1. THE CONDITIONS OF THE EARTH:
• Wickedness Controlled the Earth (VS5)
• All imaginations were ungodly (VS 5)
• Sin was not committed carelessly or with poor decision making processes
• It was committed with malice, predetermination, deliberately and was designed to be mischievous
• James 1:14-15 “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.” “Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”
• The observation from James of the severity of sin is evident in this scripture and paints the future of the people of Noah’s day. (Certain Death)
• It REPENTED God that he had made men (the Hebrew word Nacham (knock-em); meaning to repent or comfort. Translated into repent 41 times in the O.T. and to comfort 57 times in the O.T.
• This word means to make a strong turning to a new course of action; Turning to a positive course of action, not necessarily turning from a less than desirable course.
• God looked down upon the people he had created, and was sorrowful, (God Repenting: Not that God changed his heart, but that he would change his conduct towards men, and men change their conduct when sorry for what they have done; and instead of continuing them on the earth and granting them his favors, as he had done, he would destroy them.)
• God made the determination at that point that he would pronounce judgment upon the people of earth who had disobeyed him.
• This destruction would involve total annihilation of all living things
“WHAT IF NOAH HAD SAID NO!?”
2. THE CALL OF NOAH
• VS 8: “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.”
• Why did God find grace in Noah?
a. He was a just man
b. He gave to all their due; (this is the ideal meaning of the original word) (VS 9)
c. He was in all things a consistent character, he walked with God (VS 9)
• The fact that Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord vindicates his displeasure against the world and shows that he had examined the character of every person in it
• He pronounced it universally corrupt and found one man to smile upon
• How do we stack up when God examines us?
• God commanded Noah to make an ark:
• The ark is symbolic of:
a. Christ; the refuge for His people in judgment
b. Preservation through tribulation
“WHAT IF NOAH HAD SAID NO!?”
3. THE REQUIRED WORK TO BE DONE
• Noah was to build an ark; or ship in which to escape the coming judgment
• To today’s society the work seems nothing more than ordinary
• In those days, the people had never seen rain, so the command to build this ship due to a coming rain that would flood the earth seemed foolish
• The ark was to be:
a. 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high (A cubit is measured from elbow to finger tip; the length of the forearm; it usually measured 21.888 inches)
b. Based upon this measurement the ark would be 547 feet long, 91’2” wide, and 47’2” high
c. This would be a major undertaking for Noah and his family of 7
d. Not to mention the persecution they would suffer while building the ark
“WHAT IF NOAH HAD SAID NO!?”
4. NOAH’S RESPONSE
• No questioning in the call; Noah understood that God meant business and that there could be no waiting (Procrastination=Death)
• VS 22 “Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.”
• This was not only a command to build an ark but to gather animals and food supply while they would be on the ark
• No doubt, this was an arduous task, but God knew that Noah was up for it
• I Co 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
• God selects the right people for the right job
• Just as he had ‘looked upon the earth’ to judge the hearts of men, he has done the same thing when he calls us to a work
• We all have the ability to serve God:
a. Romans 12:6 “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us,”
b. Romans 12:3 “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think: but to think soberly, according as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith.”
• Our ‘measure of faith’ is determined by our faith in God
• Noah did not respond with: “I’ve done my fair share, let the young’ens do their part” or “I’m too busy to build a boat” or “I’m not qualified to be a shipbuilder and a zookeeper.”
• He simply took God at his word and built the boat
• God gave Noah 120 years to build the ark and preach the escape
• Genesis 6:3 “And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.”
• The time had been given
• 2 Peter 2:5 “And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly.”
• The message had been preached
• “WHAT IF NOAH HAD SAID NO!?”
5. WE, LIKE NOAH, HAVE BEEN GIVEN A TASK; A MESSAGE TO PREACH AND THE AUDIENCE TO PREACH IT TO
• Ephesians 4:1 “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.”
• Paul had written this epistle while in prison in Rome; just as Noah kept the faith and continued in the work, Paul was doing the same, providing a proper example for us to follow
• Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
• God has called us according to his purpose and prepared for us the way, all we have to do is be obedient to his will and souls will be saved.
• If Noah had said no then people would have died and been condemned to everlasting suffering; God knew that Noah would say yes and in that the continuation of human life was achievable.
“ARE YOU WILLING TO SAY YES TODAY?”
