And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him.
Gen 7:5
Noah did according unto all that the Lord commanded him
The obedience of Noah to the commands of God
I.
IT WAS OBEDIENCE RENDERED UNDER THE MOST TRYING CIRCUMSTANCES.
II. IT WAS OBEDIENCE RENDERED IN THE MOST ARDUOUS WORK.
III. IT WAS OBEDIENCE RENDERED IN THE MOST HEROIC MANNER. (J. S.Exell, M. A.)
Safely kept by God
When Paul was in danger from the forty men who laid wait to kill him, Providence shut him up in Caesarea, where he was free from the peril. When Luther would probably have been slain by wicked Papists, he was taken by force to a strong castle, where he was in good keeping till it was safe for him to go abroad. Jesus, too, as a babe, was taken into Egypt for His preservation from death.
The entrance of the animals into the ark
At last the allotted time is fully or nearly expired. Noah has laid the last planks of the ark, which now stands up like a mountain, relieved against the sky. But that sky is as yet serene and cloudless, and there seems as little prospect of a deluge as there was a hundred and twenty years ago. The general interest in the matter has languished and nearly expired, when it is suddenly awakened into an intense glow by an extraordinary occurrence. The people bad laughed at the immense size of the ark, at its many rooms, at the quantity of food Noah had collected, and had asked, Whence are the animals to come that are to fill these corners and to consume these stores? But now a strange rumour flies abroad; it is, that a vast and motley throng of birds, beasts, and creeping things are thronging from every quarter toward the ark. There are cries, indeed, in contradiction to this It cannot be, it is a mere report got up by Noah; but soon it forces itself as a fact upon the conviction of all, and the most obstinately incredulous have to stand dumb beside; and worse, have no power to obstruct the passage. It is a sight the sublimity of which they are compelled to admire, even while they tremble thereat; being, indeed, a repetition on a larger scale of the passage of the animals before Adam. The lion and the lioness come, loth, it would seem in a degree, to circumscribe their wild freedom and majesty, yet unable to resist the pressure of the power above. The tiger and his mate, like fiends chained, but the chains not seen; the rhinoceros, buffalo, and mammoth, causing the earth to groan beneath their tread; panthers and leopards swiftly advancing; the slow-moving bear and the solemn elephant; the bull, the stag, and the elk, with their flashing horns; the horse, the glory of his nostrils terrible still, although tamed somewhat in the shadow of his unseen rider, God; the antelope and the wolf met together; the fox and the lamb embracing each other; the hyena, horrible even in his transient tameness; besides fifty more forms of brutal life, clean or unclean, beneath whose ranks you see thick streams of reptile existence, from the serpent to the scorpion, from the boa constrictor to the lizard, wriggling on their ark-ward way. And high overhead are flights of birds, here all oracular of doom, winging their courses–the earnest eagle, the gloom glowing raven, the reluctant vulture, the heavy kite, the fierce-eyed falcon, the high-soaring hawk, the lark with her lyric melody, the dove with her spotless plumage, the humming bird with her sparkling gem-like shape, the nightingale with her sober plumage and melting song, the swallow with the dark-light glance and shivered beauty of her wing, and a hundred more of those skiey demons or angels now sweep past to their prepared nests in the ark, even as spirits from a thousand deaths on a battlefield find their winged way to the land of souls! Surely you might have expected that such a throng of natures children, all subdued into one harmony, aiming at one mark, and animated by one spirit, as by one supernatural soul, should have not only awed, but convinced and converted the multitude who saw their passage. But it was not so. In what way or through means of what sophistry they contrived to evade the impression made by such a startling event, we cannot tell; but evade it they did–proving that there have sometimes been hearts so hard and consciences so seared that the most stupendous miracles have been unable to move them or melt them into repentance. (G. Gilfillan.)
