An Active Faith
A Devotional Series from Genesis
Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)
6/17 Reading Portions: Deuteronomy 22; Psalms 110-111; Isaiah 49; Revelation 19
Genesis 7:6
Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters came upon the earth.
SIX HUNDRED
One hundred twenty years before the flood (Gen 6:3), God commanded Noah to build an ark (Gen 6:13-22). Twenty years after, when Noah was 500 years old, he begat Japheth, his eldest son (Gen 5:32). Shem was two years younger than Japheth, fathering Arphaxad at 100 years of age, two years after the flood (Gen 11:11). Ham was the youngest (Gen 9:24).
While Noah himself, his fathers, and his sons possessed an extensive life full of many years. Noah was 950 years old when he died (Gen 9:28-29). Yet his age prior to the flood exemplifies the work of God in Christ. 120 years of walking with God, of serving YHVH God in building the ark to save his wife, his sons, his sons wives, and all the animals that the hand of God would bring to him, and of entering the ark to see the destruction of a planet he had lived on for 600 years. This allows us to reflect upon two important truths: first, the preservation of the saints; and second, the perseverance of the saints.
God preserved Noah during his work of faith. He set to work on the ark for twenty years before his first son was born, Japheth. Eventually, the two other sons would be born and the three would grow to be strong and able enough to help their father. With the wickedness surrounding the prophet for 120 years while he built away, God brought Him through. We should reflect upon the grace and power of God here:
And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6
Noah also persevered for the glory of God. 120 years in the building of the ark, and by God’s grace, Noah was able to finish it one week ahead of schedule (Gen 7:4, 10). Have you ever been tired? Have you ever wanted the Lord Jesus to return quickly? Consider the longevity of Noah’s labors, with the eyes of his faith upon Christ:
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9
Hallelujah! What a Savior!