Preparing and Ark

NOAH: PREPARING AN ARK

Luke 17:22-30; Genesis 6
Introduction: The life of Noah is a challenge to all believers in the matter of leadership. He made a difference in his day by standing against a great tide of wickedness. His life is marked by faith, obedience, persistence and success. He influenced his family and he stood as the one man who God used to save the posterity of humanity.

I. The Comparison & Contrast of Noah and Lot
A. The Comparison of Noah & Lot – Luke 17:22-30
1. There are two men used to describe the days of the coming of the Lord.
2. Though primarily used to reveal the characteristics of the world in the last days, the life of these men and
their end represent a great lesson in leadership for all believers.
3. Both men were given the responsibility of leading their families in difficult situations. One failed, the
other succeeded and changed the world forever.
4. Christ used the times in which these men lived to describe the last days, but I think it is interesting that he
chose these two in lieu of all the other examples in the Bible.
B. The Contrast of Noah & Lot – Genesis 6, 7, 13, 19
1. Notice the Similarities
a. Both lived in days of depravity
1) Physical depravity – Sexually Immorality
2) Spiritual depravity – The Word of the Lord was not heeded.
3) Moral depravity – The minds and hearts of men were consumed with evil thoughts.
b. Both had families – The families of Noah and Lot were surrounded by wickedness.
c. Both were in positions of influence.
d. Both had sources of divine revelation from God.
2. Notice the Differences
a. In their relationship to the leadership in their own lives
1) Noah – He had a close relationship with the patriarch Methuselah.
2) Lot – He separated himself from Abraham.
b. In the focus of their labors
1) Noah consistently worked on providing a place of safety for his family.
2) Lot desired the well watered plains of Jordan in order to increase his possessions.
c. In their relationship with the world around them
1) Noah was a preacher of righteousness who condemned the world and separated himself from them.
2) Lot sat in the gate of Sodom (position of leadership) and corrupted his family by being associated
with the inhabitants of the city.
d. In the respect their families had for their leadership
1) Noah was able to influence his wife, his sons and their wives to accept the message of God and
commit their lives to the ark which God had instructed him to build.
2) Lot, though he pleaded, was unable to persuade certain of his family. Also, his wife disobeyed the
instructions given by God and was destroyed outside the city.
e. In the outcome of their lives and their posterity
1) Noah faced the great flood with confidence and secured his family within the ark. After the flood,
his family entered a new world of blessing, peace and prosperity.
2) Lot scarcely made it out of Sodom. He lost his wife and some children to the judgment of God. His
two remaining daughters were so wicked in heart that they conceived children of their own father.

II. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF NOAH’S SUCCESS – Genesis 6 & 7
A. Noah Had Redemption in God – 6:8 – “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord”
1. Foundational to his success was his knowledge of God and the redemption he received through faith.
2. God is the great difference maker. The basis for spiritual leadership is one’s personal acceptance of
Christ and redemption from sin.
3. His redemption shows us his understanding of his utter dependence upon God for salvation.
4. Every great leader in the Bible founded their lives upon faith in the holiness and righteousness of God.
B. Noah Had a Relationship with God – 6:9 – “And Noah walked with God”
1. Noah walked with God.
a. Walking in the Bible always pictures fellowship and agreement. Amos 3:3 states, “Can two walk
together, except they be agreed?”
b. Although the term “walked” may describe the physical action of Noah (like walking down the street),
the more significant meaning is that Noah’s “manner of life” was in accordance to God’s will.
c. Adam, Enoch, and Noah are all mentioned as “walking with God.” All three experienced a close
relationship with God as long as they were submissive to him.
2. Noah walking with God means that on every issue, Noah agreed with God and took his side. His desire
was to be close in fellowship with the One who could change events in his own life.
3. It was the close relationship Noah had with God that allowed for Noah to receive direct revelation from
God. This is extremely important. As a leader, one must endear himself to those who can help develop
him into the person he needs to be. Spend time with great leaders and be influenced by them.
4. Noah walked with God in the midst of all the perversion and immorality of his day. Opposition and
difficulty should not limit our relationship with God. In fact, it should enhance it.
5. Noah’s testimony of fellowship with God leaves all men without excuse. If Noah walked with God in his
day, then surely we can in our day!
C. Noah Had a Revelation from God
1. General Revelation – Indirectly from his godly heritage – 6:9 – “perfect in his generations”
a. Notice that the term “generations” is plural. This reveals that the perfection of Noah was linked to his
lineage. Noah’s ancestors had honored God by keeping their genealogy pure and passing down the
principles of God’s Word given to Adam in the Garden of Eden.
b. It is interesting to note that the Word of God was passed from God to Adam, through Methuselah to
Noah. Note the following:
Adam’s Age Birth of Posterity Years of Influence by Adam
130 Seth 800
235 Enos 695
325 Cainan 605
395 Mahalaleel 535
460 Jared 470
622 Enoch 308
687 Methuselah 243
874 Lamech 56
930 (Death)
Noah was born only 126 years after the death of Adam

