|
To
Study:
Genesis 6:1-22, 7:1-24, 8:1-22, 9:1-17.
To Read in class: Genesis 6:13-22, 7:1-6, 8:1-12.
Memory Texts:
Younger: Genesis 6:5. “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great
in the earth.”
Older: Hebrews 11:7. “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not
seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the
which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by
faith.”
OBJECTIVES: To teach that:
1. The human heart is sinful and rebellious against God.
2. God is omniscient and knows what is happening on earth. Because of His grace,
He gives man time to repent.
3. Before God sends judgment, He first offers a way of escape.
4. When individuals walk with God, they keep themselves separate from the
influences of the world.
5. The day of grace will not last forever; at some time in the future, it will
come to an end.
SCENE 1. VISUAL AIDS: Open country with the ark under construction and
figures of Noah talking to the people, explaining its purpose and warning them
of coming judgment. Figures of people mocking Noah. Sign with words of 1 Peter
3:20.
DEVELOPMENT:
 - The
expression, "Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD” (Genesis 6:8), shows that
Noah was conscious of God's holiness and permitted God's will to govern his
life.
- Having been warned by God of coming judgment, Noah began the construction of
the ark.
- In this way, he showed he believed God and recognized his need of future
protection.
- The ark Noah constructed was not his own idea, but God indicated to him the
materials to be used, as well as its dimensions, form, and other details.
- The ark not only met Noah’s needs but also satisfied the needs of his family
and of any other person that wanted protection from coming judgment.
Cmt. For the people of Noah’s day, the plan of salvation in the ark was for
everyone. The same is true today; the plan of salvation through Christ has been
devised by God and is offered unto all.
Cmt. In a time when almost all the inhabitants were disobedient to God (1 Peter
3:20), Noah was an exception on account of his obedience (Genesis 6:22, 7:5, 9,
16).
Cns. Noah’s life showed that it is possible to live in an honourable way in the
midst of a society that had abandoned God. He also taught his children to love,
obey and trust God.
- The ark had to be large enough to give protection to all the animals and any
people that might wish to enter.
- Such a large structure would catch people’s attention.
Cmt. No doubt the neighbours asked Noah about the work he was doing. He is
called “a preacher of righteousness” (2 Peter 2:5), and he warned of coming
judgment and how to escape it.
Cns. God speaks to people through their ears and eyes. Today they hear the
Gospel message and can see evidence of God being at work in the lives of others.
See 2 Corinthians 3:2-3.
Cns. World events ought to awaken an interest in knowing what the Scriptures
foretell.
Sug. Help the students to grasp that it is through the preaching of the Gospel
that God warns people of coming judgment. Exm. Paul before Felix (Acts 24:25).
- People mocked Noah and his preaching. No doubt they thought he was out of his
mind to build a great boat where there was no water to float it.
- Up to that point in time the earth was watered by dew.
- No doubt they could not understand how there could be a heavy fall of rain and
then a flood.
Cmt. There are some prophesies whose details of fulfillment we cannot understand
when we read them, but we accept what God says in His word and trust Him that He
will bring them to pass.
Ilu. People today find it difficult to imagine the full impact of the words in
Hebrews 10:31 “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
- The unbelieving attitude of the people did not have any effect on Noah. He
kept on preaching and
constructing the ark during 120 years. He is honoured among the heroes of faith
mentioned in Hebrews 11.
Obs. Despite the indifference of many today, Christians do the same as Noah; we
continue to preach the Gospel and to warn people of the judgment to come.
SCENE 2. VISUAL AIDS: Open country with figures of the ark finished and
animals and birds coming to take refuge in it. Sign saying: “LORD SHUT HIM IN”
DEVELOPMENT:
 - A
great variety of animals arrived at the ark, for the Divine intention was to
preserve human and animal life on the earth following the flood.
- When the time came for the animals to take refuge in the ark, God put within
them the instinct that directed their steps to enter.
- Seven pairs of clean animals entered, some of which would afterwards be used
for sacrifices.
Besides these, a pair of each of the unclean animals went into the ark.
Cns. The animals were more obedient than the majority of the humans.
- During the time they were inside the ark, the animals were not kept in cages
nor did they attack each other. God’s control over His creation includes the
animal world.
Cns. The invitation to enter the ark was an invitation of grace, similar to the
invitation made to the sinner to come to Christ for salvation.
- After showing much grace and patience, at the end of the 120 years, God
Himself closed the door of the ark (Genesis 7:16).
SCENE 3. VISUAL AIDS: Figure of the ark floating on the water, which covers
the whole earth. Sign saying “40 days and 40 nights.” Another sign saying
“Inside the ark for almost 10 months.” Figure of a dove.
DEVELOPMENT:
 -
Noah's safety depended on his response to the will and word of God, and once
inside the ark, it was God's power that secured the door. No one could take Noah
out of the ark.
