Wash Yourselves: Learn to Do Good (2 of 6)

During the time of Isaiah, the people of Judah thought about God.  They offered sacrifices of bulls, lambs, and goats.  They recognized the sabbaths and celebrated their feasts.  Yes, they even lifted up their hands to God in prayer.  Yet, God did not recognize them (Isaiah 1:11-15).  But weren’t these good things they were engaged in?  How could God not acknowledge the good?

The first article in this series (Wash Yourselves: Cease to Do Evil) examined how the people needed to cease to do evil.  The presence of evil – disobedience to God no matter how small or great – is what separates man and God (Isaiah 59:1-2).  God needs things done according to the truth He has commanded.  He also needs them done according to the Spirit He has commanded.  Many believe walking after God in Obedience was an Old Testament phenomena and serving him with the heart is a New Testament Phenomena.  However, God never separated two.

1 Samuel 12:24 – Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.

1 Kings 2:4 – That the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul…

Joshua 24:14 – Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth…

John 4:24 – God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

The people of Judah may have been performing physical actions based on Truth at times, but they certainly faltered when it came to engaging in actions of spiritual truth.  That is worshipping with love in their hearts for God so that they might glorify him.  Consequently, their actions were considered evil and God wanted no part in them.  They needed to learn to do good.

Doing good is positively something man must learn.  When a man is born, he neither does good nor bad.  He is an innocent being with no control over his thoughts or actions (Genesis 1:26, Ecclesiastes 7:29, Colossians 3:10).  As an individual grows he will begin to act, often without thinking through his or her actions.  He may do physical actions which are good or evil, but they are done in ignorance.  The actions done against God’s will are still evil and the person’s first encounter with sin (Ezekiel 28:15).  They will soon grow to a point of accountability in which they know what is good and evil and they will have control over their actions.  One might ask, “Can sin be committed ignorantly?”  Certainly! (Ezekiel 45:20, Acts 3:17)  The next question may be: “Can a person do something they believe in their heart is good, but in actuality be doing evil?”  Again, the answer is:  Certainly! (Leviticus 10:1-2, 2 Samuel 6:6-7, Acts 7:46-51)  To continually do good, man must be able to grow past his ignorance and beyond his own reasoning (Ecclesiastes 6:12).

Good is doing exactly what God has commanded. This is an understanding always given to people who would follow God.

Deuteronomy 5:32 – Ye shall observe to do therefore as Jehovah your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.

Joshua 1:7 – Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.

2 Kings 22:2 – And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.

Galatians 1:8 – But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

Revelation 22:18-19 – For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Man must conform himself to what God desires, rather than what he desires for himself (Romans 12:2).  This is easy to say, but application of it to one’s life is not.  This is readily seen across the Christian world.  The Church of Ephesus in Revelation 2:1-7 seems to be a good example of many modern churches.  They were praised by Jesus as he noted they reproved folks who did evil.  They were patient and endured in laboring for God.  Unfortunately, it was said they left their first love.  Initially, it seems as if these folks were like the children of Judah.  They were not serving from their heart, but simply engaging in actions.  However, the issue seems to be deeper than this as they were exhorted to return to their first works.  Is it possible that they had begun to add to their service items which God had not commanded?  That perhaps they were turning aside to the left and right from the authorized direction of God?  Consider those who have added instrumentation to their singing, moving to the left and right of what God has commanded (Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16).  How about those who practice spreading the gospel through drama and activities, adding to preaching, which God has singly authorized (I Corinthians 1:21)?  How many churches are there that think they are a form of soup kitchen arranging food discounts or preparing meals for the public?  This was never commanded by God.  These same groups have often chosen to fill pews with bottoms that do nothing, rather than engaging the public with the gospel.  These things are not good.  These people have not learned good.  They have not conformed to God, but to the world.

