Noah was
a righteous man
who lived in the generations
before the Flood.
He is best known
for building the ark
and being saved,
along with his family,
from God’s judgment on a wicked world.
Noah was the son of Lamech and the grandson of Methuselah. He lived during a time when humanity had become extremely corrupt and violent. The Bible says that “the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5).
Despite living in such a dark time, Noah “found grace in the eyes of the Lord” (Genesis 6:8). He is described as a just man who was perfect in his generations and walked with God.
God warned Noah that He was going to destroy the earth with a great flood because of the wickedness of mankind. He instructed Noah to build a large ark (a massive boat) to preserve his family and pairs of every kind of animal.
Noah obeyed God completely, even though it took many years to build the ark and there was no rain at the time. When the Flood came, Noah, his wife, his three sons and their wives, and the animals were saved inside the ark. After the Flood, God made a covenant with Noah and all living creatures, promising never again to destroy the earth with a flood. The rainbow became the sign of this covenant.
- Genesis 6:8-9 — But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God.
- Genesis 6:22 — Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did.
- Genesis 7:1 — Then the Lord said to Noah, “Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation.”
- Genesis 9:12-13 — And God said: “This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.”
- Hebrews 11:7 — By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
- 2 Peter 2:5 — And did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly.
¶ Significance and Lessons from Noah
Noah’s life teaches several important truths:
- Faith and Obedience — Noah believed God’s warning even though he had never seen rain or a flood. He acted in obedience over many years.
- Walking with God — In the middle of a corrupt generation, Noah maintained a close relationship with God.
- Warning Others — Noah was a “preacher of righteousness” who warned his generation of coming judgment.
- God’s Judgment and Mercy — The Flood shows both God’s holy judgment against sin and His mercy in providing a way of salvation (the ark).
- Covenant Faithfulness — God keeps His promises, as seen in the rainbow covenant.
Many Bible students also see Noah and the ark as a picture (or type) of salvation through Christ — the ark provided the only way of escape from judgment, just as Jesus is the only way of salvation today.
Noah’s example encourages believers to:
- Walk faithfully with God even when the culture around us is wicked.
- Obey God’s Word, even when it is difficult or takes a long time.
- Warn others about coming judgment and point them to salvation in Christ.
- Trust that God keeps His promises and will judge righteously.
Noah shows us that it is possible to live righteously in a dark world when we choose to walk with God.