What kind of degree did Noah need before building?

With a Subtitle: Ark-itecture.

A brief Excerpt: Noah’s obedience in building the ark, despite ridicule, exemplifies faith in God’s command. The ark, a symbol of salvation, demonstrates how faith should manifest in actions, mirroring the Christian journey.

The Author is: Jeff Hilles

Theology on the Lighter Side – Noah’s building of the ark is one of the most amazing acts of obedience in the Bible.

in Genesis 6-9, God told Noah to build a huge ship so that he could prepare for a flood that would judge a world that had become corrupt. The task was not small, symbolic, or optional. It was a long, hard project that required a lot of faith and perseverance.

God told Noah exactly how to build the ark: it had to be made of gopher wood, sealed with pitch, and built to exact dimensions. The size alone makes it seem like a huge project, not just a simple task. Noah wasn’t just building a boat; he was making a floating shelter to keep both people and thousands of animals safe. The job needed planning, skill, hard work, and probably the ability to coordinate people and resources. But the Bible doesn’t focus on Noah’s engineering; it focuses on his obedience:

Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him. - Genesis 6:22

The setting in which Noah did his job is what makes it so special. He was building an ark on dry land in a world that had never seen rain (Genesis 2:5-6). Hebrews 11:7 says that Noah acted “by faith” when he heard a warning about things that had not yet happened. People in his time would have thought his work was ridiculous. Yet, the ark itself was a visible message about mercy and judgment.

The project’s length also shows how persistent he was. It wasn’t just a one-time act of faith to build the ark; it was a long-term commitment. Noah kept working day after day, even though there were no clear signs that a flood was coming. Noah didn’t need to be told over and over again; the single command and instructions were enough.

Applied to us Today

In the end, the ark stood as an image of our salvation and obedience toward God. When the flood came, Noah’s family and the animals were saved by the structure he built. It was part of God’s plan to save Noah’s family and the wildlife under his care. The story illustrates how our actions demonstrate our faith (James 2:17). Noah’s job was a physical task, but it was based on his faith. Just as our salvation is not based on works or earning a place in Heaven, it is our acceptance, by faith, in the saving grace of God offering His Son on the cross for our sins, that should be demonstrated by our actions and a changed life (2 Corinthians 5:17).