The purpose of man in this world is to do good works ordained by God (Ephesians 2:10). What is this good that is spoken about?  Isaiah mentions four items in Isaiah 1:16-17:  Seek justice, reprove the ruthless, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.  Add to these numerous other commands including preaching the gospel to all creation (Mark 16:15), encouraging the fainthearted, supporting the weak (I Thessalonians 5:14), providing for one’s family (I Timothy 5:8), comforting one another (I Thessalonians 4:18), thinking on things above (Colossians 3:2), strengthening the family (Colossians 3:18-21), and working always as for the Lord (Colossians 3:23-25).  There are an endless number of good things that man can do in this life.  Ultimately, he is to live at peace with all men (Hebrews 12:14).  This can be accomplished by being a good neighbor (I Corinthians 10:24) and leading by example (I Peter 3:1).  Christians often wonder what they can do to serve God.  The list of good a man can do is endless:  Write a letter, open a door, say a kind word, care for a child, read a book to a senior, lend a hand to a project, make a meal, visit, sit and talk, give a ride, listen, hold a hand… and on and on the activities could be engaged in.  The simple truth is this:  many people do not want learn to do or engage in doing good.  The nine out of ten lepers did not return to thank Jesus for their health (Luke 17:12-15).  Jews feared men of the synagogue more than they desired to do good (John 12:42).  The men Stephen tried to share the gospel with turned and stoned him (Acts 7).  Felix wanted money to do good rather than to do it because it was the desire of God (Acts 24:25-26).  The opportunity to do good is everywhere, but many do not seek it.

God has given direction for good in every area of life (2 Peter 3:2-3), but how is it man is supposed to learn it?  How again are the commands of God to be spread from one man to another?  Preaching!  Man can learn to do good by preaching!

Mark 6:12 – And they went out, and preached that men should repent.

Mark 16:20 – And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Luke 4:44 – And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee.

Acts 8:5 – Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

Galatians 3:8 – And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

Man can learn to do good by study!

2 Timothy 2:15 – Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Ephesians 3:4 – Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

Act 17:11 – These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Man can learn to do good by the example of those who do good!  Walk in their footsteps as they walk in the footsteps of men who follow God!

Titus 2:7 – In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,

John 13:15 – For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

1 Peter 2:12 – Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Man can learn to do good.  He can do it through the preaching of men, study, and good examples.  When the world of the scriptures is unfolded before an open mind and heart, great good can be done.  God’s purpose can be displayed in that individual and all with whom he comes into contact (Titus 3:8).

When man determines not to seek good, he shames himself in the eyes of God.  He has become a creation that never achieved its potential.  One of the sad results of this is the emptiness the cross represents to those who do not engage in good.  Jesus left the glory of heaven, humbling himself into a fleshly form, serving mankind, being mistreated by mankind, being spat upon and crucified by mankind and for what if they do not fulfill their purpose?

Titus 2:14 – [Jesus] Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Isaiah preached of the Messiah, though he did not see His coming or know God’s plan in its fullness.  He called Judah to change their lives, to learn to do good.  Through His Word, Jesus calls us today to not make His death in vain.  Isaiah warned the people that there would be punishment for those who did change.  If they did not learn to do good works, there would be unpleasant consequences.  This message of God has not changed.

Matthew 3:10 – Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Isaiah’s exhortation to “learn to good” was followed by the direction to “Seek Justice”.  This will be the next article in this series of “Wash Yourselves”.  Before then, as a final thought,  embrace the following:

Hebrews 10:24 – And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

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Wash Yourselves: Cease to Do Evil (1 of 6)

The prophet Isaiah shared the Word of God during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah.  Over approximately 50 years, he instructed and reproved Judah.  Though three of the four kings of Judah were considered good, the people and its capitol city, Jerusalem, were characterized by sin.  Their deeds and hearts were sorely lacking in meeting the path laid out by God.  By the promise of God and detailed prophecy, Jesus the Christ would be born the seed of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, and David in Bethlehem.  Were it not for this predetermined plan of God, Judah would quite likely have become as Sodom and Gomorrah as the prophet Isaiah himself shared with them.  Though his writings in the book called by his name are lengthy, verses sixteen and seventeen of the first chapter summarize it well.  The first sentence of those verses summing even more succinctly:

“Wash Yourselves, Make Yourselves Clean;”

When Moses had taken the people by God’s command out of Egypt, they came to Mount Sinai.  The Lord told Moses to prepare the people for his appearance before Him by telling them to prepare and wash themselves and their garments (Genesis 19:10).  The Lord’s own priesthood to serve in His tabernacle were to wash themselves in order to serve (Exodus 29:4).  The sacrifices of the High priest each year were for the purpose of cleansing the people and himself due to the presence of their sin (Leviticus 16:19-20).  Today, Christians engage in the practice of baptism for the washing of their sins by the blood of Christ (I Peter 3:21).  Perhaps the phrase, “cleanliness is next to Godliness” comes to mind when examining the expectation of God for his people.  While the physical cleanliness was part of the early presentation of God’s people, it is apparent it was a type of the spiritual cleanliness expected by their Creator.  Thus returning to the word’s Isaiah shared with Judah:  “Wash Yourselves, Make Yourselves Clean”.  Judah had soiled themselves with sin.  God through Isaiah was calling them to repent.  In this command, Isaiah details six areas of focus:

1.    Cease to do evil.

2.    Learn to do good.

3.    Seek to do justice.

4.    Reprove the oppressor.

5.    Defend the orphan.

6.    Plead for the widow.

This series of six articles will focus upon the words of Isaiah individually and apply them to Christians today.  Though these are timeless principles of God and not tied to the authority of the Law of Moses which no longer holds power over the faithful, the authority of the New Testament will still be demonstrated for each.  This article will focus on the first principle: “Cease to do evil”.

What is evil?  In the beginning, there was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  In Genesis 2:16-17, God told man not to eat of this tree.  Until the point that man did this, they did not know evil.  However, upon eating of the fruit of that tree, they did know evil.  For the first time in his life, man was disobedient to the command of God.  Their actions introduced them to evil.  Eating a fruit is evil?  It is if it is in opposition to God.  Stealing, murder, pre-marital sex, lying, immodest dress, social drinking,  breaking the simplest laws of the government, thinking thoughts against God’s will, cursing, watching corrupt television, listening to immoral music, or dressing or acting in a way to cause others to lust after you?  All of these are evil!  It does not matter how big or small man considers a transgression against God’s commands to be, disobedience is evil.  The list could go on and on.

It is true, many in the world know the actions they engage in are said to be wrong and yet, they do them anyway.  Perhaps they disagree with the assessment there is a right and wrong directed by God.  They trust their own judgment and believe that if there is a God, He will understand.  It is possible; these individuals may not even care if God doesn’t like their actions.  They are going to do what they want and whatever is to happen will happen.  Such people are ignorantly defiant of God’s will.  They do not know the truths of God’s Word and perhaps they have never sought to know or understand them.  This does not give them excuse (Romans 1:20). Neither defiance nor ignorance can change an action from evil to good.    God’s message is still: “Cease to do evil.”

The situation of the defiantly ignorant reminds me of the movie “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”.  The great chocolate magician Willy Wonka brings five children into his chocolate factory to see his many secrets.   He gives them various instructions about what to do and what not to do.  The particular scene which comes to mind is when one of the children “Violet Beauregarde” takes some dinner flavored gum to chew without permission.  Wonka warns her “Oh, I wouldn’t do that.  I really wouldn’t”.  Of course, she goes against the instruction.  As everyone watches in amazement, they all query her about the experience she is having.  Wonka in a resigned voice, knowing he will be ignored, states nonchalantly “Stop, don’t”.  But the girl chews onward in defiant oblivion.  She doesn’t think it’s a big deal.  It’s only gum after all.  In the end, she turns blue and blows up like a blimp, suffering the consequences of her actions.  Her ignorance did not save her.  It did not justify her actions.  What she did was wrong and so are the actions man does when they rely upon their own perceived sense of what is right or wrong.  God has stated the times of ignorance are over.  God has shared the truth with man and man can choose whether or not to seek and accept or not.  The consequences of evil are not going to change.

