God came to Noah with an impossible assignment: build something he’d never seen (a boat) to prepare for something he’d never experienced (rain and floods).
Here’s the story:
“Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence. And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them from the earth. Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch. This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark 300 cubits, its breadth 50 cubits, and its height 30 cubits. Make a roof for the ark, and finish it to a cubit above, and set the door of the ark in its side. Make it with the lower, second, and third decks. For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die. But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ark to keep them alive with you. They shall be male and female. Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, of every creeping thing of the ground, according to its kind, two of every sort shall come in to you to keep them alive. Also, take with you every sort of food that is eaten, and store it up. It shall serve as food for you and for them.” Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him to do. (Genesis 6:11-22)
Noah was 500 years old when his sons were born (5:32) and 600 years old when the flood came (7:11). That means he spent a century building this ark—day after day, year after year, preparing for rain that never came.
By faith, he took a risk.
The boat was massive: 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, 45 feet high—100 feet longer than a football pitch. Noah didn’t hide this project in his garden shed, where failure could remain private. This was a public calling from God, carrying the very real risk of public humiliation.
Faith is not fail-safe. Faith is trusting God when everything could go wrong, when the consequences could be devastating.
For 100 years, Noah hammered and sawed. Preparing. Waiting. No rain.
What God calls us to do:
- V14 – Build something new, even something you’ve never seen
Sometimes God calls us to step into something entirely unfamiliar: a boat, a new career, reconciliation with someone, or a dream that seems fanciful —something akin to building what you can’t see.
- V17 – Let things die
God’s new beginning required an ending to all that Noah had known. There are times when we have to let go of people and let friends walk away from us. What we used to be like must be kept in the past. For we cannot carry what was into what is going to be.
- V18 – Hold fast to God’s promises
Amid the destruction, God gave Noah a promise. In the midst of your turmoil, God has given many promises within His Word. Today, you may need to hold onto those promises as Noah did.
- V19 – Be positive; choose life
Noah was preserving life. It is still the same choice for us. Choose hope, choose redemption, believe for change, build for a generation that you might never see.
- V20 – Receive what God sends you
Noah didn’t hunt down the animals; they came to him. Noah built; God sent. God will fill and bring to what we’ve made ready. When we position ourselves in obedience, the provision comes.
- V21 – Take care of yourself
God didn’t just command the impossible—He told Noah to eat well through it. God needed Noah to look after himself. He had to eat well and sleep well. Noah must not burn out. He had to look after himself.
Missions Paul 