Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.
22. Thus did Noah ] Lit. “and Noah did (it).” The words of this verse are characteristic of the style of P. We find the same formula in Exo 7:6; Exo 12:28; Exo 12:50; Exo 39:32; Exo 39:43; Exo 40:16, all belonging to P.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Gen 6:22
Thus did Noah, according to all that God commanded, so did he
Noahs obedience
I.
THE OBEDIENCE RENDERED BY NOAH.
1. The circumstances in which he was placed.
2. The means he was directed to use for the preservation of Gods chosen remnant.
3. His perseverance in the use of these means till he had completed the work assigned him.
II. THE OBEDIENCE REQUIRED OF US.
1. The danger to which we are exposed is similar.
2. The means provided for our escape are similar.
3. The distinction that will be made between the believing unbelieving world will be similar.
Learn:
1. The office of faith. Not to argue, but to believe God.
2. The necessity of fear.
3. The benefit of obedience. (C. Simeon, M. A.)
The Divine commands
I. THE DIVINE COMMANDS ARE SEVERE IN THEIR REQUIREMENTS.
II. THE DIVINE COMMANDS ARE EXTENSIVE IN THEIR REQUIREMENTS.
III. THE DIVINE COMMANDMENTS ARE INFLUENTIAL TO THE WELFARE OF MAN. (J. S. Exell, M. A.)
Noahs obedience
I. THE RULE OF NOAHS OBEDIENCE. All that God commanded. Mankind need a rule for their conduct.
1. It should come forth from God, and have the Divine sanction.
2. It should be practicable in its requirements.
3. It should be plain and circumstantial in its phraseology.
4. It should be beneficial in its results.
II. THE NATURE OF NOAHS OBEDIENCE. So did he.
1. Noahs obedience was pious in its principle.
2. Prompt and decided in its acts.
3. Laborious in its exercise.
4. Universal its extent.
5. Persevering in its course.
6. Successful in its object.
Learn from the subject–
1. What terrible desolations sin makes in the world, and how the severity of God was displayed in making the very elements conspire to the destruction of those who had slighted the Divine counsels.
2. How tenderly God cares for His servants, and how easily He can provide means for their safety.
3. How much human security depends upon human exertion. The way of duty is the way of safety. (Sketches of Sermons.)
Noah, the model worker
I. Noah was–A READY–worker. And in this respect he is a good model to set before us. It was a very hard thing that Noah was commanded to do. He was told to build an ark, or a ship, that was very remarkable for its size. But Noah was not a ship builder himself, neither were his sons. He did not live in a seaport town, where the people were familiar with the business of building ships. He lived in an inland country, far away from the sea. We do not know that he, or anyone else then living in the world, had ever seen a large ship. And this must have made the work that Noah was told to do very hard indeed. How easy it would have been for him to make excuses when God commanded him to build that huge ark! He might have said, very truthfully, I do not know anything about the work of building ships. I have no ship carpenters to help me, and know not where to get any. And if, for reasons like these, he had begged to be excused from undertaking a work of so much difficulty, it would not have been at all surprising. Instead of this he went out to work at once. No doubt he asked God to help him. And when we get such help as He can give, nothing can be too hard for us. The apostle believed this fully, when he said, I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
II. But Noah was a model worker, because he was–A PERSEVERING–worker. If we have anything hard to do, or anything that will take a long time in which to do it, we never can succeed in doing it without perseverance. And no one ever had so much need of perseverance as Noah had in the work he was told to do. From the day when God first spoke to him about building the ark, until it was finished, one hundred and twenty years passed away. All that time he was engaged in the work. How strangely Noah must have felt when he laid the first piece of timber in the keel of the ark, and knew how many years were to pass away before that great vessel would be completed! We read of men who have become famous by the discoveries or inventions they have made, such as the art of printing, the use of steam engines, and other things. Some of these men were working away for seven, or ten, or fifteen, or twenty years, before they finished their work. And when we read about the difficulties they had to overcome before they succeeded in what they were trying to do, and how they persevered in overcoming these difficulties, we cannot but wonder at them. And yet, how short the time was in which they did their work, compared with the hundred and twenty years through which Noah had to go on labouring! His perseverance was the most wonderful ever heard of in the history of our world. How much trouble he must have had in getting the right kind of wood with which to build the ark! And when the wood was found, how much trouble he must have had in getting the right sort of workmen to carry on the building! And how many other difficulties he must have had, of which no account is given! But, notwithstanding all these difficulties, he went patiently on, for a hundred and twenty years, till his work was done. How well we may speak of Noah as a model of perseverance! Let us study this model, till we learn to persevere, in all the work we try to do, for God, or for our fellow men. After a great snowstorm, a little fellow about seven or eight years old was trying to make a path through a large snow band, which had drifted before his grandmothers door. A gentleman who was passing by was struck with the earnestness with which he was doing his work. He stopped to look at him for a moment, and then said: My little man, how do you ever expect to get through that great snow bank? In a cheerful tone, and without stopping at all in his work, the little fellows reply was: By keeping at it, sir. Thats how. By keeping at it Noah was able to get through with the great work he had to do. And it is only By keeping at it that we can expect to succeed in any good work in which we may be engaged.
