The True Story of Noah (And 4 Ways it Applies to You)
I’ve yet to see the Noah movie with Russell Crowe. Some of family saw it, and I like my oldest son’s quote, “I liked the book better.”
The book?! Yes, the book. If you haven’t read it, here is the true story of Noah from Genesis 6:
The Story of Noah
9 This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God. 10 Noah was the father of three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
11 Now God saw that the earth had become corrupt and was filled with violence. 12 God observed all this corruption in the world, for everyone on earth was corrupt. 13 So God said to Noah, “I have decided to destroy all living creatures, for they have filled the earth with violence. Yes, I will wipe them all out along with the earth!
14 “Build a large boat from cypress wood and waterproof it with tar, inside and out. Then construct decks and stalls throughout its interior. 15 Make the boat 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. 16 Leave an 18-inch opening below the roof all the way around the boat. Put the door on the side, and build three decks inside the boat—lower, middle, and upper.
17 “Look! I am about to cover the earth with a flood that will destroy every living thing that breathes. Everything on earth will die. 18 But I will confirm my covenant with you. So enter the boat—you and your wife and your sons and their wives. 19 Bring a pair of every kind of animal—a male and a female—into the boat with you to keep them alive during the flood.
20 Pairs of every kind of bird, and every kind of animal, and every kind of small animal that scurries along the ground, will come to you to be kept alive. 21 And be sure to take on board enough food for your family and for all the animals.”
22 So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him.
You can read the rest of the story here.
What is the true story of Noah and how does it apply to us? Here are four ways:
- Noah walked in close fellowship with God. Noah wasn’t just a righteous man, he was the only righteous man! Too often we want the approval of others, and so we follow them. We allow others to pull us down to their level. Noah stood alone, and he still stood for God.
- Sinful people will pay the price for their sin. We like to think we’re getting away with something, but sin grieves God. He wants to wipe it out.
- Sometimes God requires hard work from us. We like to think that if we follow God, things will be easy. Things weren’t easy for Noah. He worked hard for 100 years. Being a follower of God doesn’t mean that your life will be easy. It does mean that God’s plan is best—for you and your family.
- Even righteous men mess up. In a later chapter, it says that Noah got drunk on wine, making him an embarrassment to his sons. No one is perfect. We’ll all mess up at one time or another. And while God hates sin, His heart is tender to a person who is repentant.
Back to the movie . . . God was not surprised that this movie was made this time in history. Whether you love it or hate it there are a lot more people reading their Bibles than before. No matter the pros and cons of movies inspired by the Bible, the most important part is the Bible itself—God’s true story.
When we read God’s story we have the chance to consider our hearts and our lives. Sure you can watch the movie, and you can talk about it. You can even use it as a launching point to talk to your unchurched neighbors about the Bible. But if you want to make a real difference, than take time to read Noah’s story and consider your own heart.
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