Who Is Who in the Holy Bible: Noah

From the Wednesday Bible study series. The slides are on the Bible study page.

THE NAME. Noah (Hebrew), Genesis 5:28, meaning rest or repose, from the Hebrew word nuach, rest.

VITAL STATISTICS. Genesis 5:29 to 10:32. Where: outside the Garden of Eden. Occupation: farmer, shipbuilder, preacher. Grandfather: Methuselah. Father: Lamech. Sons: Ham, Shem and Japheth.

KEY VERSE. Noah did everything just as God commanded him. Genesis 6:22.

STRENGTHS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS. The only follower of God left in his generation. The second father of the human race. A man of patience, consistency and obedience. The first major shipbuilder.

WEAKNESSES AND MISTAKES. Noah got drunk after a bountiful harvest of wine, and embarrassed himself in front of his children.

LESSONS FROM THE LIFE OF NOAH. God is faithful to those who obey Him. God does not always protect us from trouble, but cares for us in spite of trouble. Obedience is a long-term commitment. We may be faithful, but our sinful nature always travels with us.

RECAP. The story of Noah's life involves not one but two great and tragic floods: sin and water. God's response was a 120-year last chance for everyone on earth. For Noah, obedience meant a long-term commitment to a project, and the length of that obedience was greater than the lifespan of people today. The only comparable long-term project is our very lives: an entire lifetime of obedience and gratitude in acceptance of God's grace. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be (Matthew 24:37-39).