Hebrews 11:7 Faith is responding to God’s word in reverent fear

Hebrews 11:7

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.

Background

Noah is a righteous man, blameless in his generation… Such was how the book of Genesis introduced Noah. His obedience to God’s will saved him and his household from the flood. Because Noah was obedient to God in everything he did, he was able to act upon the divine warning of judgment. Although a cataclysmic flood was an unknown phenomenon in those days, faith caused Noah to take God’s word in reverent fear moving him to build an ark. Noah had to fight doubts and the ridicule of men. Without faith, it is impossible to heed the timely warnings of God and be saved from a perverse generation.

Observation

By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household.

Noah was told by God concerning a cataclysmic flood that would occur in his lifetime. He was instructed by God to build a vessel that could save his family as well as the animals. Noah displayed reverent fear towards God’s word; the Greek form is eulabetheis, which means reverence and deep concern. Noah, in weighing the gravity of God’s word was faced with the following questions:

1. As there was no such phenomenon as flood in those days, would a flood of a global scale really come to pass?
2. As no such vessel had been built before, can the vessel he built sustain and save his household from the flood?

By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

By this act of obedience, Noah separated himself as the heir of righteousness, while the world was condemned. His faith was demonstrated by his conviction of God’s word and by his swift obedience in building the ark. Noah did not condemn the world per se; his building of the ark had sent a clear message of repentance and salvation. As a result, the world’s rejection of Noah’s message justified their condemnation and destruction. Therefore, Noah and his household were not saved by grace alone, but by his act of obedience in heeding God’s word out of reverent fear.

Truth

Men are saved not by grace alone, but by works of obedience to God’s word. Many churchgoers having heard the salvation message did not entrust their lives fully to God. They remained firmly in control of their own destiny being preoccupied with the cares of life. They sought God not for the purpose of doing His will but to have their selfish needs met. Their prayers are dominated by personal matters of work, family and finances. As a result, they are no different from the rest of the world apart from their weekly appearance at church services. Noah and his household were saved not because of grace alone, but because they responded to God’s grace through obedience. God’s grace was shown when He gave the warning as well as the way to salvation. If Noah did not follow through by building the ark, he and his family would likewise perish with the rest of the world. Today, God is giving this generation the warning of destruction by fire on a global. And His way of salvation through repentance from sin and faith towards Christ. Those who demonstrate faith will turn back from a life of self-centered living and live for God.

We are saved so that we can save others. God’s salvation plan for the world was intertwined with the salvation of Noah and his family; they were saved in order to preserve humanity. Before the flood came, Noah alerted the people of imminent judgment, but their rejection of Noah’s message led to their condemnation. Even though the text did not explicitly describe Noah’s preaching ministry, the construction of the ark was a clear statement of imminent judgment and salvation. And if God would save the animals, how much more would He save the people! Noah’s ark was meant not just for the animals, but also for men’s salvation! Many Christians are no doubt genuinely grateful for God’s grace towards them, but grace did not imbue into them the desire to save others. They thank God daily for His protection and provision, but they remain self-centered in their conscience. Paul, having experienced God’s grace said, “I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.” Romans 1:14. We can preach to the people around us by capitalizing on the windows of need. Through miracles of healing and prayer, they may experience first hand for themselves God’s love and power.

If we do not obey God in the mundane, we will not obey Him in things of greater concern. Why did God save Noah? Why did He choose Noah to build the ark? Because Noah had been walking with God in righteousness, thus his heart was open to receive a divine warning of such gravity. Genesis 6:9 says, “Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God.” A person who does not walk in the instructions of God daily will not be able to hear any word from Him let alone a warning of cataclysmic proportions. A person who does not read God’s word daily, whose focus is on the cares of life, will remain sedated in the cradle of material comfort. The people heard Noah’s warning, but turned a deaf ear because they were trapped in their zone of comfort and pleasures of life.

On August 9th, 2015, the nation of Singapore celebrated their 50th golden jubilee. A small island state, separated from Malaysia and left for dead quickly rose from a quiet fishing village to a first world nation. She ranked 9th in the United Nation’s Human Development Index report 2014. However, the third generation, people in their twenties who have not experienced the rigors of nation building are taking for granted that the next 50 years will be business as usual. They suppose prosperity would continue unabated; for they do not understand what is required to sustain the current pace of growth. Already, cracks are showing that the current generation lacks the instincts of the earlier generations to compete in the international arena. Prophets are raising their voices calling people to live a life of humility, justice and mercy towards the marginalized. The road ahead is paved with challenges into uncharted territories. Unless, people stop focusing on quick gains and re-orientate their values system towards those of the earlier generations, decay will come swiftly upon this small island state that possesses no natural resources.

Therefore, Christians must lead the change for their own nation. They must learn to put their nation’s interest above their own by caring for the marginalized and by maintaining justice and equity for all. Believers must stand for the truth by speaking the truth. By living justly, humbly and mercifully, believers have no fear, but will help their nation grow in prosperity for many years to come.

Application

1. What do you think God is saying to your nation? What is your church doing in response to that? Every Christian must do their part in speaking the truth and walking in it. Every believer must uphold justice and mercy in their respective area of influence. By being living models of justice, mercy and humility, we can influence the people, especially the young for good.
2. Be attentive to the needs of the people around you. Make known your willingness to pray for them should need arise. Let Christ’s love and power work through you in drawing them to Himself.

Dear Lord, cause me to walk in obedience in all my endeavors. Cause my ear to be attentive to your voice always. Use me to live the truth and to speak the truth in my family and workplace. In so doing, I can help pave the way of growth and prosperity for the community and for my nation. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.