Noah’s Faith In A Corrupt World

What if the bravest thing you do this year looks ridiculous to everyone else? We open Hebrews 11:7 and step into Genesis 6, where the world’s corruption runs so deep that judgment arrives, and one man’s steady obedience becomes a lifeline. Noah doesn’t wait for evidence; he follows detailed instructions, builds for decades, and keeps preaching righteousness. That’s faith with splinters: costly, specific, and sustained.

Reflection Questions:

1. Would I keep obeying God even if I didn’t see results for years?
2. What “ark” of obedience might God be asking me to build today—something that prepares me for His purposes even if others don’t understand?

Transcript

Welcome

Hodaiah 0:00

Hello, everybody. This is the Ordinary Doing Extraordinary podcast. My name is Hodaiah, and with me is my wife, Dominique.

Dominique 0:08

Hey y'all.

Hodaiah 0:09

So today we'll be diving into episode three, Heroes of Faith.

Dominique 0:13

Hold up, hold up, hold up. Why you say it so hard like that every time?

Hodaiah 0:17

What? I mean, there's nothing wrong with it.

Dominique 0:20

You say it like it's a superhero movie or something.

Hodaiah 0:24

I mean, I always wanted to be a superhero since I was a kid.

Dominique 0:26

Okay. Okay.

Hodaiah 0:27

Can I please just have it?

Dominique 0:28

Yeah, just have it. It's yours. It's yours.

Hodaiah 0:30

I said it the last three times. I said it at the end. I went ahead and I got that out. And I said it in the beginning.

Dominique 0:37

Got it out, your system.

Hodaiah 0:38

Yeah, yeah. I said it in the beginning. I may or may not say something at the end. Okay, okay. All right. So, guys, today's episode is gonna focus on the life of Noah. I'm so excited to do this discussion with you. And my wife is gonna be leading today. Come on.

Dominique 0:54

Yeah.

Hodaiah 0:55

Let's go. Yeah. Let's get it. Let's do this.

Dominique 1:00

Let's go. Okay. Okay. Well, let's get started here with uh the Bible reading. I want you to read it for us.

Hodaiah 1:06

Alright, so our anchor

Anchor Verse: Hebrews 11:7

Hodaiah 1:08

verse today, guys, is gonna be Hebrews 11, verse 7. I'm gonna be reading from the CSB translation, but whichever translation you want to read from, that's perfectly fine. So Hebrews 11, verse 7. By faith, Noah, after he was warned about what was not yet seen and motivated by godly fear, built an ark to deliver his family. By faith, he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

Dominique 1:40

Yes, that's our scripture, y'all. Thank you so much for reading that for us today.

Hodaiah 1:44

Yeah,

Summary of Noah's Story Begins

Hodaiah 1:45

yeah, yeah.

Dominique 1:45

Yeah. We're gonna get started with the summary of Noah's story. I'm sure many of y'all probably have heard this, but we're gonna dive deeper into it. So the first thing we want to mention is the world during Noah's time was full of evil and wickedness. It says this in Genesis 6, 5 through 7. So let's read that. When the Lord saw that human wickedness was widespread on the earth, and that every inclination of the human mind was nothing but evil all the time, the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and he was deeply grieved. Then the Lord said, I will wipe mankind whom I created off the face of the earth, together with the animals, creatures that crawl, and birds of the sky, for I regret that I made them. So this was a judgment that was decreed by God in response to human wickedness. Can you all imagine how bad the wickedness and the evil must have been for God to want to start all over?

Hodaiah 2:48

Yeah, our Father in heaven was feeling some type of way.

Dominique 2:51

He was. I mean, I thought it was bad now. I can't even imagine, right? It says in the scripture that every inclination of the human mind was nothing but evil all the time. Do y'all know people like that?

Hodaiah 3:05

I think I may know a few.

Dominique 3:07

I mean, come on now. Tell them to listen to this podcast. They need to check us out. Um, yeah, so it was that bad, right? So God had wanted to start over. Now, let's get into one reason why God issued this decree.

