Noah

Noah was a righteous man who lived in the generations before the Great Flood, a time when the earth had become extremely corrupt and filled with violence (Genesis 6). He is described in the Old Testament as finding favor with God because he walked faithfully with Him and was blameless among the people of his time. God instructed Noah to build a massive ark to save his family and pairs of every kind of animal and bird from the coming flood that would destroy all life on earth due to humanity’s wickedness. Noah obediently constructed the ark according to God’s precise specifications, despite ridicule from those around him, and gathered his wife, three sons (Shem, Ham, and Japheth), their wives, and the animals inside before the rains began. The floodwaters covered the earth for 150 days, destroying every living thing outside the ark, while Noah and his family remained safe inside. After the waters receded, Noah and his family exited the ark, offered sacrifices to God, and received a covenant promise: God would never again destroy the earth with a flood, sealed by the sign of the rainbow. Noah lived 950 years in total and became the ancestor of all people after the flood through his three sons. His story in Genesis 6–9 highlights themes of judgment on sin, divine mercy, obedience, and God’s faithfulness to His promises.