Hebrews 11 is one of the most well-known chapters in the Bible. Known as the “Hall of Faith,” it is filled with examples of men and women who remained faithful to the Lord. By His grace they achieved amazing things and now stand as an example for us as we walk with the Lord. In this blog series we will explore the lives of these people of faith and see what their stories can teach us.
Next named in Hebrews 11 is Noah, famous for building an ark out of the faith that qualified him to be listed in this legacy chapter.
Noah’s Place in Scripture
Recorded in chapters 6-10 of Genesis, Noah’s life exemplifies faith and obedience to God. The first descriptor of Noah is that he found favor in the eyes of the LORD (Genesis 6:8). Throughout his life, the favor of the LORD was an evident shield about him (Psalm 5:12) and confirmed the work of his hands as he built the ark (Psalm 90:17).
Another recurring theme in his life was the alignment of his actions with the commandments of God. Four times in Genesis 6:13-7:16, it is stated that Noah did “as God had commanded him”. His actions were evidence of his faith in God, as James says, “I will show you my faith by my works” (2:18). A similar parallel is found in the obedience of Moses and his leadership of the people of Israel, when “according to the command of the LORD” is seen throughout the book of Numbers.
In the last post of this series, we discussed how Enoch was one of just a few Bible characters who were described as “walking with God”. One of the other individuals who was recorded to walk with God was Noah. He had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. These four men and their wives were the only ones to survive the flood, because of Noah’s faith and obedience. Through this remnant, God preserved the human race and established a covenant with Noah and his descendents in Genesis 9, marking His promise with a tangible reminder of a rainbow.
Noah’s Place in Hebrews 11
In Hebrews 11, Noah is mentioned in just one verse:
“By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.” (Hebrews 11:7, NASB1995)
Summarizing a life of faith in just one verse is challenging, but this verse recounts the tremendous trust he had in God’s sovereignty. With limited perspective, Noah believed that God had bigger things going on than he could see at that time and acted intentionally with that belief.
Obeying when a good outcome seems impossible or even improbable requires faith. Not faith in the outcome or the result of the works, but faith in the character of God. Understanding faith as the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1) is clearly demonstrated by Noah’s life. Hope, as an eager expectation of the faithfulness and goodness of God, is lived out in a life of faith and obedience like Noah’s.
Noah’s Place Today
Returning to the first descriptor of Noah, finding favor in the eyes of the LORD, we can draw from this example and also seek the favor of God. In Galatians 1:10, Paul poses the question, “For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.”
Seeking the favor of God should be one of the goals of a bond-servant of Christ. Our prayers can echo the psalmist in Psalm 119:58, “I sought Your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to Your word.”
How do we seek and find favor with God? Pursuing wisdom, living in the fear of the Lord, and diligently seeking good are some of the ways mentioned in Proverbs and Psalms. The favor of the Lord is then a shield about us and confirms the work of our hands as it did for Noah (Psalm 5:12, 90:17). May we live obediently out of faith in the unchanging character of God as we seek His favor and walk with him, as Noah’s life exemplifies!
Written by NBB Alumna Julia Cagasan