III. Noah was a model worker because he was–A THOROUGH–worker. We see this in our text when it tells us, Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he. Some people are willing to obey God just so long as He tells them to do what they like to do. But if He commands them to do anything that is disagreeable, they are not willing to obey Him. But this was not the way in which Noah obeyed God. And it is very important for us to follow the example of Noah in this respect, because this is the only kind of service that God will accept. It was what David taught us when he said, Then shall I not be ashamed when I have respect unto all Thy commandments. And this was what Jesus taught us when He said: Ye are My friends if ye do whatsoever I command you. And it is always pleasant to meet with persons who are trying to serve God as thoroughly as Noah did. A religious meeting was once held among some working men. One after another of them rose up to speak of their experience on the subject of religion. This was the way in which one of them spoke about himself: I used to be an odd-job Christian; but now, thank God, Im working on full time. This was very expressive. There are a great many odd-job Christians. They work for Jesus just when it suits them. For the rest of their time they are pleasing themselves. But Noah was not one of this kind. He was on full time.
IV. Noah was a model worker, because he was–A COURAGEOUS–worker. If we had a history of all that took place while Noah was building the ark, how interesting it would be! It was such a strange work that he was engaged in! Nothing like it had ever been heard of in that country. People would come from all quarters. They would look on in wonder.
They would call him an old fool, and make all sorts of fun of him. And this is something which it is always very hard to bear. Many men who have courage enough to go boldly into battle, and face the glittering swords or roaring cannon of their enemies, have not courage enough to go on doing a thing when men laugh at them, and ridicule them for doing it. But Noah did not mind this at all. He let them laugh as much as they pleased, while he went quietly on with the work that God had given him to do.
V. Noah was a model worker, because he was–A SUCCESSFUL–worker. He laboured on through all those long years until the ark was finished. And then, when the flood came, he was saved himself, and his family was saved, while all the rest of the world was swept away in its wickedness. And who can tell how much good Noah did by his successful work on the ark? That good has extended to all who have lived since then. And this is a thought that may well encourage us in working for God. We never can tell how successful our work may be, and what great good may follow from it. And we shall find prayer a great help to success in all the work we have to do. (R. Newton, D. D.)
Obedience
I would rather obey than work miracles. (Luther.)
Wicked men obey for fear, but the good for love. (Aristotle.)
All Gods biddings are enablings, says an early Christian writer. An obedient soul is like a crystal glass with a light in the midst, which shines forth through every part thereof. (T. Brooks.)
A soul sincerely obedient will not pick and choose what commands to obey, and what to reject, as hypocrites do. (T. Brooks.)
He praiseth God best that serveth and obeyeth Him most: the life of thankfulness consists in the thankfulness of the life. (W. Burkitt.)
The knowing of God, that we may serve Him, and the serving Him, that we may enjoy Him, take up the whole duty of mans obedience. (Herle.)
Jesus Christ intended, when He opened your eyes, that your eyes should direct your feet. Light is a special help to obedience, and obedience is a singular help to increase your light. (J. Flavel.)
A man sincerely obedient lays such a charge upon his whole man as Mary, the mother of Christ, did upon all the servants at the feast: Whatsoever the Lord saith unto you, do it. (T. Brooks.)
Obedience to Gods will
It ought to be the great care of every one of us to follow the Lord fully. We must in a coarse of obedience to Gods will and service to His honour, follow Him universally, without dividing; uprightly, without dissembling; cheerfully, without disputing; and constantly, without declining: and this is following Him fully. (M. Henry.)