Nephilim Theories Explained

Dominique 3:22

That requires us to go up to Genesis 6, 1 through 4. Now, this is easy to just kind of skim. If you're reading the Bible sometimes, you might just read that and be like, huh, let's talk about it, because it's it's a little interesting here. When mankind began to multiply on the earth, and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of mankind were beautiful, and they took any they chose as wives for themselves. And the Lord said, My spirit will not remain with mankind forever, because they are corrupt. Their days will be one hundred twenty years. The Nephilim were on the earth, both in those days and afterward, when the sons of God came to the daughters of mankind who bore children to them. They were the powerful men of old, the famous men. Now I'm just gonna briefly do an overview of the different theories regarding the Nephilim. Okay. Now there are three theories, and just listen to which ones you think, uh where you think you may fall in this, and then we'll tell you guys where we fall. Now, like I said, it's gonna be brief because you can easily go down a rabbit hole with this, but here's theory one supernatural view. The Nephilim were giant demigods, they were the offspring of sons of God, aka fallen angels, and daughters of men, aka mortal women, whose unnatural union led to the flood. This was an unnatural union and violated God's created order. Therefore, it sort of necessitated the worldwide judgment of the flood. So that's theory one, the supernatural theory. Now theory two is the human lineage theory. The Nephilim were a result of intermarriage between the godly line of Seth and the ungodly line of Cain. They were simply violent humans. Alright, theory two. Now theory three is the political view. The sons of God were ancient kings or nobles who took many wives and ruled oppressively. The Nephilim were their offspring who were warriors and powerful elites. Now, I don't know where y'all fall, but this is where we stand.

Hodaiah 5:43

Where we stand.

Dominique 5:44

Yeah, so we believe the supernatural view regarding the Nephilim.

Hodaiah 5:49

Yes.

Dominique 5:49

Not because it's cool or anything like that, but it actually makes the most sense. The Bible is clear in saying the sons of God and the daughters of mankind. Why is there a distinction if they are both human? Why is it phrased like that? If they are both human? Why can't it just say the sons and daughters of mankind? But it specifically says sons of God and daughters of mankind. So we believe that this supernatural union is what led to the Nephilim. And the Nephilim were considered to be giants. If you read in different translations, you will see they were referred to as giants who were powerful and famous heroes of ancient times.

Hodaiah 6:34

Exactly.

Dominique 6:34

Yeah, so that's where we stand. Once again, you guys can do your research. It's kind of a fun topic, so might want to look into that. But continuing on, God's response to evil, the Nephilim, and the evil in general, was to send out a flood to wipe out all mankind and all the animals and creatures on the earth, preserve creation through Noah, his family, and the animals he brought aboard the ark. So Genesis 6:8 says, Noah, however, found favor with the Lord. Now God warned Noah of what was to come and told him to construct a boat, an ark. He also gave him instructions on preserving the livestock and other creatures. Noah believed God and did everything he was told to do. So why did Noah find favor in God's eyes? Well, because he was a righteous and blameless man who walked with God. That's what it says in Genesis 6: 9. He was a righteous person in an evil world, which is similar to Enoch, which we talked about him in last week's episode. Now, this isn't to say that Noah was sinless, he simply walked in accordance to God's will. He walked with God, he was blameless among the people of his time.

Hodaiah 7:53

So, more on Noah, man, when it comes to his righteousness. Let's think about Noah, but then let's also think about his family. Was Noah's family righteous or did Noah's righteousness save his family? Scripture highlights Noah's righteousness and faith, not his family's. Yet his obedience didn't just save him, it saved his household too. While the Bible doesn't say his wife, sons, or their wives were righteous, they still had to trust him enough to walk into that ark. That shows us how one person's faith can make a difference for others, and how even quiet trust or willingness to follow can play a part in God's plan. For example, in a marriage, let's say a believer is married to a spouse who does not believe in God. The believing spouse, in fact, brings grace to that marriage, the entire household, and if they have children, their belief brings grace to the children. And you will find this in 1 Corinthians 7, verse 14 through 16, if you guys are interested in reading on that.

Dominique 9:01

Yeah, yeah, that's a great point. Great example there. Now, there was obviously many years between the time when God warned Noah and when he actually flooded the earth. Many people say it was 120 years based on what it says in Genesis 6:3. We don't know for sure, but it had to be a long time since Noah had to make a tremendous boat. So for many years, Noah kept the faith and possibly warned others of what was to come. 2 Peter 2:5 says he was a preacher of righteousness. He wasn't just constructing a vessel, he was calling people to turn back to God. God flooded the earth just as he said. The animals and the creatures on the ark survived alongside Noah and his family. God then made a covenant with Noah to never destroy humanity and all creation by flood again.

