Hebrews 11 English Standard Version

By Faith

⁷ By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

By faith God warned Noah of events never seen before on earth. How was information passed from God to Noah? It does not say here that God spoke to Noah as we might expect. In Genesis 6:9 it says; These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. 

This statement puts Noah on the same footing with Enoch, his grandfather. Noah walked by faith, pleased God and was chosen by God. Rather than taking Noah as He did with Enoch, God laid out His plans with Noah. God spoke to Noah. Since God is spirit and is not seen, where did the voice come from and how did Noah know that it was God speaking? Prior experience by Noah’s faith walk with God and the relationship that was formed between the two.

Within the opening passage is one important comment that should not be ignored. Noah had a reverential fear of God. Noah pleased God, had a righteousness that became his birthright and yet held God as being the highest authority in the world that has the right to do His will.

Now comes the greater issue about faith. Noah obeyed God even though it made no sense to Noah. Why build the Ark of such magnitude when Noah did not even know about floods? The events unseen in all Noah’s history was rain and floods.

The process of faith is now forming. Have faith in God. Walk by faith with God. Trust God by faith. Hear God by faith. Believe God by faith. Obey God by faith. Faith is active in every part of our experience. Faith is not a separate entity unto itself, it is involved in every aspect of our life.