Loving obedience
As fruits artificially raised or forced in the hothouse have not the exquisite flavour of those fruits which are grown naturally and in their due season; so that obedience which is forced by the terrors of the law wants the genuine flavour and sweetness of that obedience which springs forth from a heart warmed and meliorated with the love of God in Christ Jesus. (H. G. Salter.)
Obedience to Gods will
Some of the members of the household of Tiberius were so attached to their master that they obeyed all his commands with the most implicit care. One of them had such perfect faith in him that, when he declared he never failed to do what Tiberius commanded, and was asked, if he had been ordered to burn the Capitol, whether he would have done it, he answered that Tiberius would never have given him the order; but, when the question was repeated, he declared that, had it been commanded, he should have thought it right, for Tiberius would never have laid such a command on him if it had not been for the advantage of the Roman people. When we render allegiance to the Saviour, it is with the express understanding that He bids us do nothing but that which is essentially right; that if anything is cruel in its nature He cannot order it; but that, if He appears to do so, there is some hidden good beneath the action that He bids us perform.
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 22. Thus did Noah] He prepared the ark; and during one hundred and twenty years preached righteousness to that sinful generation, 2Pe 2:5. And this we are informed, 1Pe 3:18-19, c., he did by the Spirit of Christ for it was only through him that the doctrine of repentance could ever be successfully preached. The people in Noah’s time are represented as shut up in prison – arrested and condemned by God’s justice, but graciously allowed the space of one hundred and twenty years to repent in. This respite was an act of great mercy; and no doubt thousands who died in the interim availed themselves of it, and believed to the saving of their souls. But the great majority of the people did not, else the flood had never come.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Both for the matter and the manner of it, although the work of building the ark was laborious, costly, tedious, dangerous, and seemingly foolish and ridiculous; especially when all things continued in the same posture and safety for so many scores of years together; whereby Noah, without doubt, was all that while the song of the drunkards, and the sport of the wits of that age. So that it is not strange that this is mentioned as an heroic act of faith in Noah, Heb 11:7, whereby he surmounted all these difficulties.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
22. Thus did NoahHe beganwithout delay to prepare the colossal fabric, and in every step ofhis progress faithfully followed the divine directions he hadreceived.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Thus did Noah,…. Or “and” or “therefore Noah made” o the ark; and “all things”, as the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions:
according to all that God commanded him, so did he; he made the ark according to the pattern God gave him, he gathered together food for himself and family, and for all the creatures, and laid it up in the ark as God directed him; and when the time was come, he and they not only entered into it, but he took with him all the creatures he was ordered, as after related; in this we have an instance of his fear of God, of his faith in his word, and of his obedience to his will, see
Heb 11:7 in all which he was a type of Christ, the builder of his church the ark was a figure of, and the pilot of it through the tempestuous sea of this world, and the provider of all good things for it, for the sustenance of it, and of those who are in it.
o “et fecit”, Pagninus, Montanus; “fecit itaque”, Schmidt.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
22 Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.
Noah’s care and diligence in building the ark may be considered, 1. As an effect of his faith in the word of God. God had told him he would shortly drown the world; he believed it, feared the threatened deluge, and, in that fear, prepared the ark. Note, We ought to mix faith with the revelation God has made of his wrath against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men; the threatenings of the word are not false alarms. Much might have been objected against the credibility of this warning given to Noah. “Who could believe that the wise God, who made the world, should so soon unmake it again, that he who had drawn the waters off the dry land (Gen 1:9; Gen 1:10) should cause them to cover it again? How would this be reconciled with the mercy of God, which is over all his works, especially that the innocent creatures should die for man’s sin? Whence could water be had sufficient to deluge the world? And, if it must be so, why should notice be given of it to Noah only?” But Noah’s faith triumphed over all these corrupt reasonings. 