Day by Day with Martin Luther

Read: Genesis 30:1-31:16 Matthew 10:1-23 Proverbs 3:13-15

“Praise for Noah’s Faith”

“Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”
[James 2:17-18]

Noah is praised as an example for us because he did not have a dead faith, which is actually no faith at all, but he had living and active faith. He is obedient when God gives him a command; and because he believes God both when he gives a promise, and when he utters a threat, he painstakingly carries out God’s direction in regard to the ark, the gathering of the animals, and the flood. The particular praise of Noah’s faith is that he stays on the royal road; he adds nothing, changes nothing, and takes nothing away from God’s directive, but abides completely by the command he hears.