1.

Hebrews 11:7a says that Noah was warned about things not yet seen. What does “things yet not seen” refer to? (Genesis 6:7,13-21)  Why was it difficult for people to believe the warning given to Noah?  Yet, how was Noah able to believe it? (Hebrews 11:7a)  What can we learn from Noah?

** It refers to the impending judgment, that is, the Great Flood. It was to come because of the great wickedness of mankind, especially sexual immorality. Genesis 6:1-5 

** It was difficult to believe because: 1) This had never happened before; 2) there were no indications that it was about to happen. Luke 17:26; 2Pe 3:4

** He believed it because God said it. He was moved by reverent fear of the Lord. 

** The Bible has many warnings. For example, Revelation 20:15 says, “If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” But not all people believe in the existence of the lake of fire. What do you believe? What God says in the Bible or Satan’s tempting promises? But we must take God’s warnings in the Bible seriously. 

2.

In holy fear Noah built an ark to save his family.  Genesis Chapters 6 through 8 describe how this happened.  What do the following expressions show about God’s way of salvation: 1) “Get into the ark, you and your whole family” (Genesis 7:1; John 1:12-13); and 2) “On that very day…Noah…entered the ark”? (Genesis 7:13; Mark 1:15; Luke 17:32)

** Jesus is the ark of salvation. He is the good news for all who are dying. He died for our sins and rose again for our justification. When we believe in Him, we will be saved. 

** So we must flee from the evil of this wicked and adulterous generation, to Christ, the ark. We must remember Lot’s wife, and we should not look back.  

3.

Hebrews 11:7 says, “By his faith he condemned the world…”  How does this parallel the way God uses believers in our own generation to condemn the world? (Genesis 7:16; John 3:19; 1 Cor 6:2)

** Noah condemned the people of his day by believing God and building the ark while they watched, sneering. Through his work and word he preached to them for 120 years, but only his own entered the ark with him. Others had the opportunity to have salvation, but either ignored or rejected it, and God shut the door. 

Every Christian who consistently follows the Lord condemns, by his behavior and preaching, those who do not. Is your wife, father or friend, involuntarily condemning you?

4.

Noah became heir of the righteous that comes by faith.  What does “heir of the righteous” mean?  (2 Tim 4:8; Psalm 1:1-6)   

** It means receiving a crown of righteousness, i.e., gaining righteous standing as a member of the family of God, a bride of Jesus Christ the bridegroom. This standing comes with all other blessings such as becoming the heir and coheirs of the perfected world to come.