2. As an act of obedience to the command of God. Had he consulted with flesh and blood, many objections would have been raised against it. To rear a building, such a one as he never saw, so large, and of such exact dimensions, would put him upon a great deal of care, and labour, and expense. It would be a work of time; the vision was for a great while to come. His neighbours would ridicule him for his credulity, and he would be the song of the drunkards; his building would be called Noah’s folly. If the worst came to the worst, as we say, each would fare as well as his neighbours. But these, and a thousand such objections, Noah by faith got over. His obedience was ready and resolute: Thus did Noah, willingly and cheerfully, without murmuring and disputing. God says, Do this, and he does it. It was also punctual and persevering: he did all exactly according to the instructions given him, and, having begun to build, did not leave off till he had finished it; so did he, and so must we do. 3. As an instance of wisdom for himself, thus to provide for his own safety. He feared the deluge, and therefore prepared the ark. Note, When God gives warning of approaching judgments, it is our wisdom and duty to provide accordingly. See Exo 9:20-21; Eze 3:18. We must prepare to meet the Lord in his judgments on earth, flee to his name as a strong tower (Prov. xviii. 10), enter into our chambers (Isa 26:20; Isa 26:21), especially prepare to meet him at death and in the judgment of the great day, build upon Christ the Rock (Matt. vii. 24), go into Christ the Ark. 4. As intended for warning to a careless world; and it was fair warning of the deluge coming. Every blow of his axes and hammers was a call to repentance, a call to them to prepare arks too. But, since by it he could not convince the world, by it he condemned the world, Heb. xi. 7.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
22. Thus did Noah. In a few words, but with great sublimity, Moses here commends the faith of Noah. The unskilful wonder that the apostle (Heb 11:7) makes him “heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” As if, truly, all the virtues, and whatsoever else was worthy of praise in this holy man, had not sprung from this fountain. For we ought to consider the assaults of temptation to which his breast was continually exposed. First, the prodigious size of the ark might have overwhelmed all his senses, so as to prevent him from raising a finger to begin the work. Let the reader reflect on the multitude of trees to be felled, on the great labor of conveying them, and the difficulty of joining them together. The matter was also long deferred; for the holy man was required to be engaged more than a hundred years in most troublesome labor. Nor can we suppose him to have been so stupid, as not to reflect upon obstacles of this kind. Besides, it was scarcely to be hoped, that the men of his age would patiently bear with him, for promising himself an exclusive deliverance, attended with ignominy to themselves. Their unnatural ferocity has been before mentioned; there can therefore be no doubt that they would daily provoke modest and simpleminded men, even without cause. But here was a plausible occasion for insult; since Noah, by felling trees on all sides, was making the earth bare, and defrauding them of various advantages. It is a common proverb, that perverse and contentious men will dispute about an ass’s shadow. What, then, might Noah think, would those fierce Cyclops do for the shadow of so many trees; who, being practiced in every kind of violence, would seize with eagerness on all sides an occasion of exercising cruelty? But this was what chiefly tended to inflame their rage, that he, by building an asylum for himself, virtually doomed them all to destruction. Certainly, unless they had been restrained by the mighty hand of God, they would have stoned the holy man a hundred times; still it is probable, that their vehemence was not so far repressed, as to prevent them from frequently assailing him with scoffs and derision, from heaping upon him many reproaches, and pursuing him with grievous threats. I even think, that they did not restrain their hands from disturbing his work. Therefore, although he may have addressed himself with alacrity to the work committed to him; yet his constancy might have failed more than a thousand times, in so many years, unless it had been firmly rooted. Moreover, as the work itself appeared impracticable, it may be further asked, Whence were provisions for the year to be obtained? Whence food for so many animals? He is commanded to lay up what will suffice for food during ten months for his whole family for cattle, and wild beasts, and even for birds. Truly, it seems absurd, that after he has been disengaged from agriculture, in order to build the ark, he should be commanded to collect a two-years’ store of provision; but much more trouble attended the providing of food for animals. He might therefore have suspected that God was mocking him. His last work was to gather animals of all kinds together. As if, indeed, he had all the beasts of the forest at his command, or was able to tame them; so that, in his keeping, wolves might dwell with lambs, tigers with hares, lions with oxen — as sheep in his fold. But the most grievous temptation of all was, that he was commanded to descend, as into the grave, for the sake of preserving his life, and voluntarily to deprive himself of air and vital spirit; for the smell of dung alone pent up, as it was, in a closely filled place, might, at the expiration of three days, have stifled all the living creatures in the ark. Let us reflect on these conflicts of the holy man — so severe, and multiplied and long-continued — in order that we may know how heroic was his courage, in prosecuting, to the utmost, what God had commanded him to do. Moses, indeed, says in a single word that he did it; but we must consider how far beyond all human power was the doing of it: and that it would have been better to die a hundred deaths, than to undertake a work so labourious, unless he had looked to something higher than the present life. A remarkable example, therefore, of obedience is here described to us; because, Noah, committing