Acts 17:30 – And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

Why is it that men do evil in the first place?  As many as the number of evils there are, perhaps there are a similar number of reasons man engages in disobedience.  Here are a few:  First, men often engage in evil because it will bring them pleasure.  Sin is most often a pleasurable experience at some point or it would not be engaged in.  Simply because it feels good or makes a person happy, does not make the action have the authority of God.  Stepping on the gas and breaking the speed limit so you can get somewhere on time makes you feel good, but it isn’t according to the law and is therefore, evil.

Second, men often engage in evil to acquire wealth, power, or recognition.  Every day people lie on their resumes about their education, experience, and background.  They think this will bring them gain in the end, but it is only an earthly achievement.  Moreover, it is an evil achievement.

Third, men often engage in evil, because they are trying to cover up evil.  Adam and Eve tried playing the blame game for their actions instead of owning up to what they did in the garden.  They were essentially lying to God about their actions.  Deception is evil and must cease.

Finally, though not an exhaustive list, men engage in evil because of a lack of love.  They do not love their neighbor, citizen, family, friend, or stranger enough to not defraud them.  They defraud them morally, financially, spiritually, in whatever way they wish, because they have a lack of love in their heart.  The lack of love in their heart causes them to be disobedient to God. If they loved Him, they would not be disobedient (John 14:15).  A lack of love and greater interest in themselves rather than their fellow man and God causes man to do evil.

There are many excuses man gives for the evil they do.  “It is ok if I don’t give back the extra change I received at Walmart. I am not hurting anyone”.  Whose change is it supposed to be?  It is Walmart’s change.  The individual is essentially robbing Walmart.  “But Walmart is a massively big company, I am not hurting anyone!”  This excuse is used frequently, but is never true.  When someone engages in evil, they always hurt self.  Stealing is wrong.  Keeping the change is stealing from Walmart.  The additional damage could have been from those silently observing to see what would happen.  Then they would reason, “Well, they did it so I can too!”  So now self and others have been hurt from a foolish and yes, evil action.  It also hurts God, because he sees the damage being done to the sinner’s life and it grieves His Spirit (Ephesians 4:17-32).

Another common excuse to do evil is:  “I am not ready to change my life, I want to live a little first, then I will commit.”  In other words, self comes before God.  Self comes before any impact I have on those who come in contact with me.  Regardless of how wise a person thinks they are by taking this attitude, they are not guaranteed their next breath.  As the man of Luke 12:16-20 made big plans for his riches and future only to have his life end before they were realized, so too does this possibility exist for all men, young and old.  Loving God with all your heart, soul, and mind means God comes first (Matthew 22:37).  When man does not put God first, he is engaged in evil.

A third common excuse used by man: “It’s not my problem, it’s theirs”.  Often I see young men and women dress on the edge of decency.  Yes, their peer group may be pressuring them into meeting all the “official” guidelines of clothing – no low cut blouses, skirt to the knees, shoulders covered…, but they still wear the clothes tight and have the desire to make others look at them.  Guys trying to show off their chests, arms, abs, or legs are doing the same thing! There is a heart problem here.  In seeking to cause others to desire them, they are being lascivious.  They are causing someone else to lust.  Clothes are a tool.  They are a tool for covering the body.  Clothes are not properly to be a tool to create a longing in someone.  “But it’s not my problem, it’s theirs”.  Man is to keep one another from stumbling in sin.  They are not be a stumbling block (Romans16:17, I Corinthians 10:32-33, I Thessalonians 4:3-7, Jude 1:22-23).  When we enable someone else’s sin through our behavior, it is evil.

