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54
The Beginning of the End
gopher wood, which would be untouched by decay for hundreds of
years. Building this huge structure was a slow process. Because of
the size of the trees and the nature of the wood, much more work
was required then than now to prepare timber. Everything humanly
possible was done to make the work perfect, yet the ark on its own
could not have withstood the storm. God alone could preserve His
servants on the raging waters.
“By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen,
moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his house-
hold, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the
righteousness which is according to faith” (
Hebrews 11:7
). While
Noah gave his warning message, his faith was perfected and made
evident, an example of believing just what God says. All that he pos-
sessed he invested in the ark. As he began to construct that immense
boat, crowds came from every direction to see the strange sight and
to hear the earnest words of the preacher.
At first, many appeared to receive the warning, yet they did not
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turn to God with true repentance. Overcome by the widespread
unbelief, they finally joined their former associates in rejecting the
solemn message. Some were convicted and would have heeded the
warning, but so many people were ridiculing Noah that they entered
into the same spirit, resisted the invitations of mercy, and were soon
among the boldest scoffers. None go to such lengths in sin as do
those who have once had light but have resisted the convicting Spirit
of God.
Not all the people of that generation were idolaters. Many
claimed to be worshipers of God. They said that their idols were
representations of the Deity and that through them the people could
obtain a clearer concept of the divine Being. Such people were
leaders in rejecting the preaching of Noah, and they finally declared
that the divine law was no longer in force and that it was contrary
to the character of God to punish disobedience. Their minds had
become so blinded by rejecting the light that they really believed
Noah’s message to be a delusion.
The world was set against God’s justice and His laws, and Noah
was regarded as a fanatic. Great men—worldly, honored and wise—
said, “The threatenings of God are for the purpose of intimidating
and will never come true. The destruction of the world by the God