Life Of IntegritySample

"Noah's Obedience"

There were many times in my childhood when I questioned the direction or advice of my parents. I thought in all my youthful wisdom, I most certainly knew what was best. However, the times I chose to obey, I realized after the fact that they were right and was grateful for their wisdom and foresight that might have spared me potential pain or regret later. Trust and obedience truly go hand-in-hand, and no one showed this action better than Noah.

Noah was a farmer and builder and was the one and only follower of God on the earth at the time. He walked with God, which showed a close relationship, and His faithful obedience pleased Him. He was the only one who was found righteous in God’s eyes. When God wanted to destroy the whole earth and everything He had made because it had become so evil and corrupt, He wanted to save and protect Noah and his family.

God told Noah to build an ark – a project that took about 120 years to complete! Can you imagine the perseverance and patience it took not only to work on a project for that long, but trusting that God was going to bring torrential rains that would flood the earth – something he had never seen before?

He also persevered in his obedience to God to build this structure while dealing with the wickedness of men who were most likely taunting or questioning his actions. He also waited in patient obedience while in the ark, full of animals, which probably started to smell by Day 5. Though it rained 40 days and 40 nights, he ended up staying in the ark for an entire year, from when the rains began to when the floodwaters finally receded. That is a test of endurance and faith!

Seeing Noah’s example, it is possible to be faithful and pleasing to God even in the midst of evil and corruption everywhere. His obedience that he portrayed over and over in his life pleased God. Throughout Noah’s life, we constantly read, “Noah did everything just as God commanded.” He was obedient through the entire course of his 601 years on the earth. He persevered throughout his lifetime of faithful commitment. We are also called to a lifetime of obedience and faithful commitment.

Think back to a time God asked you to do something and you did not obey. Revisit that time and ask God how you can be obedient in that same situation or whatever He asks of you moving forward. The easiest way to be obedient is to build your trust in Him by drawing close to Him and meditating on His promises. When you stand firm on the promises of God in His word, your faith and trust in Him won’t waver, so it will be easier to obey no matter what He asks. Here are a few verses to get you started: Deuteronomy 31:6; Philippians 4:19; Romans 8:37-39; Romans 10:9; I John 1:9; Romans 8:28; I Peter 5:7; Isaiah 41:10

During this coming week, pray that God will give you the strength and determination to be obedient and faithful whatever He asks of you now and in the future.