Why cease from evil?  God said not to do evil (Romans 6:11-15, I Thessalonians 5:22).  Man should love himself enough not to be disobedient to God.  He should love others enough not to do evil.  He should love God enough not to do evil.  Hear the words of the prophet Micah:

Micah 6:8 – He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Know and understand, the man who does evil does not have a pleasurable future.  The prophet Isaiah when calling upon Judah to “Cease to do evil” instructed them of the consequences.  In Isaiah 1:20 following his words of instruction Isaiah stated:

 “But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword:”

The Word of God is that sword (Ephesians 6:17).  It is two edged and sharp (Hebrews 4:12).  The Word of God can both protect in love and devour with punishment.  Isaiah shares the Word of God with the people so they might no longer sin through disobedience.  Some people today say that God would never do such a thing, but to the contrary, consider these words from His apostles:

2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 – And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

 2 Peter 3:7-12 – but the heavens that now are, and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But forget not this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering to you-ward, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing that these things are thus all to be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy living and godliness,  looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, by reason of which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

God never desired that man do evil and choose to be disobedient. He warned Adam and Eve not to do evil.  He called men to change their evil ways in the days of Noah (2 Peter 2:5, I Peter 3:18-20).  He called non Hebrew nations to repentance (Jonah, Nahum).  He called Judah to repentance (Isaiah 1:16).  Today, he calls all men to receive the power of salvation through the Gospel repenting of the evil they have done and cleansing themselves before Him (Acts 2:38, Romans 1:16).  Doing evil does harm to individual, community, and God.  Evil is commanded against and must stop.  In its place one must “learn to do good”.  Learning to do good will be the topic of the next article in this series.

 

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Understanding Revelation in a Song

Understanding Revelation in a Song

Understanding Revelation may be as easy as the singing of Makem and Clancy, an Irish Folk Duo who sang the song “Whatever you Say, Say Nothing”.  understanding revelation

As I worked piling brush and listening to music, this song came to my ears.  Funny enough, it reminded me of many descriptions of the book of Revelation.  The book of Revelation is written in language that is frequently figurative.  Why?  So whatever you say, you say nothing that would cause you know who to take you you know where and do you know what to you.  Will this help in unraveling Revelation?  Dunno, but I hope you enjoy the song.

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Babylon the Great

Babylon the Great

“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!”  This statement comes via an angel coming down from heaven in a vision of John in Revelation 18.  But who is Babylon?

The first mention of Babylon in the Bible comes from 2 Kings 17:24. The Assyrians were in power at the time and had destroyed the northern tribes of Israel.  As a method of keeping the land productive and also void of attempts of mutiny, the Assyrians moved people from the middle eastern province of Babylon as well as other lands to settle the land of Israel.  At a later time, Babylon as an empire and a city is mentioned in the book of Daniel.  For our investigation of the Babylon of Revelation 18, verse 9 of that text specifies the Babylon of focus is a city, not a province, country, or empire.

Narrowing the scope of examination, the city of Babylon was an ancient city dating back to the time frame of 2200 BC as part of the Accadian empire.  It at that time was small and relatively insignificant, but by the time of the Chaldean/Babylonian empire of Nebuchadnezzar around 600 BC it was a mighty city, possibly the largest in the world.  The pride and immorality of this city is most exemplified by Nebuchadnezzar, and it would be humbled as he was (see the book of Daniel). It was this mighty city that would be crushed by Cyrus the Great of Persia in 539 BC.  Is this the Babylon read about in Revelation 18?

The chapter of Revelation under examination gives further insight to the identity of Babylon the Great.  She was very sinful influencing kings, nations, and people of the world.  All nations were deceived by her.  The destiny of this city according to John’s inspired writing was destruction.  Verse 24 of the text provides a very specific clue as to who this Babylon is.  “And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on earth.”

