The Cloud of Witnesses
Former title Lessons From the People of the Bible
Set 1Available for NZ$25 + shipping. Enquire at the email address at the bottom of the page. These lessons are also available as PDFs (with the number of lessons in brackets). Abraham (5) — David (5) — Esther (4) — Gideon (5) — Isaac (6) — Jacob (7) — Job (6) — John the Baptist (6) — Jonah (4) — Jonathan (6) — Joseph (10) — Joseph of Nazareth (6) — Mary (4) — Mary Magdalene (4) — Mary of Bethany (3) — Moses (5) — Nehemiah (8) — Nicodemus (4) — Noah (6) — Paul the Apostle (5) — Peter (5) — Philip (4) — Ruth (7) — King Saul (6) — Stephen (6) — Thomas (4)Download the complete set 1 as PDFs (2.46 MB).The lessons of set 1 are also available as individual online lessons below. |
Set 2Available for NZ$25 + shipping. Enquire at the email address at the bottom of the page. These lessons are available as PDFs (with the number of lessons in brackets). These PDFs have not yet been updated to the new name. Andrew (7) — Caleb (7) — Daniel (7) — Elijah (6) — Elisha (5) — Isaiah (21) — John (22) — Joshua (16) — Leah (2) — Luke (22) — Mary Magdalene (3) — Matthew (9) — Miriam (4) — Nahum (2) — Rachel (6) — Rebekah (5) — Samson (5)Download the complete set 2 as PDFs (1.85 MB). |
Noah
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Lesson 2: Noah – Stood Out From The Crowd
Reading
Genesis 6:8-13.
Stood Out From The Crowd
In The Bible we read, “The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good” (Proverbs 15:3). This was dramatically demonstrated here. God looked down on earth and saw that everyone was going about their lives with complete disregard to the fact that they had a wonderful and holy Creator.
They had become so arrogant that they saw no need of a relationship with God and that He should seek to have any influence in or over their lives. Unfortunately, it made them increasingly blind to the mess they had created for themselves.
We see it in our kids, don’t we? They go off on their own and start doing things their own way, only to find out it doesn’t work, and we have to step in to restore it or repair their actions. Usually, they are not very grateful at the time either!
The sad truth is that we are just the same. We get fixated with wealth, power, toys or ambition, and our thinking becomes muddled.
We start off thinking we can do it all ourselves – just give me that piece of No. 8 wire and I’ll fix it. When that doesn’t work very well we decide to use other people to advance our selfish ambition, and that happens through ‘climbing over others to the top’, back-biting, gossip or character assassination of those who may be or get in our way.
Then we treat others purely as objects, and so no longer cherish long term relationships. If the other person fails to meet our needs, desires or goals, we drop them or abuse them so they get out of the way.
The sad thing is that not only do we hurt them but we destroy ourselves in the process. Doing my own thing or doing it my way becomes my all-consuming passion, and anyone or anything that gets in the way must be destroyed.
If we make the time to stop and consider our true position, we find that life is a shambles, and we are of all people the most to be pitied.
Paul gives an astute description of humanity in Romans chapter 1 – it’s as true today as when it was written, and it is the same as what God saw in Genesis 6.
Selfishness and pride do not breed peace, joy, love and community. They breed jealousy, arrogance, independence and fear. Human relationships suffer the most, and we end up with dysfunctional and desperate families, and a society which has lost its way and any hope of recovery.
Into that milieu Noah spoke. His life was totally different. He looked to God for direction and the eternal principles of life. He stood out like a beacon in a dark world by not only his life-style but also his words and deeds. Peter tells us he preached whilst he built the ark, warning the people of the wrath of God to come in the earth-enveloping flood. The fact that only 8 people were saved did not negate the life he lived or the message he shared.
Noah would say to us today...
Your lifestyle should reveal your relationship with God; your words have to proclaim the message of salvation.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, please help me be a shining light in this dark world as I follow Your ways, and please give me the opportunities to share the truth of Your Second Coming and salvation from the wrath of God, in the right way and at the right time. Amen.
Additional readings
Hebrews 11:7; 1 Peter 3:17-22; 2 Peter 2:4-9; 1 Peter 3:15-17.
Questions
Do your neighbours know you are a Christian?
Have you told your work colleagues how to become a Christian?
How does your life stand out from the crowd?
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