Noah Finds Favour with God, and Is Directed to Build the Ark
By the foreooinG: account it would seem as if the whole earth had become corrupt. In the “worst of times however, God has had a remnant that have walked with him; and over them he has in the most sore calamities directed a watchful eye. When God said, “I will destroy man whom I have created, from the face of the earth,” it seemed as if he would make an end of the human race. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. — Observe, (I.) It is painful to find but one family, nay, it would seem but one person, out of all the professed sons of God, who stood firmly in this evil day. Some were dead, and others, by mingling with the wicked, had apostatised. — (2.) It is pleasant to find one upright man in a generation of the ungodly: a lily among thorns, whose lovely conduct would shine the brighter when contrasted with that of the world about him. It is a great matter to
Gen. character of noah. 81’
be faithful among the faithless. With all our helps from the society of good men, we find it enough to keep on our way: but for an individual to set his face against the whole current of public opinion and custom, requires and implies great grace. Yet that is the only true religion which walks as in the sight of God, irrespective of what is thought or done by others. Such was the resolution of Joshua when the whole nation seemed to be turning aside from God: As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. — (3.) It is encouraging to find that one upright man was singled out from the rest when the world was to be destroyed. If he had been destroyed with the world, God could have taken him to himself, and all would have been well with him; but then there had been no public expression of what he loved, as well as of what he hated.
Ver. 9. As Noah was to be the father of the new world, we have here a particular account of him. His generations mean an account of him and his family; of what he was, and of the things which befel him.* — The first thing said of him, as being the greatest, is, “He was a just, or righteous man, and perfect in his generations, walking with God.” Character is of
* See chap, xxxvii. 2.
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greater importance than pedigree; But notice particularly, v
1. Pie was just. He was the first man who was so called, though not the first who was so. In a legal sense a just man is one that doeth good, and sinneth not; but since the fall, no such man has existed upon earth, save the man Christ Jesus. If any of us be denominated just it must be in some other sense; and what this is the scriptures inform us when they represent the just as living by faith. Such was the life of Noah, and therefore he is reckoned among the believing worthies.* And the faith by which he was justified before God, operated in a way of righteousness, which rendered him just before men. He is called a preacher of righteousness, and he lived according to his doctrine. t
2. He was perfect in his generations. The term in this connexion is not to be taken absolutely, but as expressive not only of sincerity of heart, but of a decidedness for God, like that of Caleb, who followed the Lord fully. It does not merely distinguish good men from bad men, but 2:ood men from one another. It is said of Solomon that his heart was vlot perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his
* ilcb. xi. 7. t C Pet. ii. 5..
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father.”* Alas, how much of this half-hearted religion there is amongst us! Instead of serving the Lord with a perfect heart, and a willing mind, we halt as it were between two, the love of God, and the love of the world.
3. He xcalked with God. This is the same as was said of Enoch. f It not only implies his being reconciled to God, and denotes his acknowledging him in all his ways, and enjoying communion with him in the discharge of duties; but is also expressive of the continui/i/, and progressive tendency of true religion. Whatever he did, or wherever he went, God was before his eyes; nor did he ever think of leaving off till he should have finished his course.
Ver. 10. From Noah’s character the sacred writer proceeds to his descendents. He had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. These afterwards became the patriarchs of the world, and between whose posterity the three great divisions of Asia, Africa, and Europe have been principally divided. Thus much at present for the favoured family.
Fer. U, Here we have the charge against the old world repeated, as the ground of what
* 1 Kings xi. 4. t See on chap. v. 23, 24.
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should follow. If succeeding generations enquire, Wherefore hath the Lord done thus unto the work of his hands What meaneth the heat of this great anger? Be it known that it was not for a small matter: The earth zvas corrupt before God, and the earth ‘was filled with violence. Here are two words used to express the wickedness of the world, corruption and violence, both which are repeated, and dwelt upon in verses 12, 13;-? — The former refers, I conceive, to their having, debased and depraved the true religion. •This was the natural consequence of the junction betv’een the sons of God and the daughters ibf men. Whenever the church is become one with’ the world, the corruption of true religion lias inlariably followed: for if wicked men have a religion, it must needs be such as to accord iitla, their ijiclinations. Hence arose all the hfesi.eSi’of ‘the early ages of Christianity; hence -tlie, grand Ronnsh apostasy; and in short every jjcorruption of the true religion in past or present, timcs,^ — The latter of these terms is expres- -bivieof itbefr cnuct tow;ards one another. The vieiar of Qpd, and- the regard of man are closely connected; and where the one is given up, the other will soon follow. Indeed it appears to be the decree of the eternal God, that when men have cast off his fear, they shall not continue long in amity one with another. And he has
Gtn. 6.] CHARACTER OF NOAH. 85
only to let jth laws of nature take their course ill order to effect it; for when men depart from God, the principle of union is lost, and self-love governs every thing: and being lovers of THEIR owNSELVES, they w be covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to pare)its, unthankful, unholy, xdthout natural affection truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. Such a flood of M’ickedness is at any time sufficient to deluge a world with misery. If these things did not then break forth in national wars as ‘they do Mith us, it was merely because the world was not as yet divided into nations: the springs of domestic and social life were poisoned, the tender tics of blood and affinity violated, and quarrels, intrigues, oppressions, robberies, and murders pervaded the abodes of man.