Hodaiah 9:56

Amen. So next,

Noah's Faith in Action

Hodaiah 9:58

guys, we're going to get into some faith in action. Let's look at Noah's faith put into action. Noah took God at his word. He believed even though he had never seen anything like what God had warned about. Therefore, he obeyed in detail and followed God's instructions exactly. He built the ark over a period of decades and prepared for what seemed to be impossible. It was beyond human logic. So let's dig into this, let's dive deeper. Imagine Noah just building this large, massive boat, and all the doubters and mockers probably were around him at the time. The building of the ark took decades. Throughout this time, all those doubters and mockers surely thought Noah was insane. Even though Noah did not see, he heard from the Lord and still believed what God had warned him about. Let's think of John chapter 20, verse 29. This scripture states that blessed are those who haven't seen yet still believe. Now back to Noah. If Noah had not taken God's command seriously, if he had not had faith and built the ark, the flood would have came and he would not have been prepared for it. As believers, we are called to walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5, verse 7.

Dominique 11:17

Absolutely. Another point, his faith-filled obedience stood in contrast to the world's rebellion, highlighting the difference between faith and unbelief. By his faith he condemned the world. That's what it says in Hebrews 11. Another point is that Noah was declared righteous because he trusted and obeyed God. So his actions flowed from faith, making him an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. Now we're gonna

Challenges to Noah's Faith

Dominique 11:47

do our faith challenge section. This is the first challenge. Noah could have doubted whether he heard God correctly. There were no signs, no timeline, and the task took many years. Can you imagine building a boat for decades? I'd be thinking in my mind, boy, I hope I heard correctly.

Hodaiah 12:08

So what if I started building a boat? What would you think of me?

Dominique 12:11

I think you didn't hear correctly. Because

Hodaiah 12:13

I could say, I'm a prophet. What do you think?

Dominique 12:16

No, no, no, no, no, no. God said that he was not gonna flood the earth again. So I know you were wrong.

Hodaiah 12:21

Yeah, yeah, I'm losing my mind.

Dominique 12:23

Yeah, yeah. I I would know then. Have to make a phone call. Anyway, building the ark.

Hodaiah 12:28

Hate to see it.

Dominique 12:29

Yes. Building the ark was physically exhausting and emotionally draining. Yet Noah pressed on despite the difficulty and possibly his doubts.

Hodaiah 12:41

Noah may have faced misunderstanding or skepticism, even from his own family, since he was the only one who heard from God. He had to lead his family in obedience, even when the full picture wasn't clear to them. He moved in the fear of God, not the fear of man. He likely endured ridicule and isolation for living faithfully in a corrupt and unbelieving world.

Spiritual Lessons And Takeaways

Dominique 13:03

Yeah, and so we're going to move into our spiritual lessons and takeaways here. The first point is to keep the faith, even when you don't immediately see the results. So obedience often comes before the outcome. Stay faithful in the long haul. Obedience isn't always quick or easy, but it is always worth it.

Hodaiah 13:25

Whew, keep running the race.

Dominique 13:26

Yeah.

Hodaiah 13:27

Let godly fear and reverence for the Lord motivate you to honor God, even when it's hard or it's unpopular.

Dominique 13:35

Yes. Your faith can make a difference for your family in future generations. That's another point. So even if the world around you rejects it, your faith can make a difference.

Hodaiah 13:48

When God gives instructions, follow them carefully. Yes. His commands are purposeful, even when we and others don't fully understand them. So more context on this. Noah was told to build an ark. What is God calling you to build? Let me say that again, alright? Y'all pay attention.

Dominique 14:07

Think about that.

Hodaiah 14:09

Noah was called to build an ark. What is God calling you to build? Is there an ark God may be calling you to build? In the physical, you see a boat. But look at the representation of this boat. It is so much more than a boat, but a representation of faith. For Noah, it was the ark. For you, it may be a ministry, a business, a podcast, or something else God is calling you to build. When you begin walking in God's will for your life, you will doubt yourself. You will face misunderstanding from many around you. God's plan cannot be understood by the world. You will be physically and emotionally exhausted at times, but you will need to press into the Lord and have faith. Due to the misunderstanding of those around you, you may face isolation, rejection, and ridicule. But who do you believe? Do you believe those around you or what the Lord told you? Do you believe that God is faithful? Do you believe He is exactly who He says he is? And hence one of His mighty names is I Am. He is who He is. He is the way. He is the truth and He is the life.

Dominique 15:28

Okay, now you better preach up in here.

Hodaiah 15:30

Some fire.

