Sunday
February 15
1. INIQUITY ABOUNDED
a. What was the condition of the world in the days of Noah, and what message did God give this patriarch as wickedness increased on the earth? Genesis 6:5, 12–14, 17.
“After the Fall, men chose to follow their own sinful desires; and as the result, crime and wretchedness rapidly increased. Neither the marriage relation nor the rights of property were respected. Whoever coveted the wives or the possessions of his neighbor, took them by force, and men exulted in their deeds of violence. They delighted in destroying the life of animals; and the use of flesh for food rendered them still more cruel and bloodthirsty.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 92.
b. Besides immorality and violence, what was the sin of the antediluvians? Matthew 24:38; Luke 17:27.
“The sin of the antediluvians was in perverting that which in itself was lawful. They corrupted God’s gifts by using them to minister to their selfish desires. The indulgence of appetite and base passion made their imaginations altogether corrupt. The antediluvians were slaves of Satan, led and controlled by him.”—Manuscript Releases, vol. 19, pp. 246, 247.
Monday
February 16
2. A MAN OF FAITH
a. What did the Lord say of Noah’s character? Genesis 6:8; 7:1.
“What constituted the difference between Enoch and Noah, and those who were destroyed by the flood? Enoch and Noah were obedient to the law of God; the others walked in the imagination of their own hearts, and corrupted their ways before the Lord, disregarding all His requirements.”—The Signs of the Times, February 11, 1897.
“Noah stood like a rock amid the tempest. He was surrounded by every species of wickedness and moral corruption; but amid popular contempt and ridicule, amid universal wickedness and disobedience, he distinguished himself by his holy integrity and unwavering faithfulness.”—Reflecting Christ, p. 322.
b. What does the Bible say about the unflinching faith and work of Noah? Hebrews 11:7; 2 Peter 2:5.
“Noah was to preach to the people, and also to prepare an ark as God should direct him for the saving of himself and family. Not only was he to preach, but his example in building the ark was to be a continual testimony of warning to the world, showing that he believed what he preached. His simple, childlike faith, and his implicit obedience, notwithstanding the opposition he received, was an evidence to the world of his sincerity. He was firm as a rock to duty, directing the work of that singular building, under the guidance of the divine Architect. Every blow struck upon the ark was a witness to the people.”—The Signs of the Times, February 27, 1879.
“The ark was built upon dry land. Noah walked by faith, and when the time came and [the people] saw the beasts two by two going into the ark, and the heavens darkened by the fowls that were going two by two into the ark, these were they that were obedient to God; but man was not obedient, but the beasts and fowls were finding a place of refuge. Yet notwithstanding this wonderful sight, still the people were unbelieving.
“At last God bade Noah and his family to go into the ark; and He shut them in. There they remained one week enclosed in the ark before it began to rain. How then did these wicked men mock and deride those in the ark! Was it not a trial of their faith to be shut in there for one week and yet have no rain? But after seven days it began to rain.”—Manuscript Releases, vol. 19, p. 133.
Tuesday
February 17
3. THE ARK OF NOAH
a. What were the dimensions of the ark, and what material was used for building it? Genesis 6:14–16.
“Human wisdom could not have devised a structure of so great strength and durability. God was the designer, and Noah the master builder. It was constructed like the hull of a ship, that it might float upon the water, but in some respects it more nearly resembled a house. It was three stories high, with but one door, which was in the side. The light was admitted at the top, and the different apartments were so arranged that all were lighted. The material employed in the construction of the ark was the cypress, or gopher wood, which would be untouched by decay for hundreds of years. The building of this immense structure was a slow and laborious process. On account of the great size of the trees and the nature of the wood, much more labor was required then than now to prepare timber, even with the greater strength which men then possessed. All that man could do was done to render the work perfect, yet the ark could not of itself have withstood the storm which was to come upon the earth. God alone could preserve His servants upon the tempestuous waters.”— Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 92-95.
b. How much time was given to finish the ark and for the wicked to repent? Genesis 6:3. Did anyone heed Noah’s warning?
“A power attended [Noah’s] words, for it was the voice of God to man through His servant. Connection with God made him strong in the strength of infinite power, while for one hundred and twenty years his solemn voice fell upon the ears of that generation.”—Ibid., p. 96.