The ark open for all
On the morning when the ark door was opened you might have seen in the sky a pair of eagles, a pair of sparrows, a pair of vultures, a pair of ravens, a pair of humming birds, a pair of all kinds of birds that ever cut the azure, that ever floated on wing, or whispered their song to the evening gales. In they came. But, if you had watched down on the earth, you would have seen come creeping along a pair of snails, a pair of snakes, and a pair of worms. There ran along a pair of mice; there came a pair of lizards; and in there flew a pair of locusts. There were pairs of creeping creatures, as well as pairs of flying creatures. Do you see what I mean by that? There are some of you that can fly so high in knowledge that I should never be able to scan your great and extensive wisdom; and others of you so ignorant that you can hardly read your Bibles. Never mind: the eagle must come down to the door, and you must go up to it. There is only one entrance for you all; and, as God saved the birds that flew, so He saved the reptiles that crawled. Are you a poor, ignorant, crawling creature, that never was noticed–without intellect, without repute, without fame, without honour? Come along, crawling One! God will not exclude you. (C. H.Spurgeon.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Which was said Gen 6:22, and is here repeated, because this was an eminent instance of his faith and obedience.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And Noah did according to all that the Lord commanded him,…. He prepared for his entrance into the ark, and all the creatures with him; got everything ready for them, the rooms for their habitation, and food for their sustenance.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
| The Deluge. | B. C. 2349. |
5 And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him. 6 And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth. 7 And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood. 8 Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of fowls, and of every thing that creepeth upon the earth, 9 There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah. 10 And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth.
Here is Noah’s ready obedience to the commands that God gave him. Observe, 1. He went into the ark, upon notice that the flood would come after seven days, though probably as yet there appeared no visible sign of its approach, no cloud arising that threatened it, nothing done towards it, but all continued serene and clear; for, as he prepared the ark by faith in the warning given that the flood would come, so he went into it by faith in this warning that it would come quickly, though he did not see that the second causes had yet begun to work. In every step he took, he walked by faith, and not by sense. During these seven days, it is likely, he was settling himself and his family in the ark, and distributing the creatures into their several apartments. This was the conclusion of that visible sermon which he had long been preaching to his careless neighbours, and which, one would think, might have awakened them; but, not obtaining that desired end, it left their blood upon their own heads. 2. He took all his family along with him, his wife, to be his companion and comfort (though it should seem that, after this, he had no children by her), his sons, and his sons’ wives, that by them not only his family, but the world of mankind, might be built up. Observe, Though men were to be reduced to so small a number, and it would be very desirable to have the world speedily repeopled, yet Noah’s sons were each of them to have but one wife, which strengthens the argument against having many wives; for from the beginning of this new world it was not so: as, at first, God made, so now he kept alive, but one woman for one man. See Mat 19:4; Mat 19:8. 3. The brute creatures readily went in with him. The same hand that at first brought them to Adam to be named now brought them to Noah to be preserved. The ox now knew his owner, and the ass his protector’s crib, nay, even the wildest creatures flocked to it; but man had become more brutish than the brutes themselves, and did not know, did not consider, Isa. i. 3.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
5. And Noah did according to all that the Lord commanded. This is not a bare repetition of the former sentence; but Moses commends Noah’s uniform tenor of obedience in keeping all God’s commandments; as if he would say, that in whatever particular it pleased God to try his obedience, he always remained constant. And, certainly, it is not becoming to obey one or another commandment of God only, so that when we have performed a defective obedience, we should feel at liberty to withdraw; for we must keep in memory the declaration of James,
‘
He who forbade thee to kill, forbade thee also to steal, and to commit adultery,’ (Jas 2:11.)
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
Noah and His Family Enter the Ark ( Gen 7:5-10 )
This section is a real problem for those who seek to split up the narrative. In order to fit the theory it has to be split up into minute bits chosen quite arbitrarily to fit the theory. Yet in reality the section sits well together as a unity, incorporating in one whole many of the features that are supposed to identify the differing documents.
