Protected in the Storm

"Who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water." - 1 Peter 3:20 (NKJV)

Peter uses Noah as his chief example for these persecuted believers, and this wasn't accidental. Noah was the most popular or well-known of all biblical figures in Asia Minor, even to the point where, from A.D. 190 to 250, there were actually five minted coins in circulation with Noah's face or representation on them. Peter, like a good preacher, uses something his audience would understand.

"But I'm such a minority in the midst of this world," someone might say. "I'm living here, and no one understands my Christian convictions. They want me to tear out whole sections of Scripture and act like it's not in the Bible. It's not politically correct any longer to believe certain things that are found in Scripture. It's so clear—black ink on white paper—and yet if I say it now, I'm accused of something that I am not. All I'm trying to be is faithful to Jesus, a preacher of righteousness."

God's Word to you and me is: remember Noah. He was preaching righteousness (2 Peter 2:5), perhaps for 120 years (Genesis 6:3), while building that ark, telling people about how to honor God with their lives. And while he was preaching, you would think there would be one convert. Nope. Only his family came into the ark—eight people total.

Here's the point: the water that judged wicked humanity was the same water that lifted the boat and rescued Noah and his family. When Scripture says Noah was saved by water, it doesn't mean the water saved him—the ark saved him. But the water was a dividing line between sinful humanity that was judged for their wickedness and righteous humanity that was finding grace and favor with the Lord.

Peter says, "Remember Noah—was he rescued or not? And God can rescue you, too." God sent a worldwide flood to judge evil humanity. He locked up those demonic spirits in prison. Even after Jesus paid for the sins of the world, He proclaimed judgment on those demons and declared that God had won. You may feel like you're in the minority, but you're still on the winning side.

Reflection Question: When you feel like you're the only one standing for Biblical truth in your environment, preaching righteousness to deaf ears like Noah did for 120 years, how does his example encourage you to remain faithful?

Heavenly Father, like Noah, I sometimes feel like I'm in the minority, preaching righteousness when few around me want to listen. Help me remember that You protected Noah and his family in the midst of worldwide judgment, and You will protect me too. Thank You that I'm on the winning side because I belong to You. In Jesus' name, amen.

Adapted from "Whose Side Are You On?": https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/gz6wj94/18-whose-side-are-you-on-1-peter-3-18-22