From the influence of corruption in producing violence, and bringing on the deluge, we may see the importance of pure religion, and those who adhere to it, to the well-being of society. They are the preserving y)rinciple, the salt of the ear.th; and when they are banished, or in any way become extinct, the consequences will be soon felt. While the sons of God were kept together, and continued faithful, God would not destroy the world for their sakes; but when reduced to a single family, he would, as in the case of Lot, take that away, and destroy the rest. The late convulsions in a neighbouring nation may, I apprehend, be easily traced to this cause: all their violence originated in the corruption of the true religion. About one hundred and thirty years ago the law which protected the reformation in that country was repealed; and almost all the religious people were either murdered or banished. The consequence was, as might have been expected, the great body of the nation, princes, priests and people, sunk into infidelity. The protestant religion, while it continued, was the salt of the state; but when banished, and superstition had nothing left to counteract it, things soon hastened to their crisis. Popery, aided by a despotic civil government, brought forth infidelity, and the child as soon as it grew up to maturity murdered its parents. If the principal part of religious people in this or any other country were driven away, the rest would soon become infidels, and practical atheists; and M’hat every order and degree of men would have to expect from the prevalence of these principles, there is no want of examples to inform them.
Va 12, 13. The corruption and violence which overspread the earth attracted the notice
Getl, 6.] CHARACTER OF NOAH. 87
of heaven. God knows at all times what is doing in our world; but his looking upon the earth denotes a special observance of it, as though he had instituted an enquiry into its affairs. Thus he is represented as “going down to Sodom, to sec whether they had done altogether according to the cry of it, which was come up unto him.” (chap, xviii. 21.) Such seasons of enquiry are the “days of inquisition for blood,” and are so many days of judgment in miniature.
The enquiry being instituted, sentence is passed, and Noah is informed of it. God said wito Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me., ^,. behold, I will destroy them, xcith the earth. In cases where individuals only, or even a majority, are wicked, and there is yet a great number of righteous characters, God often inflicts only a partial punishment: but where a whole people are become corrupt, he has more than once made a full end of them. Witness the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha, and the seven nations of Canaan; and thus it will be with the world when the righteous shall be gathered out of it.
Ver. 14 — 16. As it was the design of God to make an exception in favour of his faithful servant Noah, he is directed to the use of an
88 NOAH BUILDS AN ARK. [DiS. II.
extraordinary mean, namely, the building of the ark; a kind of ship which, though not in the shape of ours, as not being intended for a voyage, should float on the surface of the waters, and preserve him and his family alive in the midst of death. It is possible that this was the first floating fabric that was ever built. Its dimensions w ere amasing. Reckoning the cubit at only a foot and a half, which is supposed to be somewhat less than the truth, it was a hundred and fifty yards long, twenty-five yards wide, and fifteen yards deep; containing three stories, or as we should call them, decks, each five yards in depth. It had a window also, it should seem, from end to end, a foot and a-half deep, for light, and perhaps for air.*^
Fer. 17. When Joseph was called to interpret the tJream of Pharaoh, he observed concerning its being doubled, that it was “because the thing was established by God, and God would shortly bring it to pass.” (chap. xli. 32.) And thus we may consider the repetition which is here given of the sentence: Behold I, ercen /, do bring a flood of xcaters upon the earth, to destroy alljksh uherein is the hrcalli of life from under heaven.
* Noah’s ark is said to have been equal to forty of our largest men of war!
