Noah was a carpenter.
I don’t know why that popped into my head. I was testing a new form I had made, and I typed in the word Noah to see if it would highlight it as a misspelled word. It did. As I looked at it, the rest of the sentence just flowed as I typed.
Noah was a carpenter.
I wonder if he knew that when he was growing up? More precisely he was a shipbuilder. Of course he couldn’t have known that because his was probably the first ship built. Based on the information we have from Genesis, it must have been a rough ride. Here’s some suggested reading from Ritchie’s Sermon Topics.
Coming Judgment Announced (Gen. 6:12, 13) 12 When God saw how corrupt the earth had become, since all mortals led depraved lives on earth, 13 he said to Noah: “I have decided to put an end to all mortals on earth; the earth is full of lawlessness because of them. So I will destroy them and all life on earth.
Noah believed the warning (Heb. 11:7) 7 by faith Noah, warned about what was not yet seen, with reverence built an ark for the salvation of his household. Through this he condemned the world and inherited the righteousness that comes through faith.
An Ark provided according to God (Gen. 6:14) 4 “Make yourself an ark of gopher wood, put various compartments in it, and cover it inside and out with pitch. 15 This is how you shall build it: the length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. 16 Make an opening for daylight in the ark, and finish the ark a cubit above it. Put an entrance in the side of the ark, which you shall make with bottom, second, and third decks.
God’s Invitation to enter, obeyed (Gen. 7:1) Then the LORD said to Noah: “Go into the ark, you and all your household, for you alone in this age have I found to be truly just.
Noah’s Security in God’s hand (Gen. 6:17-18) on my part, am about to bring the flood (waters) on the earth, to destroy everywhere all creatures in which there is the breath of life; everything on earth shall perish. 18 But with you I will establish my covenant; you and your sons, your wife and your sons’ wives, shall go into the ark.
God shut the door (Gen. 7:16) Those that entered were male and female, and of all species they came, as God had commanded Noah. Then the LORD shut him in.
All saved to go forth to Worship (Gen. 8:18-22) 18 So Noah came out, together with his wife and his sons and his sons’ wives; 19 and all the animals, wild and tame, all the birds, and all the creeping creatures of the earth left the ark, one kind after another. 20 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and choosing from every clean animal and every clean bird, he offered holocausts on the altar. 21 WHEN the LORD smelled the sweet odor, he said to himself: “Never again will I doom the earth because of man, since the desires of man’s heart are evil from the start; nor will I ever again strike down all living beings, as I have done. 22 As long as the earth lasts, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.”
See also
2 Peter 3:5-10 John 1:14 John 10:28 Rom. 3:4 John 10:9 1 Thess. 4:14
Noah did a little talking with the Lord when he first got the request. He seems to felt he was not cut out for that kind of job. God insists. Noah obeys. A door is closed, A remnant is saved. The rest is amazing.
Makes me wonder: What does God want me to be if I grow up? How about you? Do you ever wonder about that? I hope so. It’s one of the gazillion ways God tries to get our attention, to get us thinking about things above instead of things here and elsewhere. As He did with Noah, when He really wants you to do something, He just won’t let it rest. I think that may be why we have the saying, “We are restless until we find our rest in God.”
Noah was a carpenter. Jesus was a Carpenter. Both of them cooperated with God and changed the world. “If I was a carpenter…” To tell you the truth, I’m terrible with carpentry tools. God gave me a way different toolbox. He won’t let me rest until I start using it. If I look at the tools He gave me, it’s pretty clear I’m not going to be building any arks. I’m going to be building something, though, that’s almost as big and complicated as an ark – at least that’s the way Noah and I both feel about it! And I’d best get on with it else I might find myself standing on the wrong side of the door.
Remember to continue to pray for
>>> JC as she starts college and still contends with a serious combination of illnesses
>>> KV as she deals with ongoing pain and really needs to sell her house
>>> CD for better working conditions
>>> JP, SC, JM, C&GW, and others dealing with various good-new/bad-news situations with cancer
>>> TT & CF as they embark on a new adventure
>>> All the MBN folks who have entrusted us with faith to take their needs to God
=+= JT, DT, ZT, CF, BW, KT, AS, AR, EV, RS, DH, CB, DN, MJ, MM, DG, JB, WT, GJ, ME, FO, and Lexy:
=+= “…a young child, male, by the name of Lexy. He had surgery on his head a year or so ago for a tumor and is facing an additional surgery for cancer on his neck. He takes radiation pills for certain different periods of time where he must stay in his room for 3 days and not have contact with many people other than his mother as I guess he is radioactive (?) at that point. They figure this is easier on him than radiation and chemo the usual way. This child is not a rowdy or show-off kind of kid, nor does he go around saying he is sick looking for sympathy. Do I know why a child [is ill?], no, but I am going to trust there is a reason and I will pray for Lexy to have the endurance to carry his cross.”
– Peace – real and lasting peace – in our hearts and minds, in our homes, in our nation, in our world
– The Called – like Noah – who can barely believe what God has chosen for them by gifting them with what it takes to do it
– Everyone who prays for you and everyone who asks for your prayers
– And – this is important – pray for and about YOU. You might be surprised by how attentive God can be. And when he calls, answer and rejoice.
Thanks for everything! I love you. Make it a great day: Give it to God and see what He can do with it.
Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever — at your service.
chick
