w.o.w.

The Bible is full of many fascinating characters. In Genesis 6-8 we are introduced to one of the most famous. He's the boatbuilder called Noah. 

Three qualities stand out in these pages that take us to the heart of the man that he truly was.

✔︎ He Walked With God

✔︎ He Obeyed God

✔︎ He Worshipped God

➡️ Noah Walked with God 

“Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God” (Genesis 6:9).

When humanity was drifting further and further away from God, Noah walked towards God.

Of all the metaphors in Scripture used to describe the Christian life the idea of walking has to be my favourite! 

In the early chapters of Genesis we read, “They (Adam and Eve) heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day” (Genesis 3:8). I believe you have in that sentence a picture of God’s original intention for his creatures. Therefore, from that moment on we read of people like Noah who “walked with God”. 

The magnificent words from Isaiah offer much encouragement in connection with this thought. 

“Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 

but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. 

They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

(Isaiah 40)

Had I written that sentence I would have turned it on its head. I would have mentioned walking first because running and soaring are much more exciting activities, are they not? But Isaiah knows what he’s doing! 

And here’s why. There’s something about walking that is steady and continuous. It takes greater commitment to walk a steady, continuous path, than to catch the warm thermals of air and soar to new heights or engage in a 100m sprint which is over in seconds.

The rhythm, momentum, discipline and simplicity that we find in the art of walking is greatly commended by Isaiah. And to the believer, like Noah, who walks with God he promises spiritual renewal as we navigate the changing terrain of life.

Noah would encourage us to Walk On.

Secondly,

➡️ Noah was Obedient to God

“Noah…did all that God commanded him” (Genesis 6:22).

What appeared to be counter-intuitive is the very thing that Noah chose to do! He set about building an ark to the specific dimensions that were set out by God at a time when the vessel lacked any possibility of seeing active service.

Around 20 years ago I attended a leadership conference at Gartmore House, near Aberfoyle. The keynote speaker was an American professor from Dallas Theological Seminary called Howard Hendricks. Something he said over those few days has in many ways shaped my understanding of the Christian life. He said, “The Christian life is the life of Christ reproduced in a believer by the power of the Holy Spirit in obedient response to God’s Word.” That single sentence could be unpacked over many paragraphs. However, in connection with Noah and his obedience to God, Hendricks’ statement reveals how this is possible. It requires God’s Word, my willing obedience to it, over a period of time which will lead to the end result of spiritual growth.

Therefore, the central issue of Christian living is not how much I know about God’s Word but how much I am willing to put it into practice.

The hymn sang at my baptism on March 28 1981 puts it like this:

“Trust and obey, for there’s no other way

To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”

Noah would implore us to Hold True.

And finally,

➡️ Noah Worshipped God

“Noah built an altar to God…” (Genesis 8:20).

The first activity that Noah engaged in after his adventure on the high seas was to offer himself in worship to God.

W.O.W. He walked with God…He was obedient to all that God asked him to do…and did it all out of a deep sense of reverence and love for God. He worshipped God.

John Piper once wrote, “True worship is a valuing or a treasuring of God above all things.”

Noah would ultimately urge us to Look Up because…

…nobody and nothing is greater than God.

(Picture - Near Callander)