Gen 7:5
‘And Noah did all that Yahweh had commanded him’.
This comment finalises the last section and introduces this one. Once again Noah’s obedience is highlighted, contrasting him with the corruption among the remainder of mankind. In Gen 7:1-4 Yahweh has given His instructions, now in Gen 7:5-9 we have Noah’s obedience in the fulfilling of those instructions.
Gen 7:6
‘And Noah was six hundred years old when the cataclysm of waters was upon the earth.’
C. H. Gordon has shown that the appearance of such genealogical details in a story narrative are a feature of ancient records. The number six (hundred) which is three plus three may suggest that God in His goodness had allowed two complete periods to pass rather than one before allowing judgment to come.
Gen 7:7
‘And Noah went in with his sons and his wife and his son’s wives with him into the ark because of the waters of the cataclysm.’
There is as yet no rain, but in full obedience Noah and his sons carry out the task of entering the ark, a process which clearly took seven days with all the creatures to get aboard, and they take their wives with them. This links the sons in obedience with their father. It was as well they obeyed promptly. Although they were not to know it there would be more than rain in the cataclysm to come.
Notice the change of emphasis as regards the Flood. In Gen 6:17 and Gen 7:6 (‘cataclysm of waters’) the emphasis is on the cataclysm, God’s judgment, which is by water, which will destroy the earth. Here and in Gen 7:10 (‘waters of the cataclysm’) the emphasis is on Noah and his sons being saved from the waters of the cataclysm. They will endure the cataclysm but will be saved from the waters.
Gen 7:8-9
‘Of clean animals and unclean animals, of birds and of everything that creeps on the ground, there went in two and two to Noah into the ark, male and female as God (Elohim) commanded Noah.’
The emphasis here is on the fact that the creatures were in pairs, both male and female, whether pairs of two or pairs of sevens, to stress God’s determination to repopulate the earth. Previously it had been ‘two of every sort’, compared with ‘two and two’ here. Elohim is used in order to refer the reader back to God’s command in Gen 6:19 with Gen 7:22. (Note however that it was as Yahweh that God referred to the distinction between clean and unclean (Gen 7:2) – thus both names are in use by the one writer).
Gen 7:10
‘And after the seven days the waters of the cataclysmic flood were upon the earth.’
As God had declared, so it was. Once His time was fully completed, the waters of judgment came. ‘After the seven days’ refers back to Gen 7:4.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
DISCOURSE: 20
ABRAMS JOURNEY TO CANAAN
Gen 7:5. They went forth, to go into the land of Canaan: and into the land of Canaan they came.
THE call of Abram is one of the most instructive subjects that can occupy the human mind; both because the perfections of Almighty God were most gloriously displayed in it; and because, in it, he shewed himself one of the brightest patterns of obedience that ever the world beheld.
He had had a revelation from God whilst yet he was at Ur, in the land of the Chaldees: by that he was directed to leave his native country; which was immersed, as he also and his father were, in idolatry [Note: Jos 24:2.]. At Haran (or, as it is also called, Charran) he abode till his fathers death; when he received from God a further direction to go into Canaan, with an express assurance that the whole land of Canaan should be given to him and his posterity for an inheritance, and that in his seed should all the nations of the earth be blessed [Note: 4 with Act 7:2-4.]. With this direction he complied: he took his wife and family, and all that he possessed, and set out upon the journey; as it is said in the words before usThey went forth, to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.
Now this call of Abram is very instructive; no less as displaying the glorious perfections of God who called him, than as exhibiting the distinguished virtues of him who obeyed the call. I propose then, in illustrating this subject, to set before you,
I.
The perfections of God for your admiration
To this we are particularly led by that expression of St. Stephen, The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham. Observe, then,
1.
