Noah’s Story Parallels Our Own Story
Noah’s story reminds me that mankind has had a knack for grieving God since the beginning of our existence. We can see it as early as Genesis 6.
Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
Genesis 6:5-6
As I look around at what is going on in our world today, I wonder how God feels about mankind right now. From my perspective, He must feel the same way He felt in Genesis 6:6 not long before He cleansed the earth of wickedness with a worldwide flood. And all were lost except Noah and his family.
Noah, his world, and God’s actions towards that world.
Let Matthew 24:37-38 settle in for a moment.
But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,
and did not know until the flood came and took them all away,
so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
Matthew 24:37-39
Same Story, Different Gospel
And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man:
They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage,
until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.
Luke 17:26-27
Do you see how Noah’s story parallels our own day and time?
We, too are living life, eating, drinking, and getting married. In other words, life is going on as normal in a very unnormal world!
Jesus told His disciples there would be a day that looked like the days of Noah. There is so much in God’s word that happened as a precursor and pattern of future events. It is just the way God works. And all of it to divinely warn His people and call them to prepare.
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.
Hebrews 11:7
Ultimately, if we are true followers of Jesus and believe the Bible as the Word of God, we can see that Noah’s story parallels our own. In fact, I will go so far to say, Noah parallels believers in general.
Noah’s Story:
But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
Genesis 6:8
Our Story:
For by grace you have been saved through faith,
and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.
Ephesians 2:8
God extended grace to Noah and God extended grace to us. Two other words used in Hebrews 11:7 that show us the parallel between Noah’s story and New Testament believers are “By faith.”
Therefore, having been justified by faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Romans 5:1
For we walk by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7
But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident,
for "the just shall live by faith."
Galatians 3:11
We, like Noah, are “by faith” people. Noah was justified by faith, walked by faith, and lived by faith. That is our story as well.
By faith, Noah being divinely warned of things not yet seen.
Hebrews 11:7a
How was Noah divinely warned? God spoke to Noah.
Noah’s Story:
And God said to Noah, "The end of all flesh has come before Me,
for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
Genesis 6:13
Our Story:
Jesus warned His disciples about the end of the age in Matthew 24.
What was it that grieved God so much in Noah’s day?
for the earth is filled with violence through them (Genesis 6:13)
Surely there is no need to point out the parallels of our earth today filled with violence. Violence permeates streets, homes, cities, nations… God was grieved in Noah’s day and He warned those who would listen of things to come. Likewise, Jesus warned us of a day when God’s grief and patience would no longer hold His justice back.
Noah’s Story:
Who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering
waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared,
in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.
1 Peter 3:20
Our Story:
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness,
but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish
but that all should come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9
And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations.
Mark 13:10
The true nature and character of God is that He is longsuffering, not wanting or willing that anyone perish, but inevitably there is a point when God says, “I’ve waited long enough.”
The goodness of God is that we get to choose. But as His word says, Today is the day of salvation. The people in Noah’s day had a choice just as we do. They could have turned to God and repented of their evil ways, but they chose to reject God and keep living life the way they wanted.
Noah’s Story:
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;
2 Peter 2:5
Our Story:
For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you."
Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
2 Corinthians 6:2
Our story here on earth has not ended yet. But it will. Malachi 4:1 is an Old Testament prophecy meant for a New Testament people and time. We are that people and I believe we live in that time.
"For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble.
And the day which is coming shall burn them up," Says the Lord of hosts, "That will leave them neither root nor branch.”
Malachi 4:1
My encouragement for you today comes out of Matthew 24:44.
Therefore, you also be ready,
for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Matthew 24:44
We don’t know when Jesus is coming, but He gave us His word, the parallel of Noah’s times, the signs of the times to watch for in our own day, and a word of warning, a call to be ready.