Jesus when upon the earth spoke of the coming destruction of Jerusalem.  Matthew 23:29-37 is one of the places His words are recorded.  Jesus in this context speaks of those He would send to direct the lives of men: prophets, wise men, scribes.  He mentions that the Israelites would persecute, flog, crucify, and kill them.  Very exactly he states in verse 37, “O JERUSALEM, JERUSALEM, the city that KILLS the prophets and stones those who are sent to it.”  He also identifies in verse 35 that “all the righteous blood shed on earth” would come upon Jerusalem.  This establishes almost exactly the sentiment of Revelation 18:24.  “ALL” the blood of the slain prophets was found in Jerusalem – Babylon the Great!

An additional aid in understanding Jerusalem as the identity of our quest is the term “great city” used five times in Revelation 18.  Revelation 11:8 speaking of Jerusalem calls it the “great city” where the Lord was crucified.  In fact, it is my assertion every instance of the words “great city” in Revelation reference Jerusalem.

Jerusalem played the harlot with the world.  It was arrogant, adulterous, and murderous.  That it is compared to the historically immoral city of Babylon should come of no shock.  Jerusalem had been called out over centuries for what it was and the behaviors it engaged in.  It had also been compared Sodom frequently by the prophets.  Jerusalem was a shambles of what it should have been, which was a light upon a hill.  Rather, Jerusalem was a plague that polluted and destroyed as did Babylon.  Indeed, it became Babylon the Great.

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Noah walked with God

Noah walked with God

The man Noah is mentioned in both the Old Testament and the New Testament of the Bible.  He was born during a timeframe when the Lord saw that the hearts of mankind were focused upon evil “continually”.  Due to this fact, God had it in mind to destroy man. After generations of bad decisions, the majority chose to wholly pursue evil.  Noah was not one of those people.  He chose to be righteous (Genesis 6:9).  His example (and that of Enoch before him) demonstrates Humans are not inherently evil as Calvinists proclaim.  “Noah Found Grace in the eyes of the Lord” because of the way he walked with God. walked with God

Noah is widely known for his obedience in building an ark by the commandment of the Lord.  The ark saved Noah, his wife, sons, and daughters-in-law from the wrath of God upon the sinful via a worldwide flood.  It is quite likely that those with Noah were saved to enable the repopulation of the earth (Genesis 9:1).  However, consider the possibility that they were saved due to Noah’s righteous instruction (2 Peter 2:5).  God could have easily started humanity again from the rocks of the earth (Matthew 3:9).  He could have repopulated earth with only Noah and his wife birthing children.  God did not choose to just save two, He saved eight.  In the book of Ezekiel, Noah is mentioned in the grouping of two other men: Daniel and Job.  These also were righteous, God-fearing men.  The text in Ezekiel establishes that no righteous man can deliver the souls of others, but rather souls are saved by their own righteousness that is by faith.  Thus, again, consider the proclamation of righteousness by Noah.  Noah walked with God and may very well have led to the obedient walk and salvation of those with him.

Another intriguing aspect of the life of Noah is that his father Lamech declared Noah would bring relief concerning the work of their hands upon the cursed ground.  Recall that the ground of the earth (nothing else) was cursed when Adam and Eve sinned in the garden.  Many consider this curse to continue today, however, the Bible does not substantiate this claim.  In fact, the Bible refutes it.  Following the flood, Noah and his family depart from the Ark.  Noah then made an offering to the Lord.  God declares that for the sake of man He will no longer curse the earth.  Does He know that man will continue to conceive of evil even when young?  Yes.  However, the Eternal Father blesses man in their new beginning, desiring once again that they be fruitful and fill the earth.

Noah is a transitional character in scripture.  He is the end of an era and the start of another.  Noah walked with God and is an example of how important that is.  Noah’s life illustrates the impact of not only living righteously but sharing God’s direction to live so.  Noah could not save the world, but by proper recognition of God, he enabled the creation of another.  He ended a curse, and he drew a blessing.  Noah was only one person, but he was the right person.  He was the person that God desired him to be.

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