His sovereignty
[Why was Abram distinguished above all other of the sons of men, to be so blessed in himself, and such a blessing to the world? He and all his family were idolaters, as also were all around him: yet was he selected by Almighty God from among them, and made the friend and favourite of heaven. Can any account for this? Can it be traced to any thing but the sovereign will and pleasure of Jehovah? However adverse any man may be to the idea of Gods sovereignty in the dispensation of his blessings, he cannot deny, he cannot question it, in this case. Yet this is really what is done in the conversion of every soul to God. The Almighty Sovereign of the universe has saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began [Note: 2Ti 1:9.]. It is God, and God alone, that has made any of us to differ from our fellows [Note: 1Co 4:7.]: and every saint, whether in heaven or on earth, must say, By the grace of God I am what I am [Note: 1Co 15:10.].]
2.
His power
[Nothing less than omnipotence could have effected such a sudden and total change in the heart of Abram as was wrought at this time: nor, in truth, could any thing less than omnipotence have sufficed to accomplish for him all that was now promised. And is less power required for the turning of any man from darkness unto light, and from the power of Satan unto God? It is a new creation, and is expressly called so by God himself [Note: Eph 2:10.]. It is compared by St. Paul to the power which the Father exercised in raising his Son Jesus Christ from the dead, and exalting him to glory far above all the principalities and powers, whether of heaven or hell [Note: Eph 1:19-21. See the wonderful force of the original.]. From the first awakening of a sinner to his final exaltation to glory, he must say, in reference to the whole work, He that hath wrought me to this self-same thing is God [Note: 2Co 5:5.].]
3.
His faithfulness
[Not one foot of ground had Abram: nor for twentyfive years after the promise was made to him, had he the child to whom the promises were made. The time was past in which, according to the course of nature, it was possible for him and Sarah to have a child. Yet the child was given him; and to his posterity all the land of Canaan; and in due time, the seed also, in whom all the nations of the earth were to be blessed. Thus, in like manner, are all the promises fulfilled to every one who believes in Christ: not one jot or tittle of Gods word is ever suffered to fail [Note: Jos 23:14.]. The promises of God in Christ are, not yea and nay, but yea and amen, to the glory of God [Note: 2Co 1:20.], and to the everlasting salvation of all who rely upon them. However numerous their dangers be, or great their difficulties, they shall never be plucked out of Gods hands [Note: Joh 10:29.], but shall be kept by his power unto full and complete salvation [Note: 1Pe 1:5.].]
Let us now set before you that which is no less conspicuous in our text; namely,
II.
The virtues of Abram, for your imitation
We are told, on divine authority, that if we be Abrams seed, we shall do the works of Abram. Behold, then,
1.
His simple faith
[He received implicitly all that God spake unto him. To whatsoever it referred, and however improbable, humanly speaking, the accomplishment of it was, he never for one moment doubted the truth of Gods word, nor ever staggered at any promise through unbelief. Now in this most particularly he is set forth as an example to us; who are required to walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had whilst he was yet uncircumcised [Note: Rom 4:12.]. And more especially are we to imitate him in relation to the faith which he exercised on the Lord Jesus Christ, whom he beheld at the distance of two thousand years as the Saviour of the world. If any person ever could be justified by his works, Abram might have claimed that honour: but, eminent as his obedience to the divine mandates was, he had nothing whereof to glory before God; and, sensible of his own utter unworthiness, he believed in the Lord Jesus Christ for righteousness, and was justified solely by faith in him [Note: ib. 3.]. And why is this so minutely recorded concerning him? Was it for his sake, that he might be honoured? No: it was altogether for our sakes, that we might know how we also are to be justified, and may look simply to Christ as our all in all [Note: ib. 225.].]
2.
