This weekend, millions of people will go to theaters to see the movie Noah starring Russell Crowe. It is a story from the Bible, God’s Word. How are we, Believers of Christ, to handle this?
If asked about this upcoming movie Noah:
1. We are to tell people that the producers themselves state that there are additions to the biblical story for artistic and entertainment value!
2. Pray about honoring the Lord regarding our attitudes and what to share.
3. Ask if there is an interest in knowing the biblical truths about Noah and the Flood.
God has given us what we need to know in the Bible. God tells us why there was a worldwide flood. God tells us what were saved and how. God tells us what happened after the flood. God tells us what the ark and the flood represent.
May we all be prepared and ready to share truths to our relatives and friends, especially as the hype for this movie Noah is upon us.
Before we learn from God’s Word, let us together pray our commitment to God’s Word…
Open your Bibles to Genesis Chapter 8; we will also refer to some verses in Genesis 9….. Read along with me Genesis 8…..
What are the main truths we are to note from this passage?
First of all, let us make sure we understand that God never forgets; God made a guaranteed promise, a covenant, in saving Noah and the animals; when v1 states God remembers, God is just saying He would do now what He promised. And so, what do we read in how God stopped the flood and dried up the earth?
v1-2: God closed the water springs of the deep and the rain from the sky. God also sent wind to evaporate the water.
v3-5: Waters receded and the ark stopped on a mountain and tops of other mountains became visible.
v6-7: Noah waited 40 days after the ark stopped and sent out a raven which just flew back and forth.
v8-9: Noah also sent out a dove but it returned to the ark.
Why a raven then a dove? That will be your homework to find out; I think there is a difference between a raven and a dove in bird personality.
Now, let us note that we don’t hear God speaking to Noah about what to do at this point do we? Noah just did what he thought was the best action to take. Noah was a farmer; I bet he knew his birds!
There is a biblical principle here: God can be quiet in spite of trying circumstances and God wants us to take action the best we can.
And so after the dove came back, what did Noah do next? What do you think you would have done? Many of us probably would not last 7 days cooped up in a boat!! As soon as the ark stopped, I probably would have opened all the doors and kicked out all the animals!! Out, out, out!!! Did God know what He was doing when He picked Noah? Noah was a man of wisdom with lots and lots of patience! I wonder if Russell Crowe as Noah will have patience?
What did Noah do after the dove came back?
v10: After waiting for 7 more days, Noah sent out another dove.
v11: the dove came back in the evening with a freshly plucked olive leaf!! How excited do you think Noah was at that point??
Don’t you think that would have been the time to open all the doors and kicked out all the animals? Again, I would have said to the animals, Out, Out, Out!!! But what did Noah do?
v12………..
And look again at v13-14; about how long was Noah and his family in the ark??
v13: Noah and his family were in the ark for over one year! We can also note from v13 that Noah knew the flood was over; he saw that the ground was dry! Now, why do you think God spoke in v15??
Noah knew the ground was dry but he was still in the ark for almost 2 months! Noah was wise and patient, but do we note fear or laziness here for not getting out of the ark?
God will speak to us when we have fears or lazy! The question of course is will we listen and do what God tells us? We note in v18-19: Noah obeyed God!
And what else do we note from Noah in v20?
v20-21: Noah sincerely worshiped God!
And what significant truths can we note from v21?
v21: Even though every inclination of people’s hearts is evil, God will not flood the earth again but actually provide!
In Genesis 9, we can read that God blessed Noah, his family, and all the animals! God was so good to Noah and his family that God changed their diet; look at Genesis 9:3…..
Noah and his family were likely vegetarians before the flood; which was probably a good thing while they were in the ark because they could have eaten one of the two remaining type of animal and that animal would be immediately extinct!!
Let us close by reading Genesis 9:8-17…..
8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: 9 "I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you 10 and with every living creature that was with you--the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you--every living creature on earth. 11 I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth." 12 And God said, "This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. 16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth." 17 So God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth."
It is self-explanatory isn’t it? Note that we are all descendants of Noah! The covenant stated here is for us as well! Do you and I really think about God when we see a rainbow?
God tells us we are to do so! And many of you probably do; but may I encourage you to do this: Remember God whenever you see colors!! And note that Color-blindness is not an excuse for God-blindness!
