Trusting God: The Righteousness and Leadership of Noah
In Genesis we know that Noah was chosen by God to build an ark to save himself, his wife, his three sons and their three wives and every living thing of all flesh, birds and every creeping animal in pairs [male and female]. The story of Noah is not about a simple story of animals, a flood and an ark. Noah’s name comes up fifty times throughout the Bible in nine different books. Noah was chosen by God because he was a righteous person. In fact, the first time the word “righteous” is used in the Bible was to describe Noah’s character as God saw him. The first covenant [agreement] God made with man was with Noah [God would not destroy the world again with a flood] and the last was the New Covenant God made with man by offering His Son, Jesus Christ as a sacrifice to take the punishment for man’s sin so man would not have to die, but live and have communion with God in this life and in heaven. Because all have sinned, we are separated from God. The "Good News" is, is that God gave man a way out of eternal death through Jesus. And all who believe in Him shall not perish.
God also loved mankind, but mankind during Noah’s time had become sinful and evil and the Bible says: "And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart" [Genesis 6:6]. God decided to destroy man, "....everything on earth shall die" [Genesis 6:17]. God would start over again and He chose Noah and his immediate family to make humankind over again.
"And Noah did according to all that the Lord commanded him" [Genesis 7:5]. God is the supreme leader, and He chose Noah (a righteous man) to lead as God instructed him to lead.
Most people have some knowledge of Noah, the ark and the animals. But how did Noah build an ark 450 feet long. Was he a master boat builder, a superior carpenter or did it happen a different way. It certainly happened a different way. God gave Noah all the knowledge he needed to get the job done; this included instructing his family on what they should do and how to do it. Noah trusted God and God trusted Noah because He knew Noah as an obedient, “blameless” man who walked with God.
So, Noah as the leader of his family instructed his wife and sons and their wives of what God told him to do and they all obeyed him. Why did they obey him? Everybody else in the towns and surrounding areas must have thought Noah was crazy. For 120 years Noah preached repentance to the people and they did not listen. His family obeyed Noah because they also knew him as a righteous man, a good man, a moral man, a virtuous man. There was no reason for him to make up stories. A strong leader leads by example, not words alone. Noah had a reputation for integrity, uprightness and an honest provider. He had the love and respect of his family. His character was not blemished.
How could it be that Noah and his wife, three sons and their wives be spared by God? If we look back to Noah’s genealogy in Genesis we know that Enoch was Noah’s great grandfather, Methuselah was his grandfather and Lamech [Genesis 5:28-29] was his father. “Enoch walked with God…for God took him” [Genesis 5:24]. Enoch was a godly man and had an intimate relationship with God. He “walked with God.” He was special to God because he did not die, “for God took him.” Enoch likely trained up his son Methuselah to respect and worship God. Methuselah holds the record for the oldest living person in the Bible at 969 years. And when Methuselah had a son, Lamech, at age 187; he trained up Lamech to revere and be obedient to God. And Lamech’s son Noah was born when Lamech was 182 years of age. Did Noah learn about God from his father? Yes, and Noah passed down his knowledge and his obedience to God to his wife, sons and their wives. This is why they were all saved by the grace of God. Noah had his boys after 500 years of age; so Noah was a tad passed middle age. And the youngsters [Shem, Ham and Japheth] were just over 100 years old and Noah was 600 years of age when the rains began and they entered the ark. Everything on the earth died except all that were on the ark.
Noah did what God [the supreme leader] said to do, and Noah's family did what Noah told them to do, as God instructed. The ark was built. All the animals, the creeping things on earth and the birds were collected. Food was gathered, and everything God said to do was done.
Noah was not a perfect person. But God does not choose perfect people. There are no perfect people, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” [Romans 3:23] to lead others (Abraham, David, Moses, and Solomon had many faults). But the Bible says, "Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God" [Genesis 6:9]. God chooses people that are best suited for getting the job done. Noah would end up leading a new generation. And here we are today.
Noah led his family to start a new life as God instructed: "So God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them: "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth" [Genesis 9:1]. And they did.
What Can We Learn From Noah Regarding Trusting God and Leadership?
First, a good leader leads by example. If you are the head of your household, do the right things; do it God’s way. Show your children and other family members that you are obedient to God. You must be trustworthy and virtuous. Show them that you are a person of integrity. Show them that you love God and that you obey His laws and that you worship Him in spirit. If you haven't done this in the past, start today. God wants you to be a strong leader. Good leaders are respected not feared. Good leaders do not compromise when it comes to the laws of God. Show your family how to glorify God daily in everything they do. Lead by example and don’t stray.
Second, Noah made sacrifices. A good leader has to choose. Not every decision is an easy one. Your decisions may be unfavorable among your family members, employees or others in your organization; but as long as the decisions are for good and benefit God (a decision God would be pleased with), then you decisions are good decisions. A righteous leader asks [consults] God for help with any tough decisions; in fact, with all decisions regarding the welfare of others.
Noah chose to do what God told him to do. A good leader listens and carries out the tasks that are required of him. A good leader is obedient. Noah conveyed God's instructions to his family as a good leader. Because of Noah’s integrity and his love of God, he was a trusted husband and father.
Third, leadership is influence. The task at hand of building a massive ark, taking many years and gathering the food and animals must have been an overwhelming thought at first. But Noah was an influential person with his family; he had to be. Again, a leader is one whose word is trusted because he has led by example by living a life as a virtuous man, a disciplined man, an obedient man, a faithful man, a man of longsuffering, and a man of joy walking with God.
Following in Noah's Footsteps
It is not too late to start anew with your family, employees or group. Leadership is the hallmark that keeps a family, business or organization together. And good, strong leadership, with trust in God, is what holds a group together through tough times. Successful leadership breeds growth. So, lead with righteousness, walk with God, and go out and be fruitful.
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Mihran Kulhanjian is President and Founder of Christian Revival Mission. He is an author and businessman.