himself entirely to God, rendered Him due honor. We know, in this corruption of our nature, how ready men are to seek subterfuges, and how ingenious in inventing pretexts for disobedience to God. Wherefore, let us also learn to break through every kind of impediment, and not to give place to evil thoughts, which oppose themselves to the word of God, and with which Satan attempts to entangle our minds, that they may not obey the command of God. For God especially demands this honor to be given to himself, that we should suffer him to judge for us. And this is the true proof of faith, that we, being content with one of his commands, gird ourselves to the work, so that we do not swerve in our course, whatever obstacle Satan may place in our way, but are borne on the wings of faith above the world. Moses also shows, that Noah obeyed God, not in one particular only, but in all. Which is diligently to be observed; because hence, chiefly, arises dreadful confusion in our life, that we are not able, unreservedly to submit ourselves to God; but when we have discharged some part of our duty, we often blend our own feelings with his word. But the obedience of Noah is celebrated on this, account, that it was entire, not partial; so that he omitted none of those things which God had commanded.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
22. Thus did Noah And thus he showed his faith (Heb 11:7) by ready and long-continued obedience to all that God commanded him, “by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith . ”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Gen 6:22. Thus did Noah, &c. Obedient to the divine command Noah made the ark, and during that time, no doubt, must have endured many scoffs and contumelies, from the joyous, unthinking, and irreligious of that generation. On that account the building the ark is considered as an act of triumphant faith by the sacred writer. “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, full of religious reverence, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” Heb 11:7. The Mahometans have a tradition, that when Noah began to work upon this famous vessel, all who saw him derided him, and said, “You are building a ship; if you can bring water to it, you will be a prophet as well as a carpenter.” But he made answer to these insults: “You laugh at me now, but I shall have my turn to laugh at you; for you will learn, to your own cost, that there is a God in heaven who punishes the wicked.”
Noah was no sooner commanded to build the ark but he obeys: such is the mind of every true believer. “Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth.” Observe,
1. His unreserved faith. A thousand corrupt reasonings, no doubt, intruded, of the how, and why, and wherefore; but it was enough for Noah, he had God’s word, which silenced every doubt. Note; one reason why men do not now flee from the wrath to come, is, because they attend to the vain reasonings of their mind against the express revelation of God.
2. His diligence. He began immediately, and finished it according to the pattern. He neither staggered at the trouble and expence, nor could be diverted by the mockeries of the unbelievers, who, no doubt, thought him a very ridiculous enthusiast, to attempt providing against such an improbable, or, as to them it appeared, impossible event. Note; those who cannot bear the scoffs of the world, or be ready to give up all for Christ, will never swim in the ark.
3. It was a continual sermon: every blow of the axe and hammer was a call to repentance. It convinced not the world indeed, but it condemned it. Note; the time will come, when impenitent sinners may remember their obstinacy and hardness of heart too late to amend it.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
DISCOURSE: 15
NOAHS OBEDIENCE
Gen 6:22. Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.
NEVER, from the foundation of the world to this hour, if we except the sacrifice which Christ made of himself upon the cross for the sins of men, was there such a demonstration of Gods hatred of sin, as that which was given at the universal deluge. All flesh having corrupted their way, God determined to execute vengeance upon all, and to destroy from the face of the earth every living thing. There was, however, one favoured servant, whom, together with his family, he was pleased to exempt from the general judgment. Noah was a righteous man, and obtained favour in his sight; and, by means prescribed to him by God himself, he was preserved. Let us consider,
I.
The obedience rendered by him
It is not easy to form a just estimate of this
[Let us contemplate the circumstances in which he was placed. He was appointed a preacher of righteousness, unto all who came within the reach of his ministrations: and he was commanded to declare that God would overwhelm the whole world with a deluge. Of such a judgment there was no appearance whatever for the space of 120 years, during the whole of which period he proclaimed its approach. If at the beginning of his ministrations any were impressed with fear, they soon were led to deride the menace; and to conclude, from the delay, that the threatened calamity should never come upon them.
Let us next notice the means he was directed to use for the preservation of Gods chosen remnant. He was to build a vessel of stupendous magnitude, capable of holding two of every sort of animals that breathed, and of containing also provision for them. The expense and labour employed in constructing this ark must have been immense: and the ridicule which it must have excited, year after year, must have been almost beyond endurance.