His prompt decision
[It is said concerning him, that when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, he obeyed. There was in him no hesitation, no delay. And in this way must we also obey the divine call, when bidden to forsake all and follow Christ. We must not confer with flesh and blood [Note: Gal 1:16.] ; but must, like the Disciples with their nets, and Matthew at the receipt of custom, leave all for Christ. We must be on our guard against specious excuses, Lord, let me go home and bury my father, or take leave of my friends: we must not be looking for a more convenient season; our obedience must be prompt, our decision firm and unchangeable: whilst it is called to-day, we must avail ourselves of the opportunity that is afforded us to do the will of God: to hesitate, is treason: to delay, is death. What our hand findeth to do, we must do it instantly, and with all our might.]
3.
His self-denying zeal
[Doubtless Abram felt that attachment which men usually do to their native country; and found it painful to turn his back upon all his friends, and to forsake all the comforts which he enjoyed in opulence and ease. No doubt, too, he had much to combat with amongst his friends and acquaintance. He was leaving his native country, and yet he knew not whither he was going. How strange must this appear! yea, what a folly and infatuation! But he knew in whom he had believed, and had no fear but that the Lord Jehovah, who had called him, would guide his feet, and keep him in all his ways. And shall not we also have much to contend with, if we obey the call of God in his Gospel? To renounce the world, to mortify our members upon earth, to cut off a right hand, to pluck out a right eye, to crucify the flesh with the affections and lusts, is surely no easy work. The very terms in which these duties are expressed sufficiently declare what self-denial is necessary for the discharge of them. From without, also, our difficulties will be increased. We shall have foes without number to obstruct our way; and most of all, those of our own household. Hence our blessed Lord warned his followers, saying, If any man will be my disciple, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. In truth, if we hate not father and mother, and houses and land, yea, and our own lives also in comparison of him, we cannot be his disciples. Let not this appear a hard saying: obey it, like Abram; and, like him, you shall find it a light burden and an easy yoke.]
4.
His prudent care
[Abram collected together all the substance which he could conveniently carry with him, and took it along with him for his support. To have acted otherwise, without necessity, would have been to tempt God, rather than to trust in him. He had many dependent on him; and it became him, as far as with propriety he could, to provide for their support. And the same prudent care becomes us also. It is one thing to improve the means we possess, and another to trust in them. We must never say to gold, Thou art my hope; or to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence: but at the same time we are to employ the talents which God has committed to us, that we may support ourselves, and not be chargeable to others. That is a remarkable expression of Solomon, I wisdom dwell with prudence [Note: Pro 8:12.]. And a prudent attention to our worldly circumstances tends rather to honour, than disgrace, religion. Abram, as the head of a family, provided for his own: and he did right in this: yea, if he had not done it, he would have denied the faith, and been worse than an infidel. Whatever, then, be your situation in life, endeavour to discharge the duties of it in a becoming manner; and let your determination through grace be like that of David, I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way [Note: Psa 101:2.].]
5.
His persevering diligence
[In stopping at Haran till his fathers death, I suppose, he judged that to be, or rather, that it was for the time, his proper destination. But being afterwards directed to go to Canaan, he went forth, and turned not aside till he came thither: and there he abode for many years. Indeed, to the very end of his life he held on in the good way which God had directed him to pursue. And thus it is that we also must approve ourselves to God. We must not turn back: for, if we do, Gods soul will have no pleasure in us. If we turn back at any time, it is to certain perdition. Let us remember Lots wife. In fact, it were better for us never to have known the way of righteousness, than, after having known it, to depart from it. Go on then, like Abram, as pilgrims and sojourners here, shewing plainly, that you are seeking a better country [Note: Heb 11:9-10; Heb 11:13-16.]. And be assured, that if, by patient continuance in well-doing, you seek for glory and honour and immortality, you shall in the end attain eternal life [Note: Rom 2:9.].]
Fuente: Charles Simeon’s Horae Homileticae (Old and New Testaments)
And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him.