“Noah’s faith was mingled with fear; for it is written that Noah, being warned of God, moved with fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his house. His faith intensified his fear; for it was no cowardly fear that moved him. He dared not suppress the words of God for fear of men, or withhold his message in dread of the consequences that might result because of the opposition and hate of the wicked and unbelieving about him. He knew the power of God and realized that God would fulfill His word.”—The Signs of the Times, April 18, 1895.
“Some of the carpenters [Noah] employed in building the ark believed the message, but died before the flood; others of Noah’s converts backslid.”—Fundamentals of Christian Education, p. 504.
Wednesday
February 18
4. THE FLOOD COVERED THE EARTH
a. Describe the phenomenon that took place among the living creatures that entered the ark with Noah. Genesis 7:7–9. Were there some animals on earth which were not saved in the ark?
“The ark was finished in every part as the Lord had directed, and was stored with food for man and beast. And now the servant of God made his last solemn appeal to the people. With an agony of desire that words cannot express, he entreated them to seek a refuge while it might be found. Again they rejected his words, and raised their voices in jest and scoffing. Suddenly a silence fell upon the mocking throng. Beasts of every description, the fiercest as well as the most gentle, were seen coming from mountain and forest and quietly making their way toward the ark. . . . Animals obeyed the command of God, while men were disobedient.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 97, 98.
“There were a class of very large animals which perished at the flood. God knew that the strength of man would decrease, and these mammoth animals could not be controlled by feeble man.”—Spiritual Gifts, vol. 4, part 1, p. 121.
b. After seven days in which the faith of Noah was tested once more, what took place? Genesis 7:17–24.
“For seven days after Noah and his family entered the ark, there appeared no sign of the coming storm. During this period their faith was tested. It was a time of triumph to the world without. The apparent delay confirmed them in the belief that Noah’s message was a delusion, and that the Flood would never come. Notwithstanding the solemn scenes which they had witnessed—the beasts and birds entering the ark, and the angel of God closing the door—they still continued their sport and revelry, even making a jest of these signal manifestations of God’s power. They gathered in crowds about the ark, deriding its inmates with a daring violence which they had never ventured upon before.
“But upon the eighth day dark clouds overspread the heavens. There followed the muttering of thunder and the flash of lightning. Soon large drops of rain began to fall. The world had never witnessed anything like this, and the hearts of men were struck with fear. . . .
“The [idol] worshipers were made to tremble at the power of the living God, and to know that it was their corruption and idolatry which had called down their destruction.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 98, 99.
Thursday
February 19
5. THE EARTH DURING AND AFTER THE FLOOD
a. What was the reaction of the wicked and of Satan himself when the Flood really came? 1 Peter 3:20.
“Satan himself, who was compelled to remain in the midst of the warring elements, feared for his own existence. . . . Many of the people, like Satan, blasphemed God, and had they been able, they would have torn Him from the throne of power. Others were frantic with fear, stretching their hands toward the ark and pleading for admittance. But their entreaties were in vain. Conscience was at last aroused to know that there is a God who ruleth in the heavens. They called upon Him earnestly, but His ear was not open to their cry. In that terrible hour they saw that the transgression of God’s law had caused their ruin.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 99, 100.
b. What sign and promise were given to Noah and his family? Genesis 8:15–19; 9:8–16. What was the earth like after the Flood?
“In the time of the flood, the people, and the beasts also, gathered to the highest points of land, and as the waters disappeared, dead bodies were left upon the mountains and hills, as well as on the plains. The surface of the earth was strewn with the bodies of men and beasts. But God would not have these remain to decompose and pollute the atmosphere, therefore He made of the earth a vast burying ground. He caused a powerful wind to pass over it for the purpose of drying up the waters, which moved them with great force, in some instances carrying away the tops of the mountains like mighty avalanches, forming hills and mountains where there were none to be seen before, and burying the dead bodies with trees, stones, and earth.”—The Signs of the Times, March 13, 1879.
Friday
February 20
PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS
a. How are we in danger of repeating today the sin of the antediluvians?
b. Why can we be inspired by the example of Noah?
c. Describe the conditions under which Noah labored.
d. Why were some animals not preserved in the ark?
e. What evidences of the Flood remain on earth even today?