Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God. -Genesis 6:9

That is a simple sentence that’s easy to read over quickly, but just think about that. Noah was righteous! He walked faithfully with God and stayed blameless even while living amongst everybody else who had succumbed to corruption. What self-control, fortitude and independence this would have required. If you’ve ever found yourself as the “lone Christian” in the midst of a group of people who aren’t interested in following God’s ways, then you’ve tasted what Noah may have been feeling and experiencing. But for you, there are at least (hopefully) people in your church, Bible study, family and/or friend group who are fellow believers in Jesus who you can turn to for encouragement and support. In Noah’s case, he was literally the only one. Wow. 

Regardless, Noah stayed true to God’s commands. Because of that, God chose to preserve him and his family from the flood He sent that would wipe literally everything and everyone else away. When God communicated this to Noah, He instructed Him to build an ark—a vessel that would save him, his family, and two of every animal species on earth. God provided extremely detailed directions for Noah to follow, and Noah followed them to a tee. 

Noah did everything just as God commanded him. -Genesis 6:22

How often could this same sentence be stated about you? ________ did everything just as God commanded her/him. There are times when I can excitedly claim this to be true! But if I’m being honest, there are probably more times when I cannot. Living in full surrender, with complete obedience to God, is not easy. When you’re following Jesus, He calls you to set aside yourself and follow in His footsteps. This might mean giving up something you enjoy, saying yes to a risky situation, or forgiving someone who has treated you terribly. Whatever God calls you to do, He calls you to do fully. Are you doing everything just as He commands, like Noah did?

After building the ark and loading it up with the animals as God instructed, Noah and his family also boarded the ark and shut the door. Genesis 7 indicates that the floodwaters came seven days after everyone (and everything) was on board. I hadn’t noticed that detail until recently, and it got me wondering about what Noah’s mindset was like during those seven days. Granted, God had specifically told him that the waters would come in seven days! But still, can you imagine being shut up inside of a huge boat for an entire week without one drop of water falling down from the heavens? 

If I were in Noah’s shoes, I’m guessing some thoughts of doubt would have crept into my mind during that week-long time period. I might have started second guessing if I’d heard God correctly. I might have looked around and, honestly, felt a little ridiculous for bringing my entire family and all these animals onto a big boat that was parked on dry ground! When God speaks, we sometimes have to wait for His words to come to fruition. Waiting periods are not always fun. In fact, they might even be painful. Are you in a waiting period right now? Did you hear a word from the Lord that you followed, but now you’re wondering if you really heard Him right? Noah stayed right there in that ark, and I encourage you to stay right there in your situation, too. Be patient, and wait on God. He keeps His promises (Proverbs 30:5), and He works every single situation for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). Don’t get antsy! Sit still and wait on Him. He will come through for you every single time in His perfectly sovereign way.

Noah also had to be patient when the rains stopped, as he waited until it was safe for him and his family to exit the ark. Stuck in a literal moving zoo for months, surely they were all anxious for a little breathing room. The Bible doesn’t provide any insight into Noah’s mindset here, but we do read that he waited until He knew God had given him the okay to disembark. And then? The first thing he did on dry land was build an altar and make a sacrifice to God. 

There’s so much to Noah’s unique and intriguing story. But even just a quick overview like this one gets my mind spinning as I think about what I can learn about God and myself from Genesis 6-9.

What can we learn about God from Noah’s story? 

• Nothing happens outside of God’s control. He is never surprised.
• God protects His people.
• God sees you doing the right thing even when you’re surrounded by people who aren’t.
• He gives His people all the information they need to be adequately prepared for the future.
• He is a God of order and details.
• His judgment and wrath are real. They are also just and rooted in His love for His people.
• God keeps His promises.

What can we learn about people/ourselves from Noah’s story? 

• We can trust God is looking out for our greater good.
• God sees and remembers our obedience to Him.
• We can stand against the crowd and trust God to have our backs.
• By living rightly according to God’s commands, we distinguish ourselves from the world.
• We can do hard things with God’s help.
• People are born into sin, but they can choose to live righteously. 

What else do you learn about God from this story? What do you learn about yourself? How can you apply that to your life today? Pick out the one lesson you’re learning from Noah in Genesis 6-9—you know, that one that’s resonating in your heart right now—and talk to God about it in prayer. Write it down somewhere where you’ll see it, and let that lesson move you forward in faith.