Genesis 6:9-22

To show through the experience of Noah what is the essence of faith.

Pulling on Both Oars

An old Scotsman operated a little rowboat for transporting passengers. One day a passenger noticed that the good old man had carved on one oar the word “Faith” and on the other oar the word “Works”. Curiosity led him to ask the meaning of this. The old man, being a well-balanced Christian and glad of the opportunity for testimony, said, “I will show you.”

So saying, he dropped one oar and plied the other called Works, and they just went around in circles. Then he dropped that oar and began to ply the oar called Faith, and the little boat just went around in circles again – this time the other way around, but still in a circle.

After this demonstration, the old man picked up Faith and Works, and plying both oars together, sped swiftly over the water, explaining to his inquiring passenger, “You see, that is the way it is in the Christian life. Dead works without faith are useless, and ‘faith without works is dead’ also, getting you nowhere. But faith and works pulling together make for safety, progress, and blessing.”

Genesis 6:22 is the key verse. “Noah did everything just as God commanded him.”

What causes a person to act in the face of situations in which he has no basis of experience to rely upon? Noah shows us:

• Faith acts in the face of the unheard
  • God told Noah about rain
    • Genesis 2:5 says it has never rained
    • This Scripture is the first reference to rain
  • God warns of a flood
    • What happens in a flood?
    • All of these things are new experiences
    • Faith acts in the face of the unheard
  • Noah did all God commanded him
• Faith acts in the face of the uncharted
  • What will happen?
    • The unknown is the greatest challenge to faith
  • Faith says, “I know who holds my hand, and I will follow you in faith.”
    • Noah sailed successfully for at least 150 days
    • Noah did all that God commanded him, so he did

Noah’s experience shows us that in those critical confrontations, what really counts is faith. Faith says, “I will believe and act on what God reveals.”