This is part 13 of a series exploring how the Bible teaches that Jesus was greater than all buy cialis tabs who came before him.  This series is not intended to be exhaustive.  The topic of Jesus as “greater than” or “better” than those who came before him is inexhaustible.  Libraries could and should be written on this subject.  But we have attempted in these pages to explore what such a rich subject would look like. (Each entry is excerpted from There Is No Greater Love)

Christ Greater than Noah

Lamech lived one hundred and eighty-two years and had a son.  He called his name Noah, saying, “This one will comfort us in our work and the toil of our hands out of the ground which the LORD God has cursed” (Gen 5:28-29).

The naming of Noah by his believing father demonstrates that some of the descendants of Seth were already looking and hoping for the arrival of the promised “Seed of the woman” (Gen 3:15) who would bring salvation to the earth. They understood that the promised Seed would deliver the earth from the curse upon the ground that came as a consequence of Adam’s sin and that made the labor of life hard.  The name “Noah” speaks of the rest that would come from this Seed.

The name was prophetic, for Noah did indeed deliver his house from judgment and offered a “sacrifice of rest” after the great flood (Gen 8:21; Heb lit. “aroma of rest” is the same root as Noah’s name). Still, Noah only delivered his house from judgment, not from sin (Gen 9:20-27). Nor did he deliver the earth from its curse, for we still struggle with thorns and thistles and hard labor. The earth is still under the curse of the ground.

But there has come a greater Noah, and it has been said of Him too that, “His resting place shall be glorious!” (Isa 11:10—Heb root same as Noah’s name). Noah condemned the world even as he delivered his house from the judgment of the great flood.  But Jesus, our better Noah, has delivered the world from sin and death!  Noah did not give the earth rest from the curse upon the ground. But Jesus will deliver the earth from the vanity of the curse on the day of His great triumph (Rom 8:20-22)!  Noah delivered his household alone from the judgment of sin.  But Jesus delivers us all from sin itself!  Noah did not deliver us from the vanity of wearisome toil and inevitable death. But Jesus invites all who are weary and heavy burdened to come unto Him and find rest!  In that day His rest will be truly glorious!  Noah’s deliverance was great. But Jesus’ rest is better!