ones As the man of the house, Noah took the initiative to built an altar before the Lord of the Flood. He recoqnized God's sovereignty, power and love in his life and that of his family. So also we, as redeemed believers in the Awesome God ougt to be forever grateful for God's marvelous dealings and sovereign rule over our lives. God was pleased concerning Noah's sacrifise of burnt-offerings. Likewise, as we pledge our devotion to God alone, and offer our bodies a living and holy sacrifise, accpetable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship (Rom. 12:1,2), the lord will be delighted in us. No dead sacrifices, please!
4. Noah was blessed by God (Gen. 9:1)
God said to Noah and his sons to "be fruitful and multipy and fill the earth." This statement was literal. This is biological expansion and multiplication of children. "Behold, children are a gift of the Lord: the fruit of the womb is a reward." (Psalm 127:3-5)
Even Hannah who was barren (1 Sam. 1:2) was remembered by the Lord, who later gave birth to a son named Samuel (1 sam. 1:19-20). Hannah's song of the thanksgivings to the Lord mentioned that "even the barren gives birth to seven." (1 Sam. 2:5
While talking about God's coming kingdom, the Lord said, "and just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it shall be also in the days of the Son of Man: they were eating , they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the Ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all." (Luke 17:26-27)
Let us all take this clear directive from the Lord, Himself.
May these four lessons inspire you to Love, Worship, Believe and serve God even more.
Sis. Suen Yap