Let us, lastly, observe his perseverance in the use of those means, till he had completed the work assigned him. Nothing could induce him to desist from his work, till it was perfected in every part. Then he, with his whole family, entered into the ark, having first assigned to every living creature its place: and then God shut him in: and on that very day the rain descended, and the flood commenced, which speedily reached above the highest mountains, and destroyed every living creature from the face of the earth.]
Verily this obedience was of a most exalted character
[It shewed how firmly he believed the divine testimony, whilst yet there was not only no symptom of any such calamity, but no conceivable mode by which the threatened judgment could be inflicted. It shewed how much he stood in awe of God; and how determined he was, whilst yet the means of safety were within his reach, to avail himself of the opportunity that was afforded him, lest he also should be involved in the general ruin. It shewed, too, how boldly he faced reproach, when cast upon him for executing the divine commands. Had such a conduct been called for during the space of a few days only, we should have been the less astonished at it: but when it continued without intermission or abatement for the space of 120 years, we cannot but reckon it amongst the sublimest acts of obedience ever rendered unto God by fallen man.]
But in perfect accordance with this, is,
II.
The obedience required of us
1.
The danger to which we are exposed is similar
[God has declared that he will call the whole world into judgment; and that in that day the wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God [Note: Psa 9:17.]. We see not, indeed, any preparation for such a judgment; and are ready to think that it never can be executed. But God has denounced it against the whole world; and executed it shall be, whether men will believe it or not. Multitudes who assisted in building the ark, would not believe the declarations of God, till the threatened judgments were inflicted: and so it is with us. Multitudes laugh at the threatenings of God; and will continue to do so, till their day of grace shall have passed, and the wrath of God shall fall upon them to the uttermost.]
2.
The means provided for our escape are similar
[God has provided an ark for useven his only dear Son; an ark, into which all who believe shall be admitted, but which will speedily be closed against the unbelieving world. Many think it altogether absurd to imagine that such an ark is provided for us: they would prefer one of their own constructing, and for which their own good works shall afford the materials. To enter into Christ by faith, and to look for salvation through faith in him, is in their eyes an unsuitable device: and it is derided accordingly, as an indication of weakness and folly. But this, after all, will be found the wisdom of God, yea, and the power of God unto salvation also to all them that embrace it]
3.
The distinction that will be made between the believing and unbelieving world will also be similar
[Of those who believed the testimony of Noah, not one perished: of those that disbelieved it, not one was saved. And so it will be at the last day. Those who are found in Christ, will be monuments of Gods sparing mercy; whilst those who have neglected and despised him, will be monuments of his righteous indignation for ever and ever.]
To dilate more, either on the original fact, or on its typical adaptation to our circumstances, will not be necessary: the whole taken together in one combined view will be found, I apprehend, more instructive.
Learn then, from the whole,
1.
The office of faith
[It was to his faith that Noahs conduct on this occasion must be ascribed [Note: Heb 11:7.]. He did not reason on the subject that was revealed to him. He did not say, How can such a deluge be produced? or, How can it be supposed that a merciful God should exercise such severity? or, How can it be hoped, that, if all the rest of the world be destroyed, any vessel that I can build will preserve me? It is probable that others argued thus: but he believed, and acted upon, the divine testimony. Now it is precisely in that way that we must exercise faith in the divine records. We are not to argue, How can it be, that any should be punished with endless torments in hell? or, that so great a part of mankind should be doomed to that fate? or, that a simple faith in the Lord Jesus Christ should be sufficient to deliver those, who without such faith must inevitably perish? We are to give credit to the divine testimony; and to assure ourselves, that whatever God has spoken shall surely come to pass;that he who believeth and is baptized, shall be saved; and that he who believeth not, shall be damned.]
2.
The necessity of fear
[By this also was Noah actuated; and under the influence of it he prepared the ark [Note: Heb 11:7.]. And if we believe Gods threatenings against sin and sinners, how can we but fear? The wrath of God is not to be disregarded, as a matter of no concern: no, in truth, it becomes us to tremble at it, and to flee from it with all imaginable earnestness. Well would it have been for them, if the people whom he warned had feared also: but, because they would not fear, they perished. So will it be with us also [Note: Mat 24:37-39.]. It shall surely be found a truth at last, that he who, being often reproved, hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without a remedy [Note: Pro 29:1. Compare 2Pe 2:5; 2Pe 2:9.].]
3.
