NOW we come in our little talks, dear children, to Noah, who was the great, great grandson of Enoch. Perhaps you will remember what a wonderful thing happened to Enoch—how, after he had walked with God for hundreds of years, he was translated from earth to heaven without seeing death. It may seem strange to you to hear of a person walking with God for hundreds of years, but in those days people lived much longer than they do now. Enoch’s son, Methuselah, lived 969 years. That was a wonderful age, reaching to nearly a thousand years, wasn’t it? And if God had not told us that he died we might have thought that he was carried away with the dreadful flood that swept everybody from off the face of the earth, for he lived until his grandson Noah was 600 years old, and it was at this time that the flood came.
But I want to tell you something about this flood and about Noah, too. We were noticing that it was because Enoch walked with God and apart from the evil that was about him, that God took him in such a wonderful and blessed way to Himself. But Enoch’s strange disappearance does not seem to have made any difference in the ways of the his children and his grandchildren lived on, and at that time there began to be a great many people in the world; but when God looked upon the earth He saw that the people were very corrupt and full of wickedness. There, was, hover, one man upon whom God’s eye rested with pleasure—that was Noah, for he was righteous before God.
Did you ever think, dear children, that God’s eye is upon you? It is; He is watching all your ways, just as truly as he watched Noah’s ways, and the ways also of the ungodly people that were about him. It may have cost Noah something to stand apart from the evil, but wait a little and you will see that he was well repaid for any self-denial he may have exercised. God told Him that He was going to destroy the people because of their wickedness—He would bring “a flood of waters upon the earth” and all should perish; but because Noah had walked with Him, He would save him and his family.
And this was the way that Noah was to escape the flood; he was to make an ark into which he could go and be safe when the waters would deluge the earth. God told him how to make the ark; how long it was to be, and how wide; and where to put the door and the window; and He told him to put rooms in it, and to make it with three stories; and it was to be secured with pitch, inside and out, so that no water could get through; it was to be a large boat that would float upon the waters.
God gave instructions to Noah to make the ark large, for he was to take animals and birds and reptiles into it, when it was finished and ready for use; and he was also to store in the ark food of all kinds to feed these creatures; and food for himself and family; for Noah’s family as well as himself, was to be saved. His wife and his three sons and their wives were to go into the ark with him. It is beautiful to see that God does not forget the children of those who walk with Him, and when He was watching over Noah to do him good, He brought blessing to his house-hold also.
It must have been a great work for Noah to build such a large ship and get everything in readiness, and it must have taken many years to complete it; but God gave him time for it all.
And while his hands were busy, his thoughts were busy too; no doubt his heart was filled with sorrow when he thought of how those poor, ungodly people would be swallowed up with the terrible waters; for he believed God and he knew the flood would come, and he knew that God was helping him to prepare a place of safety; so he preached to the people and warned them of the coming danger; and I doubt not he told them he was getting the ark ready to save from the flood all who would enter it. But they, perhaps, only laughed at Noah’s earnestness; at any rate we know there was not one of them who gave heed to his words and found a place of safety in the ark.
But Noah went on with his work, doing everything as God had told him. At last, all was ready—the store of provisions laid in; the animals and birds and creeping things, some of every kind, put each in its right place; and Noah and his family, all safe inside. Then the Lord shut up the ark, and the awful storm came; the fountains of the great deep were broken up and the windows of heaven were opened and poured forth their floods. It was water from beneath and water from above.
What about the poor people who would not listen to Noah’s words of warning? They were going on just as usual, eating and drinking and having their marriage feasts; they had not believed Noah’s words, then why should they make any difference! But oh! how suddenly their pleasures were brought to an end. When the fearful storm burst upon them, what haste there must have been—what terror must have filled their hearts! No doubt they tried to escape; perhaps some got on the house top, and those who were able may have climbed into high trees; and some would clamber up the mountain sides, I daresay; but houses, trees and mountains were soon covered in the rolling, surging waves. For forty days and forty nights the waters continued to pour forth until once again there was oy water, water everywhere. But there was one spot of safety; the ark rose higher and higher as the waters swelled upon the face of the earth, and all who were in it were secure, for God kept them floating about the dreadful flood.
The waters that were bringing death to all outside the ark, were bearing up those who were in it. And how they must have felt the greatness of God’s goodness to them!
Now, dear children, let us learn a lesson. As God’s judgment overtook a guilty world in Noah’s day, so His judgment will again overtake a world of sinners. There are many, many wicked people in the world to-day, and the day of God’s wrath is fast hastening on. But there is an ark provided for us into which we may flee and be safe. That ark is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the only place of refuge, the only place of safety. Come to Him, and be safe! Do not go on without Him, and think all will be well. He will come suddenly and take His people home, and those who are left will cry in vain for the Lord to take them, too. But it will be too late! too late! Come, now, to Jesus!
If the Lord will, we will tell you more about Noah another time. B.
“As it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.” Luke 17: 26
ML 12/10/1899