Genesis 6:9
Who Was Noah?
Noah lived in a time when human wickedness had become so pervasive that God determined to cleanse the earth with a great flood. Alone among his generation, Noah was described as a just man who "walked with God." God commanded Noah to build an enormous ark and gave him exact specifications for its construction. Noah obeyed faithfully, building the ark over many years despite ridicule and disbelief from those around him. When the flood came, Noah, his family, and representatives of every kind of animal were preserved in the ark. After the waters receded, God made a covenant with Noah, setting the rainbow as its sign and promising never again to destroy the earth with a flood.
Noah appears in: Genesis
Key Events
Called to Build the Ark
God revealed to Noah that He would send a flood to destroy all life because of humanity's wickedness. He commanded Noah to build an ark of gopher wood, 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high.
The Great Flood
Noah, his wife, his three sons and their wives, and two of every kind of animal entered the ark. God shut the door, and the fountains of the deep broke open and rain fell for forty days and nights, covering the entire earth.
The Dove and Dry Land
After the waters began to recede, Noah sent out a raven and then a dove to test if the land was dry. When the dove returned with an olive leaf, Noah knew the waters had abated. When it did not return at all, the land was ready.
The Rainbow Covenant
After leaving the ark, Noah built an altar and offered sacrifices. God made a covenant with Noah and all living creatures, promising never again to destroy the earth by flood and setting the rainbow as the sign of this everlasting promise.
Key Scriptures
Genesis 6:9
Genesis 6:22
Hebrews 11:7
Lessons from Noah
- Righteous living often means standing alone against the tide of popular culture and opinion.
- Obedience to God requires patient, sustained effort — Noah built for years without seeing rain.
- God remembers His faithful people and provides a way of salvation even in the midst of judgment.
Family Discussion & Activity
Discussion Questions
- ? Noah obeyed God even when no one else believed him. How do you handle being different from the crowd?
- ? Building the ark took a very long time. What projects or commitments has God given our family that require patience?
- ? What does the rainbow remind us about God's promises?
Family Activity
Read about Noah in the Bible this week. Have each family member draw or write about what they admire most about Noah and share with the family.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long did it take Noah to build the ark?
The Bible does not specify exactly how long the construction took. Genesis 5:32 says Noah was 500 years old when his sons were born, and Genesis 7:6 says he was 600 when the flood came. Many scholars estimate the construction took between 55 and 75 years, though the text does not state when building began relative to God's announcement.
How big was Noah's ark?
God specified the ark at 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high (Genesis 6:15). Using the standard cubit of 18 inches, that is approximately 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. This would give it a total volume of roughly 1.5 million cubic feet, comparable to about 522 standard railroad stock cars.
Did the flood cover the entire earth?
Genesis 7:19-20 states that "all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered" and the waters prevailed fifteen cubits above the mountains. The traditional reading understands this as a global flood. Some scholars propose a regional flood interpretation covering the known inhabited world. Both views recognize the flood as a real, catastrophic event of divine judgment.
Daily Family Devotional
Start each morning with scripture, reflection, and family discussion questions delivered to your inbox.
Free, delivered daily. Unsubscribe anytime.