A Man of the Lord’s Favor
One of the oldest saints on the Christian calendar, St. Noah’s Day is celebrated by the Lutheran Church on November 29th. Noah’s story is recorded in Genesis 5–9, where the Scriptures tell us that he descended from Seth. His great-grandfather was Enoch, the man who “walked with God.” As with many in the Old Testament, Noah lived a long time and had his sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, in old age.
When corruption took over the earth and God wiped out the world with a flood, Noah “found favor in the eyes of the Lord,” and he and his family were chosen to perpetuate the human race. God told Noah of the impending disaster and promised to save him and his family. Noah built an ark according to God’s instructions. He also collected all the animals of the earth bringing them two by two, a male and a female, into the ark to survive.
After the animals were gathered in the ark, God shut the door, and the great flood commenced, pouring rain for days and days, destroying “every living thing that was on the face of the ground, man and animals” (Genesis 7:23). Eventually the rain stopped, and the waters subsided. Noah’s ark landed on the mountains of Ararat, in modern day eastern Turkey. Noah released a raven and dove to see if they could find land away from the ark. When the dove came back with an olive leaf, Noah and his family knew there was new life on the earth. When they left the ark they offered clean animals in a sacrifice to God. God also promised Noah and his family that he would never again destroy the earth with a flood, giving a sign of the promise through a rainbow (Genesis 8:20—22).
Kept safe in God’s ark, Noah and his family survived and were tasked with repopulating the earth, giving life to a new lineage of descendents. Remembering this, St. Noah’s Day offers Christians the chance to reflect upon the connection between Noah’s story and the salvation offered to God’s children through the waters of holy baptism. St. Peter writes in 1 Peter 3:20—21 that “God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you.” What a joyful connection and comfort that is to us all!
A Brief History
Similar to other Old Testament saints, it is hard to determine exactly how long Noah has been commemorated by the Church; however, the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has set aside November 29th as his day.
As Lutherans, we especially see the importance of celebrating this saint because of the connection between his story and the doctrine of baptism as well as other solid, historic teachings of the Church such as procreation as a purpose of marriage. Likewise, Luther recognized the significance of this Old Testament figure, writing in his Lectures on Genesis, “For one thing, this chapter confirms marriage; for through His Word and command God joins the male with the female, and that for the definite purpose of filling the earth with human beings…He wants human beings to be propagated through the union of a man and a woman.”
These are just a couple of the theological insights that Christians can glean from this saint’s story and the ways we can honor his day as we observe the Church’s calendar! Yes, on November 29th we certainly thank God for Noah’s faithfulness to our Lord and his preservation of humanity through this patriarch.
Collect
O Almighty God, who hast knit together Thine elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of Thy Son Jesus Christ, our Lord: grant us grace so to follow Thy blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to the unspeakable joys which Thou hast prepared for those who unfeignedly love Thee; through the same, Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost: ever one God, world without end. Amen.
Lessons
Resources
Issues, Etc. interview with the Rev. Dr. Ken Schurb on Through the Old Testament in the Church Year: Noah
Issues, Etc. interview with the Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Pulse on Old Testament Patriarch Noah
Propers found in Daily Divine Service Book: A Lutheran Daily Missal, edited by the Rev. Heath Curtis
References:
1. Weedon, William. Celebrating the Saints. Concordia Publishing House. 2016.
2. Treasury of Daily Prayer. Concordia Publishing House. 2008.
3. Luther, M. (1999). Vol. 2: Luther’s Works, vol. 2: Lectures on Genesis: Chapters 6-14 (J. J. Pelikan, H. C. Oswald & H. T. Lehmann, Ed.). Saint Louis: Concordia Publishing House., page 131.
Images:
1. Noah leaves the ark, Francesco Villamena, Italy, 1626.
2. Noah’s Ark on Mount Ararat, Simon de Myle, Belgium, 1570.
3. Noah and His Ark, Charles Willson Peale, United States of America, 1819.