Sweet view, this, of Noah’s obedience. In this act let it be observed, that the patriarch quitted house and land, and all that he had, to rely upon the Divine assurance alone, in the security of the ark. Is not this similar to the faith of the believer in the present hour, in renouncing all self-confidences and self-attainments, to rest for salvation alone on the righteousness of the Lord Jesus? And what greater authority than the command of Jehovah? Is not this the warrant?
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 7:5 And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him.
Ver. 5. And Noah did according unto all. ] This “All,” is a little word, but of large extent. He doth not his master’s but his own will, that doth no more than himself will. A dispensatory conscience is an evil conscience. God cries to us, , . He will have universal obedience both for subject and object. ( Quicquid propter Deum sit, aequaliter sit .) We must be entirely willing in all things to please God, or we utterly displease him. Herod did many things, and was not a button the better. Jehu’s golden calves made an end of him, though he made an end of Baal’s worship. He that doth some, and not “all God’s will,” with David, , Act 13:22 in desire and affection at least, doth but as Benhadad, recover of one disease, and die of another: yea, if he take not a better course for himself, he doth but take pains to go to hell. Then shall we not be ashamed, when we have respect, at least, to all God’s commandments. Psa 119:6
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
all that: Gen 6:22, Exo 39:32, Exo 39:42, Exo 39:43, Exo 40:16, Psa 119:6, Mat 3:15, Luk 8:21, Joh 2:5, Joh 8:28, Joh 8:29, Joh 13:17, Phi 2:8, Heb 5:8
Reciprocal: Num 9:5 – according Mat 1:24 – did Heb 11:7 – Noah
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
OBEDIENCE TO GOD
Noah did according unto all that the Lord commanded him.
Gen 7:5
Noah did according to all that the Lord commanded him. A world goes to wreck. Sin ruins rapidly. Sin is death. Only one family is fit to survive, and that not on account of known excellence in the family, but in the head, and he far from perfect.
I. The one saving element left in the world is Noahs obedience to God. Therein lies the possibility of his being taken out of the catastrophic ruin, and of his taking others with him. This is the last lingering conformity to conditions of best existence left in the world. His obedience is based on a prodigious faith. He spends vast sums and one hundred and twenty years building, on land, such a ship as was never known, for seas never seen. He was to gather animals and food, was to enter himself, and be shut in from the storm, when as yet the sky was clear.
II. What way had men of knowing Gods will then, that we have not to-day? None that prevented the exercise of a supreme faith. And the faith of the ancient worthies left unreached the better things reserved for ours. Did their faith ever compass the eternal salvation of the families of the whole earth? Noahs faith only reached to the temporal salvation of one family. Could not the ark that saved beasts have saved more than eight persons, if Noah could have asked for them? God is always ready to do more than we can ask, or even think.
III. What a wonder that God should take such pains to save eight grains of wheat from a world full of chaff! The bruised reed He will not break. Gods plans are infinite; it is not to be expected that we should understand, but His agencies are omnipotent, hence we can obey. Luther said he would rather obey than work miracles. But whoever obeys does work miracles; for Gods biddings are enablings. Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it.
Illustration
(1) The moral of this whole story of Noah is very evident. This history enforces the necessity of instant repentance and obedience to the commands of God. Now is the day of salvation. God will not wait always. Eternity calls. Events are rushing on, and men are caught in their rush. Destiny must be decided now. Time flies. The Judgment is coming. Yet still the door of mercy is open. Enter into the ark.
(2) We want faith not only to stand against evil, but to enter the Ark of Safety. This we do when we come to Jesus Christ, and give ourselves right up to Him, in an act of complete self-surrender. To have been outside the ark, even if seeing it and touching it, would have been of no avail when the Flood came. Another day of retribution is coming. The wrath of God will again be revealed against all unrighteousness. Flee to the one Ark of Safety. A man to whom a Bible had for the first time been given, eagerly read it. Turning to his wife he said: Wife, if this Book be true, we are lost. Then he read it for days more earnestly than before, till he exclaimed, Wife, if this Book be true, we may be saved!