Genesis 6:13-22
Even though Noah is called a "just" and "perfect" man in comparison with the men of his time (v. 9), it is not his merit but grace alone which will spare him (v. 8). The moment has come for God to make known His mind to him and to give him His instructions. It is easy to make yourself understood to someone who walks the same way as you. Noah replies by faith to these communications. "By faith Noah, being warned of God . . . moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house" (Hebrews 11:7). He has nothing other than God’s word to show him that judgment will come. But that is enough for him. He builds the ark and through this condemns the world. Each blow of his hammer reminds his contemporaries that judgment is approaching. And as long as the construction is going on, God waits patiently (1 Peter 3:20). But how many people profit from the delay? Outside the patriarch’s family, apparently no one! Indifference and mockery greet the faithful warnings of the "preacher of righteousness". Today too, how numerous are the mockers who believe neither in the return of the Lord nor in the judgment (2 Peter 2:5; 2 Peter 3:3-6). They wilfully ignore what the Bible says about the flood and consider this account to be a legend.