The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 333

"Not but by a miracle Can this thing be. The fashion of the world We heretofore have never known to change ; And will God change it now?" (3) His own soul might have suggested serious doubts, Would God destroy all hie human creatures-the creatures whom he had created in his own likeness? True the race had become terribly depraved, men were great sinners; but could he not ~ave them? Would he destroy the innocent child as well as the hardened rebel? And would he ·wreck the beautiful and fertile earth which he had made and embellished? Or the question may have arisen-Why should he and his family alone be spared in the uni versa! destruction? He was conscious of imperfections and sins, his family too were sinners; then why should the Almighty bestow his mercy upon them, and upon them only? To meet doubts and questionings of this or any other kind, Noah had simply the word of God which had been made known unto him, and his faith rested upon that word. 2. This basis was sufficient for Noah. He founded his faith upon the com- :tr.unica.tion which he had received from God, as upon a rock ; and his faith remained firm and steadfast throughout its protracted and severe trials. God had spoken to him, and that was enough for him. II. IN ITS EXPRESSION. Noah, "moved with fear, prepared an ark to the savina of his house." He manifested his belief in the Divine communication by his obedi:nce to the directions therein conveyed (Gen. vi. 14--16). His faith was expressed in an appropriate and very remarkable course of action. That we may the more fully realize the strength of his conviction, let us notice that the work in which it found expression was : 1. .A work ef great magnitude. The dimensions of the ark are stated in Gen. vi. 15. If we take the cubit to be twenty-one inches, "the ark would be five hundred and twenty-five feet in length, eighty-seven feet six inches in breadth, and fifty-two feet six inches in height. This is very considerably larger than the largest British man-of-war. 'l'bc Grwt Eastern, however, is both longer and deeper than the ark, being six hundred and eighty feet in leng:th (six hundred and ninety-one on deck), eighty-three in breadth, and fifty-eight in depth." 1 2. .A work of long duration. From Gen. vi. 3, some have concluded that one hundred and twenty years intervened between the commencement of the ark and the coming of the Deluge. But the interpretation of that verse on which this conclusion is based is doubtful. Yet the work of preparing the materials for an,1 constructing the ark must have been a very long one-a work of many years. And through all those years he was nerved and sustained by faith, and faith alone. 3. .A work involving very great expenditure. The building of such an ark in any age and in any circumstances would have been utterly impossible apart from great expense of time and toil and wealth.. But to these demands also the faith of Noah was equal. 4. .A work prosecuted despite of deriswn. There were probably men of science and philosophy who pronounced the predicted deluge an impossibility, and pitied the prophet as a deluded fanatic. And there were men of a lower type who would greet him with scoffs and jeers, and make him the butt of their scornful laughter and con- temptuous sarcasm. Yet the faith of the man of God failed not. The great work was steadily prosecuted, and in due time was fully accomplished. Ill. IN ITS RESULT. " By which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith." 1. The condemnation of the unbelieving world. "His holy fear condemned their security and vain confidence; his faith condemned their unbelief; his obedience condemned their contempt and rebellion, Good examples will either convert sinners or condemn them." 2. The acquisition of a character eminent for ri,ghteouaneas. "Became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith." "Noah was a just man and upright" before he was commanded to build the ark; but in that work his faith was splendidly exemplified and hie righteousness greatly increased. His righteousness was great as his faith. It is important to observe that tile faith of Noah which was manifested in such an extraordinary and exemplary manner, and by reason of which and in the measure of which he was regarded as righteous, was not fixed upon the coming Messiah as its special object, but upon the v;i:nmunication which he had received from God concerning the Flood. He fully 1 Dean Perowne, in Dr. Smith's 'Biblical Dictionary.' CH, Xl, l-40,] THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 325