When I read these verses today they reminded me of an Old Testament favorite! He did exactly what Jesus is talking about in these two verses. He heard the words God spoke to him, he did them, and then he was likened as it were to a wise man. Check out Hebrews 11:7 ...By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, (the hearing) moved with Godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, (the doing) by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. (the likening as wise by God)
Noah has been one of my heroes of faith since the beginning of my walk with God for a number of reasons but I must admit the number one reason is his faithfulness to the do ...according to all that God commanded him so he did. Genesis 6:22
When I read the account of Noah's faithfulness 'to do' in Genesis chapters 6:9 I am filled with admiration and can see why it says in 6:8-9 ...But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord....Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God. Its easy to see that this is why God knew he could trust Noah with His heart and what He needed Noah to do. So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. And God said to Noah, "The end of all flesh has come before Me, for all the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Mark yourself and ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, cover it with pitch. And this is how you should make it ..." Genesis 6
Obviously we all know that more instructions and more obedience comes into play here but I have always loved the way that Noah didn't doubt the word of the God. He knew Him. He walked and talked with Him. He didn't fuss or argue or even doubt what God had said. He he heard the instruction, trusted it would come pass and that the rain would come. He heard and then he immediately obeyed and not just in the idea but in every little aspect. Every instruction followed just as God had said. ...And Noah did according to all that the Lord commanded him. Genesis 7:5
Noah was like a man who heard the sayings of the Lord, he did them, and God said to him ..."Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation. Genesis 7:1
Noah was a wise man who built his house on the rock: "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock." Matthew 24:24-25
Jesus used this wise man illustration on the heals of another statement that starts a few verse ahead that are significant to what He was saying to His followers. He said, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!" Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. Now everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." Matthew 7:21-27
Its all part of the same truth. Its not enough to just call Him Lord. You and I as believers need to remember that its not about calling Him "Lord, Lord" but about obeying His commands because He is Lord. What if Noah hadn't obeyed? What if he had decided that since he had never seen rain before that God would never make it really come to pass. What if He spent all his time questioning the validity of what God was asking him to do or what if he told God, "No. It will cost me to much time, money, and effort." What if he decided to come up with a better plan and try to handle things in own his way? What if? What if that is what we as believers do all to often? What if we hear Him but don't do?
Now everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, I will liken him to a foolish man who built his house on the sand: "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell, And great was its fall" Matthew 7:26-27
And Noah did according to all that the Lord commanded him. Genesis 7:5 Noah followed every instruction right down to the smallest detail outlined to him by God. Noah, a man considered by God to be perfect in his generation.
Please, Lord, that we might be a people who are wise enough: to hear and obey.
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