The benefit of obedience
[Here you behold with your eyes what shall be again realized in the day of judgment. Behold Noah for 120 years an object of universal derision, but now, with his family, borne above the waves in perfect safety, whilst all the rest of the world, not excepting the very builders of the ark, are overwhelmed in one common destruction! Thus let the ungodly world laugh at piety now, if they will: but such will be the issue of their contemptuous proceedings, when those who were the objects of their scorn will be honoured by their God, and be saved with an everlasting salvation. Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him; for they shall eat the fruit of their doings: but woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him, for the reward of his hands shall be given him [Note: Isa 3:10-11.].]
Fuente: Charles Simeon’s Horae Homileticae (Old and New Testaments)
Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.
Faith in God’s word, joined to a dependence on God’s promises, in Christ, will ever induce holy obedience. Rom 4:20-24 .
REFLECTIONS
WHAT dreadful consequences of the guilt related in this chapter, soon followed ungracious and unholy connections in the marriage state, between the seed of Seth and the seed of Cain! What sad events is sin ever producing in private life, and in public bodies! How hath it drawn away the wisest of men to idolatry! See 1Ki 11:41Ki 11:4 . How hath it corrupted the church itself, and brought misery upon it! See Ezr 9:1-2 . Reader! remember what the Apostle saith, Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? Or what concord hath Christ with Belial?
What a sweet thought is that of the apostle: The gifts and callings of God (he saith) are without repentance. Rom 11:29 . Though it is said, God repented that he had made man; yet it is nowhere said, he repented that be redeemed him.
May it be my mercy, to remember, while reading the account of Noah’s finding favour with God, that it is by him alone, of whom Noah was a type, even the Lord Jesus Christ, that I can find favour and acceptance with God in this life, or salvation in another. In him, as the True Ark, may I be found, when God shall arise to judge the world.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 6:22 Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.
Ver. 22. Thus did Noah, according to all, &c. ] The wicked world could not flout him out of his faith; but that “moved with fear,” Heb 11:7 he preacheth, and buildeth, and finisheth; every stroke upon the ark being a real sermon (as Nazianzen hath it) to forewarn them to flee from the wrath to come; a which yet they did not, – no, not the very shipwrights that made the ark, – but were all buried together, in one universal grave of waters.
a He preached without preaching, saith Basil of Selucia.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 7:5, Gen 7:9, Gen 7:16, Gen 17:23, Exo 40:16, Exo 40:19, Exo 40:21, Exo 40:23, Exo 40:25, Exo 40:27, Exo 40:32, Deu 12:32, Mat 7:24-27, Joh 2:5, Joh 15:14, Heb 11:7, Heb 11:8, 1Jo 5:3, 1Jo 5:4
Reciprocal: Gen 42:20 – And they Exo 7:6 – General Num 9:5 – according 2Sa 24:19 – as the Lord 1Ki 17:15 – did according 1Ch 14:16 – did as God Mat 1:24 – did Mat 2:21 – General Mat 21:6 – and did Luk 3:36 – Noe Joh 13:17 – happy Act 12:9 – he went
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Gen 6:22. Thus did Noah according to all that God commanded him And that both as to the matter and manner of it. And when we consider how laborious, tedious, and dangerous a work the building of the ark was, and what ridicule he would have to encounter from the ungodly and profane, while engaged in a business apparently foolish, and that for so many scores of years together, we shall not wonder that the faith whereby he surmounted all these difficulties should be so celebrated in the Scriptures. See Heb 11:7.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
6:22 Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, {n} so did he.
(n) That is, he obeyed God’s commandment in all points without adding or taking away.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
We can see Noah’s faith (Heb 11:7) in his complete obedience to God even though he faced many obstacles.
"The author’s purpose in drawing out the list of specifications for the ark in chapter 6, as with the details of the building of the tabernacle, is not that readers might be able to see what the ark or the tabernacle looked like, but rather that readers might appreciate the meticulous care with which these godly and exemplary individuals went about their tasks of obedience to God’s will. They obeyed God with ’all their hearts.’" [Note: Sailhamer, The Pentateuch . . ., p. 125.]
"What a splendid figure this man makes, a picture of solitary goodness! He was the one saint of that day. It is possible, therefore, to be good even though we have to stand alone. It is possible to be right with God even amidst surrounding iniquity. God is the same today as He was to Noah, and if only we are willing to fulfill the conditions we too shall walk with God and please Him." [Note: Thomas, p. 74.]