Gen. 6.y noah builds an ark. S9
Ver. ?> — 22. But though it was the purpose of God to make an end of the world that then was, yet he did not mean that the generations of men should here he terminated. A new world shall succeed, of which his servant Noah shall be the father. Thus when Israel had offended at Horeb, the Lord said unto Moses, ‘’Let me alone, that I may destroy them, and I will make of thee a great nation.” Hence pairs of every living creature were to go with him into the ark, to provide for futurity.
The terms in which this gracious design is intimated are worthy of special notice: JVith thee zvill I establish my covenant. ‘Observe three things in particular. — (1.) The leading ideas suggested by a covenant are those o? peace and good-will between the parties, and if differences have subsisted, forgiveness of the past, and security for the future. Such were the friendly alliances between Abram and Abimelech, Isaac and another of the same name, and between Jacob and Laban.* God was highly displeased with the world, and Mould therefore destroy that generation by a flood: but when he should have done this, he would return in loving- kindness and tendtr mercies, and would look upon the earth Y^ith a propitious eye. Nor should they be kept
* Gen. xli, 27 — 33. xxvi. 28 — ^31. jc.xxl. 44. in fearful expectation of being so destroyed again; for he would pledge his M’ord, no more to be wroth with them in such a way, nor to rebuke them for ever. — (2.) In covenants wherein one or both the parties had been offended, it was usual to offer sacrifices, in which a kind of atonement was made for past offences, and a perfect reconciliation followed. Such were the covenants before referred to; and such, as we shall see at the close of the eighth chapter, M^as the covenant in question. “Noah oflered sacrifices, and the Lord smelled a sweet savour, and promised to curse the ground no more for man’s sake.” — (3.) In covenants which include a blessing on MANY, and they unworthy it is God’s ordinary method to bestow it in reward, or for the sake of one who was dear to him. God loves men, but he also loves righteousness: hence he delights to bestow his blessings in such a way as manifest his true character. If there had been any dependence on Noah’s posterity, that they would all have walked in his steps, the covenant miirht have been established with them as well as him; but they would soon degenerate into idolatry, and all manner of wickedness. If therefore he will bestow favour on them in such a way as to express his love of righteousness, it must be for their father Noah’s sake, and in reward of his righteousness. To say, JVith thke will I
Gen. 6.] covenant with noah. 91
establish my covoianty was saying in eflfect, * I will not treat with thy ungodly posterity: whatever favour I shew them, it shall be for thy sake.’
It was on this principle that God made a covenant with Abram,* in which he promised great blessings to his posterity. “As for me, (saith he) behold, my covenant is with thee and thou shalt be a father of many nations.” Hence, in a great number of instances wherein mercy was shewn to the rebellious Israelites, they were reminded that it was not for their sakes, but on account cf the covenant made with their father Abraham, and renewed zvith Isaac and Jacob.’ It was upon this principle also that God made a covenant with David, promising that his seed should sit upon his throne for ever. And this is expressed in much the same language as that of Noah and Abraham: “My covenant shall stand fast with him — Once have I sworn by my holiness, that I will not lie unto David, Plis seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before him. “J The Lord often reminded them that the favours which they enjoyed were not for their sakes, but for his own Name sake, and
* Gen. xvii. 4.
t Lev. xxvi. 42. Deut. ix, 5. Psal, cv. 42. cvi. 45.
Mic. vii. 19, 20. % Psal. lxxxix. 28^ 35, S&.
n2 for the covenant which he had made with David his servant.* Solomon pleaded this at the dedication of the temple: Hezekiah also derived advantage from it; and when the seed of David Corrnpted their way, the Lord reminded them that the favours which they enjoyed M-ere not for their own sakes, hut for his Name sake, and for the covenant which he had made with David his servant!
. After these remarks, I scarcely need say, that by these proceedings, God, even at this early period, Mas preparing -the way for the redemption of his Son by rendering the great principle on which it should proceed, familiar to mankind. A very small acquaintance with the scriptures will enable us to perceive the charm-« ing analogy between the language used in the covenants with Noah, Abram, David, &c., and that which respects the Messiah. *’I will give THEE for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages — It is a light thing that thou shouldst be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou
* 1 Kings xi. 13.
t Psal. cxxxii. 10. 2 Chron. vi. 42. Isai. xxxvii. 35.
1 Kings xi. 12, 13,32, 34.
tnayest be my salvation to the ends of the earth — Ask of me, and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession — He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied.’** In these, as in the former instances, God’s covenant stands fast with one, and many are blessed for his sake: their salvation is his reward.