Called by God: Noah

Steven Lake Posted on Posted in Life Well-Lived Tagged with , , ,

“This is the account of Noah.  Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God.”  Genesis 6:9

Background
In Noah’s generation there was great wickedness on earth. It was a corrupt and violent place where men were inclined to think only evil thoughts all the time. God was grieved that He had made man and His heart was filled with pain. So he decided to wipe out all living creatures from the face of the earth.

Noah, however, found favor with God because Noah was righteous, blameless and walked with God. So God gave Noah the first part of his calling.

  • Make an ark
  • Bring into it two of all living things – one male and one female

Response
Noah did everything that the Lord commanded him.

Then God gave Noah the next two assignments of his calling:

  • Go into the ark with your family
  • Take with you a male and female of every kind of living thing

Response
Noah did all that God commanded him.

After the Flood, Noah built an altar and offered a sacrifice to the Lord who was pleased by the aroma. God then promised, “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done” (Genesis 8:21).

God blessed Noah and his family and gave him the last three assignments of his calling:

  • Be fruitful
  • Increase in numbers
  • Fill the earth

God also set His rainbow in the clouds as a sign of His covenant with Noah and His promise to never again destroy all living things.

Meaning – A calling …

  • Always serves God’s purpose in a specific generation
  • Is based on God’s plans and purposes in the world
  • Is accompanied by God’s blessing
  • Includes at least 2 components:  GO somewhere and DO something
  • Will be revealed if you find favor in His eyes
  • Is secondary to character – being righteous, blameless, and obedient
  • May have multiple steps over time

Summary
Your personal relationship with God is vital. Your calling is secondary to your walk with Him.  You cannot be righteous, blameless or obedient in your own strength; rather, you desperately need Him moment-by-moment.

Prayer
Lord, I long so much for a closer, deeper relationship with You.  My sinful self gets in the way so often.  Draw me closer to You and keep me there.  Amen.

© 2013 Designed to Serve®

About

Dr. Steve Lake is a retired educator with over 30 years experience in the American public schools. He has served in a variety of position, including teacher, elementary school principal, junior high principal, Associate Superintendent, retired from public education as Superintendent of Schools in Lincolnwood, IL. He has his Bachelors, Masters and Doctor of Education degrees from Northern Illinois University. For the past 25 years Steve has attended and been a member of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington and Northfield, IL. At Willow Creek Steve has taught adult classes on spiritual gifts, life purpose, and spiritual disciplines. He has ministered overseas in Angola, Zambia, Honduras, Germany, and Russia. Steve is co-founder of Designed to Serve, a ministry that equips Christians to live out their unique God-given calling. Steve is married and has two adult children who are married.