Noah in the rest of the Old Testament

I began this series on Noah by pointing out “Noah is mentioned quite often in the Bible” /  “Noah is rather important” / “he is therefore a key figure in Genesis”. This week I plan to look at what the rest of the Bible says about Noah. Today, Noah in the rest of the Old Testament.

First, an emphasis from the book of Genesis:

5:32 And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
6:10 And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
7:13 In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark;
9:18 And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan.
9: 19 These are the three sons of Noah: and of them was the whole earth overspread.
10:1 Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood.
10: 32 These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.

Seven times Moses mentions the three sons of Noah. “Seven is the number of spiritual perfection.”* This is obviously important, and we are told very clearly what that significance is in 9:19, 10:1, and 10:32 – of them was the whole earth overspread or as the LXX puts it, of these were men scattered over all the earth.

The five more times in the rest of Old Testament:

1 Chronicles 1:4 Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Noah and his three sons are listed in the genealogies in Chronicles. Genesis mentions them seven times, this is the eighth time they are referred to. "Seven is the number of perfect completion, eight is the super abundant number, the first of a new series;"* a new beginning. Mankind begins anew and afresh with Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Isaiah 54:9 For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.
Isaiah 54 is a wonderful chapter, full of tenderness and rich in God’s promises to Israel.  “Just as I swore to Noah, so I am swearing to you.” Noah and the flood are presented as historical. If they are anything less than literal and historical, this verse has no significance. But Noah really did live, the flood really did happen, God really did promise the waters should no more go over the earth, therefore we can believe what God says and depend on Him to keep His promises. Amen.

Ezekiel 14:12-23
12 The word of the LORD came again to me, saying,  

13 Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it:  
14 Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD.  
15 If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land, and they spoil it, so that it be desolate, that no man may pass through because of the beasts:  
16 Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters; they only shall be delivered, but the land shall be desolate.  
17 Or if I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Sword, go through the land; so that I cut off man and beast from it:  
18 Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they only shall be delivered themselves.  
19 Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast:  
20 Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.  
21 For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?  
22 Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters: behold, they shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their way and their doings: and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought upon it.  
23 And they shall comfort you, when ye see their ways and their doings: and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord GOD.

Noah is referred to four times in this passage, twice by name.

v 13 when the land sins against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it – Israel, the 10 northern tribes, had already gone off into captivity (Assyria). Judah had followed their example and were now in the Babylonian captivity. All because they had trespassed grievously and refused to turn away from their idols (v 6)

So here was their situation: grievous sin, idolatry and immorality that was deeply entrenched, long practiced, pervasive (everybody involved); add to this a refusal to turn away from idolatry and sin. Therefore God judged them and caused them to go into captivity (this was part of the covenant).

Four times God speaks of three men. What three men? Noah, Job, Daniel. Though these three men were among them they would only be able to deliver themselves. What does this tell us about Noah, Job, Daniel?

+ they were historical people
+ they were righteous
+ they were intercessors

I believe the background of this is Abraham interceding for Sodom. In this we see the influence of the righteous and the power of intercession.

Genesis 18:20-33   
20-21 God reveals to Abraham that he plans to send His judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah.

22-32 Abraham intercedes for Sodom and Gomorrah. He stands in the gap for them. 

22 Abraham stood yet before the LORD.  

23 And Abraham drew near, and said – This!

Look at his prayer:
23 Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?  24 Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?  25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?  
The presence of righteous people in Sodom and Gomorrah would have saved them from judgment.

26-32 Abraham wrestles with God: 50; 45; 40; 30; 20; even 10 righteous people would have saved them! Since they were indeed destroyed, was all this prayer a holy waste of time? No. Because of Abraham Lot and his family were rescued.

O brother, O sister, stand before God; draw near; pray; intercede; don’t give up! God delights in this kind of wrestling! And souls are rescued from the fire!

O Christian, live righteously. Our presence is a buffer and a blessing.

Sometimes, as in Ezekiel, the time has come for judgment and your righteousness and prayers will only avail for your own soul. Though Noah, Job, and Daniel were all there, their presence and prayers would only avail for themselves. Those people were utterly sold out to idolatry and immorality. But, and I mean BUT, we don’t know when our land or family has reached that point, only God knows; so until God says “Stop praying”+, Stand before God. Draw near. Pray. Intercede. Don’t give up!

Next Noah in the New Testament

* Number in Scripture, E.W. Bullinger
+ Sadly, He does sometimes say this. Jeremiah 7:16; 11:14; 14:11