Lives of Scripture

Noah was the son of Lamech and a descendant of Seth, living in a generation Scripture describes as thoroughly corrupt: "the earth was filled with violence" and "every intent of the thoughts of man's heart was only evil continually" (Genesis 6:5,11). Amid this, Noah "found favor in the eyes of the LORD" and "walked with God" (6:8-9). God warned Noah of a coming flood to judge the earth and commanded him to build an ark of specific dimensions, then to bring his wife, three sons, their wives, and pairs of every living creature aboard. Noah obeyed "according to all that God had commanded him" (6:22), building the ark while, per 2 Peter 2:5's title for him, "a preacher of righteousness," the world took no heed. The flood came; every other living thing outside the ark perished, and after the waters receded, Noah's family and the animals emerged onto dry ground (Genesis 7-8). Noah built an altar and offered sacrifice, and God established a covenant, promising never again to destroy all flesh by flood, with the rainbow as its sign (9:1-17). Scripture does not spare Noah's own flaws: soon after, he became drunk on wine from his own vineyard and lay exposed in his tent, leading to his son Ham's disgraceful conduct and Noah's resulting curse on Canaan (9:20-27) -- even the flood's survivor was no sinless man.