Noah’s Age Death of Patriarchs Years of Influence on Noah
84 Enos 84
179 Cainan 179
234 Mahalaleel 234
366 Jared 366
(69 Years before Noah) Enoch (God took him) 0
595 Lamech 595
600 Methuselah 600
2058 Total years of influence
Note: Adam taught each of the six men who greatly influenced the life of Noah.

c. The point of the illustration: For 243 years Methuselah was taught by Adam who personally walked
with God and knew God’s plan for the ages. For 600 years Methuselah took this knowledge and
passed it down to Noah. Noah had a godly heritage of people who had remained faithful to God
and in passing the Word of God on to the next generation, starting with the First Adam until the
judgment of the World.
d. Noah accepted and guarded the revelation entrusted him through his ancestors.
e. As Baptists, we also have a holy line of believers who have faithfully preserved the Word of God from
the time of Christ, the Second Adam, until the time of judgment!
2. Specific Revelation – Direct from his heavenly Father – 6:13 – “I will destroy them with the earth”
a. Noah’s faithfulness to receive the general revelation allowed him one day to be given a special
revelation to be applied to a special need.
b. Christians, God will not give you guidance for specific situations if you do not obey the Word of God
generally. Receiving and obeying God’s general revelation is a prerequisite to future help.
D. Noah Had a Responsibility to God – 6:14 – “make thee an ark of gopher wood”
1. Message – vs.13-14 – “And God said unto Noah… make the an ark”
a. A Better Source – “God said” – The message was from a divine source and did not match the
philosophy of the world. Noah received his instruction from a divine source.
b. A Personal Message – God gave Noah the privilege of knowing specifically what God’s plan and will
for his life entailed. Leaders who walk closely with God are given spiritual insight.
2. Materials – vs. 14 – “…of gopher wood, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.”
a. The materials to be used were ordered from the Lord.
b. Many wish to build with the things they consider qualified for the service of God. Hay, wood and
stubble are not sufficient for a divine work in your life. You must build with God’s quality material.
3. Measurements – vs. 15-16 – “And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of…”
a. God gave the exact measurements. He detailed the blueprint for Noah’s work.
b. Shortcuts in the process of building will only show-up when the storm comes. Don’t cheat yourself.
4. Method – vs. 15 – “thou shalt make it…”
a. God had the power to miraculously provide a boat for Noah and his family, but he put the
responsibility squarely on the shoulders of Noah.
b. God wishes to enlist his servants in the building of their own deliverance. God wants you to step up
and take responsibility for our future success.
5. Things to consider:
a. The absurdity of Noah’s message. Imagine the reaction Noah received when he told his family and
friends, “God told me to build a boat, it will rain, flood will cover the whole earth.”
b. Noah received this message at 480, Shem, Ham, and Japheth were born when Noah was 500. Imagine
being born into a family where everyone considers your dad a nut case.
c. Noah was opposed by his own family. Historians estimate that Lamech bore 50 sons and daughters
after Noah but none listened to his message nor did they experience salvation.
d. Consider the pressure Noah’s wife was under. No doubt she was ridiculed by her family.
e. Imagine family gatherings (reunions). Noah’s family had little in common with the rest of the world.
He and his family were wrapped up in the work of God.
f. Picture the ark 450 ft long, 75 feet wide, 45 feet high setting in a field. Imagine how ridiculous the ark
looked to the world
7. The labor it took to cut the trees and make the tar to cover the ark was tremendous.
8. Noah’s sons no doubt missed many social gatherings with their peers.
9. Do you think over 120 years Noah ever became discouraged, doubted whether or not the revelation
was true, contemplated quitting?
10. Throughout Noah’s life, great men of God were passing off the scene. His father, Lamech, died five
years before the flood. His grandfather, Methusaleh, died the year of the flood! When the flood came,
Noah was the last patriarch of truth! Do you think he felt alone as if the whole world was against him?
11. Probably, he and his family were tempted to cut corners in building the ark!
12. Most likely the materials of the ark depleted all his savings and possessions! He gave all he had.
13. Think of the scoffers.
a. The wicked – They laughed at the message
b. The family of Noah, typical of apostate religions of today, thought he was to fanatical.
c. Many probably thought of better, cheaper solutions. No doubt many told Noah, “We can just move
to another location or seek higher ground. Maybe some partially believed Noah so they built them a
little boat just in case the flood came, but their boat was not by God’s plan.
d. Some thought Noah was wrong because he was in the minority.
e. Those relying in science no doubt laughed because there was no sign of a coming deluge!
14. Noah just kept sawing, nailing, spreading the pitch, and preaching. He was moved with fear. He had
reverence for the judgment of God. He was obedient. He prepared an ark!
E. Noah Had Reliance on God – 7:16 – “and the Lord shut him in”
1. Noah trusted in the revelation of God and that faith obligated God to save his family! He prepared an ark
of safety for his wife and children through obedience, perseverance and success.
2. As you read chapter 6 and 7 of Genesis, you constantly see the words “and Noah did according unto all
that the LORD commanded him” or variations of statements concerning his obedience.
3. As a leader, if you fulfill your responsibility, God will fulfill His.
4. Major point: When the storm came, Noah and his family had to live in what they had built!
5. As a leader, never make short cuts in preparation and work. There is a consequence for every decision
and action you as a leader make.


