Days of Noah

QUESTION: What were the days of Noah like?

ANSWER:

In the days of Noah (in particular the pre-flood period), persons were eating, drinking, interacting with friends and loved ones, etc. This sounds no different than our daily activities. From the Genesis chapter 6 account, individuals were also violent, corrupt, and wicked. "The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time . . . Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight and was full of violence" (Genesis 6:5, 11). One only has to look at our modern-day newspapers to get many examples of what passes for violence, corruption, and wickedness. Of course the instruments used to accomplish these activities would be different in the days of Noah, but the evil intent and the evil result were the same. Evil was their normal mode of operating.

There was a unique activity that took place during the days of Noah - the intermarrying of women with sons of God (possibly angels). The offspring from these marriages were giants. Their height and strength were an asset. "The Nephilim were on the earth in those days - and also afterward - when the sons of God went to the daughters of men and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown." (Genesis 6:4).

However, Genesis chapter 6 also states that God found only one man that dared to be different. "...Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God" (Genesis 6:9). As a result of Noah's righteousness, God used him to save a remnant of humans and animals for the re-populating of the earth after the flood.

It took approximately 120 years for Noah to build the Ark. This implies there was plenty of time for his neighbors and other curious individuals to question him on his reason for building the vessel. They would have been given a recurrent answer about the flood and their impending judgment. Unfortunately only a few people - eight in all - were saved from the flood. In fact, Matthew 24:38 states, "For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark."

Hence in the days of Noah people were unconcerned with the impact of God on their lives. They were even unappreciative of the mercy and grace He extended to them.

Jesus told His disciples while sitting on the Mount of Olives that such would be the attitude of many up to the time before His return. This would be the time in which we are living. "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come" (Matthew 24:42).

Hence you can learn from the pre-flood days of Noah that God will judge your sin if you have not entered into His Ark of safety. The Ark for our times is no other than His Son JESUS. Sail on His ship today and He will see you through the floods of this present life.