Noah’s Fearful, Reverent Faith
“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.” Hebrews 11:7
There was a time when the earth had become so wicked that it was filled with corruption and violence. Humanity had reached the point of no return; they would never repent and return to God. God was left with no choice: the earth had to be destroyed. But there was one man on earth who was godly—Noah. Noah worshipped and honored God in his life. Therefore, God warned Noah of the coming judgment upon the earth. He told Noah to prepare an ark and that the ark would save him, his family, and two of every animal. God also told Noah to warn the world of coming judgment.
Scripture says that Noah received the warning from God with holy, reverent fear. Noah believed God’s warning of coming judgment, and he began to build the ark with a godly fear and reverence, knowing that what God said would come true. God’s judgment would fall upon the earth; Noah believed it and knew it by faith.
Noah stood fast in his faith despite the mockery of the world. He lived far inland from the ocean—definitely nowhere close to any shipbuilding yards. Yet, he built a ship as large as an ocean liner. Imagine the laughs, mockery, scorn, and abuse Noah suffered. Imagine how often he was called a fool and thought to be insane. But Noah was faithful. He preached the righteousness and coming judgment of God—exactly as God had told him to do.
Noah stands as a great example of believing God and His warning of coming judgment. Noah’s faith was unique in that it was a fearful, reverent faith. God has warned us that His judgment will one day fall again upon the earth. But He has provided us an Ark of Safety—salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. Our task is the same as Noah’s: to warn the world of God’s coming judgment and to persuade unbelievers “to come into the Ark”—to repent of their sin and receive Christ as Savior and Lord.
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