6 Amazing Things We Can Learn From Noah

1. Do Not Conform to the Patterns of This World

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will. Romans 12:2

The days of Noah weren’t much different than they are today. Luke 17:27-28 describes people eating, drinking, getting married, and just living life. However, it’s prudent to note that it was not filled with merriment and joy. Not at all. From God’s point of view, it was a complete disregard for His instructions, as people were entertaining and devouring in selfishness and sin. As mentioned earlier, God is grieved by their choices and sorry He even made them!

If we compare that to today, we see the absence of God impacting nearly every country worldwide. Look at the current climate of hostility towards God’s chosen people and the lack of compassion for the human race as a whole. Our world is disowning God, and it is evident by the sinful behaviors, mentalities, and attitudes that we so easily see smeared across every social media outlet. Sadly, this only intensifies the violence and adds fuel to the flames.

But Noah didn’t bend and sway to the cultural climate of his time. Instead, he remained faithful. That should be a reminder to us to also not rise and fall with the hot and cold temperatures of the culture. The world will be convincing and full of savory distractions, sugarcoating, and twisting God’s Word. We cannot fall for it! Our first response should be to lean into our faithful God, seek His wisdom by reading His Word, and arming ourselves for the daily spiritual battles we face (Ephesians 6:10-18).

2. Be in Tune with God’s Will

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10

Jesus beautifully models for his disciples (and for us) how to pray and seek out the will of God. When we earnestly pray and seek God’s will, we slowly begin to let go of our fleshly desires, any fears or worries we are holding on to, and accept and submit to His way for our lives.

We see what happens when we don’t yearn for God’s will. Our inner wickedness shows, just as it always has, since the beginning with Adam and Eve. This means we must be intentional and even proceed with caution here because Matthew 24:10-13 tells us there will be a great falling away as the end days approach. People will begin to lose their faith as many false prophets will steer them away from the Truth, and sin takes a brutal and drastic turn, making the richness of God’s love grow cold.

Those who stand firm and tune into the will of God will be saved. Noah was in tune with God’s will and had an unwavering faith to listen to His voice, follow His instructions, and obey His commands. We must do the same and pray with boldness and conviction, seeking God’s will for our lives in this current moment.

3. Plan and Prep for the Future

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! Proverbs 6:6

God may chart our future, and we are commanded to trust Him with our lives (Jeremiah 29:11, Proverbs 3:5-6), but at the same time, we must also take action. Noah knew something about working hard and prepping for the future. He took on the responsibility of building this monstrosity, most likely not even knowing or understanding what he was building, yet He trusted God. He didn’t allow the scoffers to get in his head and trample his work. He merely listened and obeyed God’s voice. God could have just as easily given him the ark and told him to get in, but He commanded Noah to build it from scratch – which took well over 120 years! And Noah worked like a humble ant at his craft until its full completion.

When we are in tune with God, He will give us instructions on preparing for things we may not fully understand or know that are coming. Remember, it wasn’t even raining when he was building the ark, yet he trusted God with the future. As we build and prepare for our own lives, we must remember that God will supply us with what we need; we just need to rely on His faithful provision. It’s an act of submission that starts with trusting God, then listening to His instruction and obeying His Word.

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4. Be Really Patient

But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. Romans 8:25

Noah must have been a very patient man to remain steadfast in building an ark in the middle of a brutal social climate that hadn’t seen rain in years. And let’s not fail to mention that it took well over two months for the water to recede after the flood. I’m pretty sure everyone was sick and tired of being on that boat, being tossed around to and fro with stinky and smelly animals. Talk about feeling seasick!

The lesson to learn here is that patience is not only a virtue we should all possess, but a requirement for believers to be able to exemplify that God’s timing is always perfect! What He says will come to pass, and we must be patient during the “waiting period.” Friends, we are currently in a time of hopeful waiting as we hold tightly to the promise of Jesus’ return. In the meantime, keep building your vessels and doing good works in His name until His time is here!

5. Ride Out the Storms

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

These sacred words of Jesus are meant to offer both encouragement but also heart-felt warning for His followers. This life is not guaranteed to be free from trials and turbulent times. In fact, Jesus makes it very clear that following Him can lead to strife and even persecution.

Whether we face natural disasters or rocky life events that throw us into turbulent waves of sorrow and grief, our innate inclination is to cling to something safe. I remember when Hurricane Harvey targeted South Texas, and we were forced to leave our home. Driving through high patches of water brought on waves of stress. Getting somewhere safe was our only goal. Thankfully, God saw us through that hectic event and helped us ride out that storm.

As the storms of this life rage on, we must know that God will never place us in a dangerous situation without a way out. If He is leading us somewhere, He will see us through. It isn’t hard to see that our world faces so much atrocity today. But as we deal with our personal storms and are quickly engulfed in the heartbreaking tragedies of this world, we must seek Him in prayer and devotion, allowing Him to open doors that offer protection, mercy, and grace.

6. Hold On to God’s Promises

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

We can find many promises God weaved throughout the Bible. The story of Noah gives us the promise that He will never flood the earth again. While that may be comforting, this world is still crumbling and falling apart at the seams due to our sinful choices. We must remember that this place will always be uncomfortable because it is not our final destination.

John 14:1-3 tells us not to be troubled by the things in this world because, being a part of God’s family, Jesus will one day return to take us “home.” And that is the hope we must cling to, especially in the unsettling, uncertain times we are living now.

Let’s not miss the boat, so to speak, and choose to live with a mindset that is filled with hope and promise. With God, there is safety, protection, and salvation. There is also a beautiful glow of a rainbow waiting for us, declaring His love. It is even mentioned in Revelation 4:3 that God sits on His throne, encircled by a rainbow. Wow! What a sight that must be!

What is God calling you to do today? Is He asking you to build an ark and prepare? Is He commanding you to trust Him in your current storm? Is He requiring you to be patient?

We may be living in strange times resembling Noah, but we serve a faithful God who encourages us to hold on to the everlasting hope in His many promises to us! So, live like Noah – faithful, obedient, patient, and hopeful!