Apl. When a sinner accepts the invitation to “enter” into the salvation that is
offered in Christ, it
is to enjoy eternal security. See John 10_27-29.
- God shut the door of the ark. Noah could do nothing to allow others to enter.
Neither could anyone open the door from the outside. Those outside were lost
forever.
- After a lapse of 7 days, judgment began with torrential rain from above, and
the fountains from beneath breaking open to cover the earth with water.
- When the waters began to rise, there would be no unbelievers outside the ark.
See Matthew 24:39 and the words “Knew not UNTIL the flood came.”
Cns. Once the judgment of torrential rains commenced, the day of opportunity was
over and it was too late for unbelievers to repent.
Cmt. God saves those who respond with faith. According to 2 Corinthians 5:5, God
is the only one who can accomplish salvation. The entire work is of God.
- After 40 days of rain, the waters covered the earth for a period of 150 days.
Then the ark rested on the mountains of Ararat.
- Sensing the waters might have receded, Noah released a raven and a dove into
the air. The behaviour of the birds would be a sign to him of the condition in
which the earth was found.
- The law declared the raven as an unclean bird, while the dove is called a
clean bird. The raven feeds on carrion, or decomposing flesh. The dove would
look for clean food, like the seeds from trees.
- While the raven found food in the remains of flesh floating on the water, it
only returned once in awhile to the ark. The dove returned immediately which
indicated to Noah that the renewed earth had not yet appeared.
- In its search for a clean place where new plants and grains were available,
the dove found nowhere to land. It came and went until finally it found
something clean, which answered to its clean nature.
- When the dove returned with an olive leaf in its beak, Noah knew the earth had
reappeared.
Apl. The dove is a figure of the Holy Spirit Who enters into a submissive and
clean heart, and there
remains. This happens when a sinner trusts in Christ and is cleansed from sin.
The person becomes a child of God.
SCENE 4. VISUAL AIDS: An area on a mountainside where the ark has rested.
Figures of animals outside of the ark while Noah and his family offer a
sacrifice to God. A rainbow is seen in the heavens.
DEVELOPMENT:
 - No
doubt the people inside the ark had many tasks to perform, such as giving food
to the animals and caring for them.
- Noah and his family had to wait patiently while God carried out His work in
the world. They were not forgotten by God. See Genesis 8:1, “And God remembered
Noah, and every living thing.”
Apl. God does not forget His own. He faithfully cares for them and keeps His
promises.
- When God tells Noah the moment had arrived to leave the ark, he steps out onto
the renewed earth.
- Noah immediately offers a sacrifice of gratitude to God.
Cmt. This is the first mention of an altar in the Bible. In the case of Cain and
Abel, no altar is
mentioned for the emphasis was on the offering for sin; here it is to show
gratitude.
- By this means, Noah recognizes the saving grace of God Who had not only saved
him from death but had also preserved him during the entire experience. Noah was
brought through judgment to the dawn of a new day and a new life.
- The instruction given in Eden to populate the earth is repeated (Genesis 9:1).
Apl. Those who have been saved from coming judgment ought to show their
gratitude to God and with grateful hearts, worship and praise Him for what He
has done.
- Adoration of God is as acceptable to God today as in the days of Noah (Genesis
8:21).
Cmt. It is part of the teacher’s responsibility to teach children about
thankfulness, gratitude, and
recognition of God's goodness.
- The Bible says that the Father is seeking worshippers (John 4:23).
- The Bible also says one of the signs of the last days is ingratitude (1
Timothy 3:1-2).
- The rainbow is a visible sign that represents a new covenant God made with
man.
Cmt. Nothing in nature is able to make a rainbow disappear following a rain, so
nothing can keep the promises of God from being fulfilled.
Ccl. The principal lessons are:
1. There is a need to take into account the warnings of judgment found in the
prophecies of Scripture which are repeated in preaching.
2. Judgment is final. There is no escape for those who reject the grace of God.
3. 1st Peter 3:20 gives the Divine review of what occurred at the time of the
flood.
4. See Habakkuk 3:2 “O LORD, ... in wrath remember mercy.” God in His mercy
gives time to the sinner to repent.
5. Luke 13:25 warns of the day when the master of the house shall rise up and
shut the door. At the moment, it remains open.
6. 2nd Corinthians 6:2 says "Behold, NOW is the accepted time; behold, NOW is
the day of salvation." The word is NOW, not TODAY. NOW is more immediate, more
urgent.
Cmt. Some people wonder why God does not intervene in this violent and wicked
world. The rainbow was God’s promise to show mercy, and so He continues carrying
out His commitment to a perishing world.
- In Noah’s day, the Lord had said “My spirit shall not always strive with man”
and He placed a limit of 120 years to show His patience (Genesis 6:3).
- It is not known what limit God has placed on the Day of Grace, but He has
already established a day of judgment. See Acts 10:31.
|
