5 Lessons I Learned From Noah and The Ark

Fifteen years ago, Robert Fulghum wrote a little book entitled, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. This credo became a phenomenal #1 best seller.  There have been lots of imitations of that “All I really need to Know” idea.

One of my favorites is “Everything I need to know about life I learned from Noah’s ark.”  This “unknown author” says….

One – Don’t miss the boat.

Two – Remember that we are all in the same boat.

Three – Plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the Ark.

Four – Stay fit. When you’re 600 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.

Five – Don’t listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.

Six – – For safety’s sake, travel in pairs.

Seven – Speed isn’t always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.

Eight – When you’re stressed, float a while.

Nine – Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.

Ten- No matter the storm, when you’re with God, there’s always a rainbow waiting.

This week at Hickman Mills we’re havingVacationBibleSchool.  Yesterday, we studied about Noah.  There’s something about Noah and the Ark that captures peoples imagination.  Maybe it’s the animals.  Or the adventure. Of the narrative.  For believers, it’s the faith of one man who was willing to go against the tide of his time.

The Bible calls him a “hero” and affirms, “By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.  ESV

From Noah I learn that…. 

     1. God hates sin.  Noah lived in a society that was sinful to the core. People’s thoughts were wicked.  Their hearts were corrupt.  Their imaginations were evil continually.  And it grieved God’s heart.  So He decided to destroy the world with a great flood.

I’m not sure we appreciate this aspect of God’s character.  Yes, God is love.  But He hates sin.  If I am to be more like God, I need to love righteousness and hate wickedness.

2. God’s Patience is Limited.  He is longsuffering.  Forbearing.  Patient. For 120 years Noah preached for people to repent.  But there came a time when God’s patience ended.  The door of the ark was shut.

Today, God patently waits for us to come to Him.  But time will end. The Lord will return.  And the “door will be shut.”

     3. God Demands Obedience.  God told Noah to build an ark out of gopher wood. He gave the exact specifications.   Faith motivated Noah to reverently obey God.  And build it exactly as God said.  Without addition.  Or substation.

The life lesson is simple.  Faith works.  Acts.  Obeys.  Faith does exactly what God says.  Period.

     4. God Punished the Disobedient.  Other people could have boarded the ark.  There was room.  Noah preached for people to repent.  But they chose to ignore it. So, what happened to those outside the ark?  They were lost!

Today, God calls us to get in “the ark of safety.”  To be a part of his called out people. To trust him.  Obey him. Serve Him.

5. God blesses the righteous person.  Noah found favor with God.  He was a righteous man. And he influenced his family to be godly.  And they were rewarded.  I wonder if Noah was ridiculed for his righteousness?  If he was, there is no doubt that the reward was worth the ridicule!

I told the children yesterday, that whenever you see the rainbow in the sky to remember Noah.  Remember God’s promise.  And remember it pays to obey God.

Pretty good lessons for adults, too.  Don’t you think?

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman

(This post originally posted in 2012 was the 9th most read post for 2016)