Dominique 15:30

Yeah. Well, let's get into the closing thought, and then we're gonna go ahead and end. But here we go. Noah was an ordinary man living in an extraordinarily corrupt world. But what set him apart wasn't power, status, or perfection, it was obedience. When the world gave in to evil, Noah walked with God, and because he chose to walk with God and obey him fully, God used that obedience to preserve life and rewrite history. Like Noah, you don't have to be extraordinary to be used by God. You just have to be willing. Because in God's hands, the ordinary becomes the vessel for the extraordinary. Isn't that good?

Hodaiah 16:17

One of my brothers, brother I met at church, he was saying, Hodaiah, that was cold.

Dominique 16:22

That's cold, huh?

Hodaiah 16:23

He said, Hodaiah, that was tough. I'd be like, Man, that was fire. He's like, that was cold.

Dominique 16:28

Oh, is cold and fire?

Hodaiah 16:29

Fire and cold for all of it.

Dominique 16:32

Right.

Reflection Questions

Dominique 16:34

All right, well, let's get into our reflection questions. We have two, as we always do. Okay. Two for you to think about this week. Would I keep obeying God even if I didn't see results for years? That's good. What ark of obedience might God be asking me to build today? Something that prepares me for his purposes, even if others don't understand.

Hodaiah 17:00

Well, that's powerful. I know uh I've got to take some time and think on those myself.

Dominique 17:05

Yeah.

Hodaiah 17:05

Honestly, like, yeah, this has been beautiful.

Dominique 17:09

Yeah.

Hodaiah 17:09

Thank you, Dominique, for leading this. This was absolutely beautiful. So much knowledge, like real gems in this teaching today. Hey guys, we just want to go ahead. We want to finish in prayer. If you can, you can bow your head in prayer.

Dominique 17:25

Not if you're driving, baby.

Hodaiah 17:26

I was gonna say that next.

Dominique 17:27

No.

Hodaiah 17:28

Please don't bow your head if you're driving. Uh well, ODE ministry said, no. We are not responsible for you. We did not tell you to bow. Close your eyes in prayer. But uh, and even if you are in a position where you can't bow your head in prayer, sometimes you just need to listen. That's fine. Keep your eyes open and just listen to

Prayer And Community Invitation

Hodaiah 17:48

prayer. Dear Lord, blessed be your name. We love you so much, Lord, and honor your name, Lord. We lift your name up high. Lord, please humble our hearts. Let us daily come to your feet in humility and let our hearts' desires be aligned with your will. In Genesis 1, verse 26, you said, Let us make man in our image. I pray, Lord, that as believers, when we come to your feet, let our desires align with your will and let us be rooted in Christ. So we are an image of our Father in heaven. Father God, we thank you for this discussion. We thank you for all of our listeners. And I pray, Lord, that these teachings are having a positive impact in the lives of believers and the lives of those who are listening and don't yet believe. And I pray, let your word open their ears and soften their hearts so they too will believe. Lord, give us faith like Noah. Let us step boldly into whatever it is you are commanding us to do in our lives, regardless of any persecution or misunderstanding from those around us. Lord, please forgive us of our sins and forgive anyone who has sinned against us, for we are all born sinners, imperfect, flawed, but through our Savior, we are washed clean and sanctified in the mighty, the matchless, and majestic name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Dominique 19:13

Amen. Amen.

Hodaiah 19:15

Well, guys, thank you all for listening. We love y'all. Uh, please, guys, leave comments. We would love to interact with y'all. Uh, we want that. Honestly, we we definitely want to see you know, y'all's comments and have some interaction with us. Uh, you know, this ODE ministries, man. We want this to be like uh be a family. Yeah, a big family. Um, this is not about us, it's really not.

Dominique 19:42

Right.

Hodaiah 19:42

It's about the body of believers.

Dominique 19:44

Absolutely. Ordinary people.

Hodaiah 19:47

Ordinary people

Dominique 19:48

being used extraordinarily by God.

Hodaiah 19:51

Hallelujah.

Dominique 19:52

Hallelujah. And we look forward to episode four with y'all next week. Thanks so much for listening.

Hodaiah 19:57

Episode four.

Dominique 19:58

Okay. K Okay.

Rapper Voice (Music) 20:01

We walk by faith, not by sight. Trust in the one who brings dead things to life. From Able down that clouds to sings. We run this race with our eyes on the King. By faith, we move, by faith we stand. Every promise sitting in your hands. We won't turn back, hearts steady and true. God of Hebrews 11, that's you.

Rapper Voice (Music) 20:27