What does it mean?
Genesis 6
Men and women began to multiply greatly on the earth and God was not pleased with man; therefore, he restricted man’s life to 120 years. God was sorry that He made man because man was corrupt and his wickedness became abundant; therefore, God decided to destroy man, and all living things but for some reason, Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. Noah was a righteous man, he was considered blameless in a time that the earth was corrupt and filled with violence; therefore, his finding favor with God would indicate his non-violence as the possible reason. God told Noah that he was going to destroy the men of the earth with the earth. God planned to cause a great flood. Noah would not have known what this meant and God gave him specific instructions on how He wanted Noah to build the ark which would house him and Noah’s family. The arc would also hold birds, animals and creeping things of every kind, a male and a female of every kind. Noah had never seen a flood before, yet he trusted the word of the Lord and obeyed His commandments. This is another reason that Noah might have found favor with God.
Genesis 7
The world would go on like it had for one more week. God told Noah to enter the arc with his family and the animals, a male and female of every kind but for the animals considered clean, he was to bring them in by male and female pairs of seven. The significance of seven pairs of clean animals and entering the arc seven days before the flood to destroy the earth would indicate perfection. Noah was 600 years old when he entered the arc, trusting the word of the Lord. After the seven days past the earth was flooded. Rain fell on the earth for 40 days and 40 nights. This is looking ahead to Israel’s wonderings in the desert, and more so, the Lord’s time in the desert before beginning His earthly ministry. The arc was lifted up and rose above the earth. The righteous shall rise and meet the Lord in the air. (1Th.4:17) The water even covered the tops of the mountains. Every thing that breathes died, except those carried and protected in the arc. We must be in Christ when the day of destruction comes.
Genesis 8
After 150 days the water began to decrease. It was on the 17th day of the 2nd month that Noah and his family entered the arc and it was on the 17th day of the 7th month that the arc rested on the mountains of Ararat. 5 months times 30 days equals 150 days but it was not until the 1st day of the tenth month that the tops of the mountains became visible. 40 days later Noah opened the window of the ark. From the time that Noah entered the arc until the earth was dried up was 1 year. The Lord command Noah to go out an he obeyed. Noah took of every clean and bird and burnt offerings to the Lord on an altar and the Lord was pleased. God said that He will never again curse the ground because of man for the heart of man is evil from his youth.
What shall I do?
The main idea is that God looks favorably on the non-violent, who trust His word to obey His commandments. Jesus commanded His disciples to do something that seems strange. He commanded that we should love our enemies, do good to those who hate us, bless those who curse us, and pray for those who mistreat us. He said to not return violence for violence and do not demand back what someone takes. (Lk.6:27-30) The teachings of the Lord are radicle to say the least. Should we trust in our own reasoning or should we trust in the word of the Lord? I shall trust in the word of the Lord. I cannot see the consummation of the ages now but I trust the Lord. The day of the Lord is coming. The corrupt and wicked of the earth will be destroyed and there will be a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness reigns. I cannot see it now, nor do I understand what it will be like but I shall trust in the word of the Lord and observe all that He commanded.
