GENESIS LESSON 5: WHERE REBELLION LEADS, CONT’D (6:5—9:29) KEY VERSE “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.” Gen. 6:8 THE MAIN IDEA Noah’s life serves as a reminder that judgment on sin will come. As such, we need to follow Noah’s example and be a “herald of righteousness.” Like Noah, we are Christ’s ambassadors in these last days. God’s judgment is coming, but He offers reconciliation through Jesus Christ. We must take this message of reconciliation to others. A. CHRONOLOGY OF NOAH’S LIFE 1. Noah was the tenth of the pre-flood (antediluvian) Patriarchs. 2. His father, Lamech, was 56 years old when Adam died 3. Age 480: At God’s direction Noah began building the ark. 4. Age 500: He begat Shem, Ham and Japheth (Genesis 5:32). 5. Age 600: Noah and his family entered the ark. There were a total of eight people in the ark (2 Pet. 2:5). 6. Age 950: Noah died (Gen. 9:28-29) B. THE ARK (GEN. 6:14—7:3) 1. 450 ft. long x 75 feet wide x 45 ft. high 2. Gopher wood-strong & flexible 3. Divided into rooms – three decks 4. 18-inch opening at top 5. No rudder or viewing windows 6. Equivalent to: 50 homes or 20 basketball courts or 569 railroad boxcars TIMELINE OF THE FLOOD Dove & raven Dove Ark grounded on released—dove released— Animals enter Mount Ararat returns does not the ark return Rain Waters recede 7 40 150 75 40 7 7 46 Noah & family Noah and family Dove released Tops of mountains leave ark enter the ark visible & returns with olive leaf 1 year, 11 days (Jewish calendar) C. THE NOAHIC COVENANT (GEN. 8:21—9:17) 1. God would never again destroy man with a flood 2. There would always be seasons 3. Meat was added to man’s diet 4. Murderers would forfeit their lives 5. Man is to repopulate the earth 6. The Covenant was everlasting 7. Sign: rainbow D. NOAH’S POST-FLOOD PROPHECY (GEN. 9:18-27) 1. Ham’s descendants (Canaanites) will be enslaved by Shem’s descendants, the Israelites (Gen. 9:25-26) 2. Shem’s descendants will bring a blessing to God (Gen. 9:26) 3. The territories and numbers of Japheth’s descendants would be enlarged (Gen. 9:27) E. APPLICATION: 1. Jesus uses the life of Noah as a foreshadowing of what it will be like when the Son of Man returns in final judgment (Matthew 24:37-38; Luke 17:26-27; 2 Pet. 3:10). 2. As such, we need to follow Noah’s example and be “witnesses for Christ” and heed the words of Paul: “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20). 3. As you see the world condition becoming like the days of Noah, be encouraged because the Day may be approaching when Jesus returns (Heb. 10:25). Mike Taylor www.MondayNightBible.Org .