Conclusion: Whose example will you follow? Noah or Lot?

Closing thoughts on the choices and end of Lot
1. Lot chose his inheritance after the sight of his eyes (Gen. 13: 10, 11). Many leaders look after their own
interests first, and the cause of Christ last. They are unwilling to trust all to Him (Mat. 6: 33)(1 Tim. 6: 7,8).
2. Lot pitched his tent toward Sodom (Gen. 13: 12)(1 John 2: 15-17). Sodom is a type of world. Lot began with
worldly choice, then was drawn toward it. Many leaders are at this stage, not exactly in the world but leaning
toward it.
3. Lot took up his dwelling place in Sodom (Gen. 14: 12). A worldly choice lead to worldly sympathies and
worldly desires (Ja. 4: 4). We are in the world but are not to be of the world. Conversely, (Luke 6: 26)(John
15: 18, 19).
4. Lot took office in Sodom (Gen. 19: 1). Instead of testifying against the world, many seek power at the
hands of the world that crucified our Lord.
5. By entering into Sodom, Lot lost his testimony (Gen. 19: 9, 14). The world despised him, just like the worldly
believer, one who does all the world does, and yet professes to be elect of God and an heir. Even the angels who
came to warn Lot thought he was so unworthy that they refused shelter in his house (19:2)
6. When the city was destroyed, Lot lost all his works. If we build on worldly foundations, using worldly materials,
it will all be burned at the Judgment Seat of Christ (1 Cor. 3: 11-15). Command of God is 2 Cor. 6: 17, 1 Thes. 5:
22.
7. Lot escaped only with his life. The end of a worldly Christian will be saved, but not crowned (1 Jn. 2: 28)(2 Jn.
8). Although he got out, he had no place prepared for his family!