A Man Named “Rest”

Studying the man, Noah, gives us another key to worship. We pick up Noah at the age of 500 years old in Genesis 5:32. He found grace in the sight of the Lord and was considered a righteous man who walked with God. (See Genesis 6:8-9) In those days children were given names in accordance to something about their birth, a circumstance, or a characteristic of their personality. Noah’s name means “rest”. Rest, to wait on God, explains a lot about his character and why God could work through him.

Scripture tells us that Noah walked with God. Walking takes time; a much needed ongoing process of our relationship development with God. It takes concentrated, dedicated effort with many decisions along the way. It is a choice of lifestyle. A lifestyle of dedicated sacrificial righteousness. It is a special type of worship in itself. To understand Noah’s ability to rest - to lean on and rely on God in trust for all things explains Noah and his lifestyle. So let’s take a peek at Noah and what he was called by God to do.

Genesis 6:9-21, we find Noah finding favor with God as He speaks to Noah about the wickedness and judgment about to be given to the people of the earth. Noah and his family were to be spared. God gave Noah explicit instructions of what material, size, and details to make the ark in which he was to house a certain number of animals and he and his family, and to gather food provisions. God was going to destroy all other living beings on the earth because of their wickedness and their imaginations and thinking. Verse 22 of that same chapter is key to Noah’s character, God “Noah did this; he did all that commanded him.” Noah was obedient to the commands of God. The ark was built to the specifications as God had made.

This same sentence of being obedient to God in all He commanded occurs again in Genesis 7:5 after Noah received the invitation, “come", See Genesis 7:1) to board he and his family, and the chosen animals on the ark. Verse 6 of that same chapter tells us that Noah is 600 years old when the rain began. This process of preparing an ark was not an overnight project. It took time and lots of unexplainable faith in the eyes of others. I can only imagine the comments, criticism, and perhaps ignored that Noah might have experienced from those around him. Perhaps he felt persecuted or even felt alone in his work for God. Noah, however, did not give up to outside pressures by peers, but rather, pursued toward the goal that God had given him. He knew what God had instructed him to do and pushed forward with tenacity - a lesson all of its own. Hebrews 11:7 speaks of his great faith. He believed God’s Word of what was going to happen and what he as a righteous man who wanted to walk with God had to do no matter what others thought, believed, or did. No cost was too great to turn Noah from walking in obedience to God.

God was faithful to Noah and his family. After all were on board of the ark God closed the door of the great boat. “And they that entered, male and female, went in as God had commanded [Noah]; and the Lord shut him in and closed round about him.” (Genesis 7:16) God surrounded Noah. He gave Noah, his family and animals He had drawn to Noah to place in ark, protection and care throughout the entire storm. The ark is a type of Jesus Christ to come. Jesus wants us to accept His invitation, to bring us salvation, protect us, supply all out needs as with Noah.

God’s instructions, man’s obedience, and then God’s blessings. That is the order of God. After the flood Noah built an altar and burnt offerings to God which pleased Him greatly. (See Genesis 8:18-21) God then bless Noah, his family, and generations to follow.
Take note that worship came immediately after coming out of the ark. It was Noah’s immediately response to God’s goodness. The proper response of a righteous man to God after deliverance or blessing should be worship. Once again it shows Noah’s character and his walk with God. And God blessed Noah, his family, and generations to come with another covenant. From Noah came all future generations on earth as they multiplied on earth.

I submit that Noah was a man of obedience and righteousness. A lifestyle that he chose in his relationship with God. Without obedience one cannot truly worship. He allowed God to mold and make him, and that in turn allowed him the ability to truly worship God and to be used by God for future generations. Noah was 500 years old when this story begins about the ark to be built. He was 600 years old when it began to rain. He lived 950 years. If we get discouraged about how long it takes for us to be prepared for God’s work in our life, we can be encouraged when looking at Noah. He had lived more than half of his life before being commanded to build the ark. Willingness to be molded, to learn from the Master. Preparation. His walk with God. Many things to think about in his life, and in ours. Noah led a life of true worship. Could he have endured and pursued God’s command without that period of time of preparation? Would he have been able to “rest” in God - to lean on and trust God - and be obedient, without man’s understanding, having to totally depend on God to be in charge and to care for himself and his family otherwise? What is God’s plan for your life? Are you willing to allow God to mold and make you into an obedient vessel, such as Noah, fit for the King’s use? Are you willing to truly worship God in all areas of your life?