The Days of Noah Matthew 24:37–39
I.INTRODUCTION:
A. Jesus Compared the Days of Noah to the Last Days (Matthew 24:36–39)––
1. The return of Christ will come upon mankind as suddenly and as unexpectedly as did the
great flood in the days of Noah.
2. Not only this, but the Lord compared the character of those days to that of men at the time of His return (24:38).
3. Therefore, there is something we can learn from the days of Noah that will help the believer triumph in this time which is “as in the days of Noah” (Matthew 24:38).
B. Peter Called the Days of Noah a Time of God’s Longsuffering (I Peter 3:20)––
1. Peter describes that wicked time before the flood as a time in which “the longsuffering of God
waited”.
2. The “days of Noah” were in reality a time of salvation, a time of deliverance and a time mercy. 3. Therefore, as we consider the “days of Noah” with a view to learning something relevant and
help to our days, let us do so from God’s perspective as well as that of Noah and the men who lived with him in those days.
II.DISCUSSION:
A. They Were Evil Days (cf. Ephesians 5:16)— 1. Marriage abused (Genesis 6:2)
a. The implication is that these marriages were based on lust. b. It was a time of polygamy (Genesis 4:23)
c. Cf. I Peter. 3:7
2. The wicked ruled (Genesis 6:4) a. Mighty men = warriors
b. Renown = infamous
c. It was a time of “might makes right”. 3. Violence prevailed (Genesis 6:11)
a. Murder was prevalent (Genesis 4:10; 24)
b. Men had lost respect for God’s image in man (Genesis 9:5–6)
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4. Men were corrupt (Genesis 6:12)
a. Evil men wax worse and worse (II Timothy 3:13)
b. It had become “the world of the ungodly” (II Peter 2:5) 5. God was grieved (Genesis 6:6)
a. “It repented God that he had made man.” b. God regretted it; He was remorseful.
B. They Were Dark Days (cf. II Timothy 3:1, 13)–– 1. It was a time of apostasy (Genesis 6:2)
a. The “sons of God” married “daughters of men” b. Not angels and humans (Matthew 22:30)
c. Believers and unbelievers (cf. I Corinthians 7:26) 2. The Word was rejected (Genesis 6:3)
a. Noah preached righteousness (II Peter 2:5) b. Men were disobedient (I Peter 3:20)
c. They continued in their ungodliness (II Peter 2:5) 3. Sin conquered (Genesis 6:5)
a. As wickedness increased, it prevailed to the extent that all were lost.
b. I am not certain why or how God allowed sin to go unchecked until the flood.
c. I can only affirm that such was according to His purpose and necessary to the salvation of a multitude that cannot be numbered (Revelation 5:9–11; 7:9)
4. Few righteous (Genesis 7:1, 7)
a. “Eight souls were saved by water” b. “Noah the eighth person”
5. Appointed for destruction (Genesis 6:17)
a. God purposed to destroy man in judgment of his sins (6:7, 17; 7:4).
b. Again, this was necessary to God’s eternal purpose in Christ for salvation (Ephesians 1:9ff).
C. They Were Trying Times (cf. II Peter 2:5, 9)–– 1. People were indifferent (Matthew 24:39)
a. “And knew not…” (v. 39)
b. How could they not know? (Genesis 6:3; II Peter 2:5; I Peter 3:19)
c. They did not know because they were interested in other things (Luke 21:34–36)
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2. The work was difficult (Genesis 6:14–21)
a. Imagine building a boat 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet tall with only four men.
b. Noah had to gather all the materials, build the ark, and acquire all the food and supplies. c. In all this, Noah was diligent and obedient (Genesis 6:22; Hebrews 11:7).
3. The results were discouraging (I Peter 3:20)
a. Every morning out on the local “sandlot” Noah and his sons were up early hammering, sawing and applying pitch.
b. Whenever a crowd gathered Noah would preach righteousness and judgment to come. c. When the day ended it was Noah and his sons hammering, sawing and applying pitch.
4. The reality was sad (Ezekiel 14:14, 20)
a. For all their effort, for all their pleading, for all their sincere desire to see the world saved, they could only save themselves (cf. Genesis 7:1).
b. Noah could not repent for the world; he could not pray for the world; he could not obey for the world (Ezekiel 18:20).
5. The outcome was horrifying (Hebrews 11:7) a. Noah condemned the world.
b. The result of his preaching left them without excuse (cf. Romans 1:20).
c. The inevitable reality was that impenitent men would perish (II Peter 2:5). III. CONCLUSION:
A. Our Days Are “as the Days of Noah” Were (Matthew 24:36–39)––
1. As we noted in the beginning of our lesson, these days, the last days before Christ comes again
are “as” or “like” the “days of Noah.
a. These days are evil days (Ephesians 5:16). (1) Marriage is abused
(2) The wicked rule (3) Violence prevails
(4) Men are corrupt and corrupting (5) Certainly, God is grieved
b. These days are dark days (II Timothy 3:13) (1) It is a time of apostasy
(2) The Word is rejected
(3) Sin is conquering the world and religious institutions
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(4) There seem to be few righteous (but there are more then eight) (5) Our world is appointed for destruction (II Peter 3:7)
c. These days are trying days (II Peter 2:9)
(1) People are indifferent (Matthew 24:12; Revelation 3:1) (2) The work is difficult (I Thessalonians 1:3)
(3) The results are discouraging (Luke 13:23; 18:8) (4) The reality is sad (Acts 2:40)
(5) The outcome is horrifying (II Peter 3:10)
2. We must face “our” days as Noah faced “his” days.
a. Noah sought and found God’s grace (Genesis 6:8; Hebrews 11:6). b. Noah was obedient to God’s Word (Genesis 6:22; 7:5).
(1) Noah trusted God for what he could not provide himself (Genesis 7:14–16; cf. 2:19). (2) However, what God required he did (Genesis 6:14, 21–22).
(3) God never requires more than we are able to do (I Corinthians 10:13; I John 5:3). c. Noah understood that he preached and God converts (II Peter 2:5; I Peter 3:19–20).
(1) By human standards Noah, John the Baptist and Stephen were poor preachers.
(2) However, by Divine standards they are great men (I Corinthians 3:6–7; Colossians 2:19). (3) Growth and success are determined by God and not by numbers (I Peter 3:20).
d. Noah was concerned for the lost (Genesis 7:4–5; I Peter 3:20).
(1) As long as there was time there was hope (II Corinthians 5:11; II Peter 3:9, 15). (2) The flood was very real to Noah long before it ever came (Hebrews 11:7).
(3) Is the return of Christ, judgment and hell real to you?
B. “What Manner of Persons Ought Ye to Be?”––
1. Are you looking for and hastening unto the Day of Christ’s return? (II Peter 3:11)
2. Are you being diligent to be found of Christ in peace and without spot and blameless? (3:14)
3. Are you counting God’s longsuffering as salvation? (3:15)
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