When faith looks stupid…until it rains

Bob Russell Feb. 20, 2019

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Recently, I preached for my son Rusty at the New Day Christian Church in Port Charlotte, Florida. He requested that I preach on Noah and the flood as a part of a series he’s doing on “Heroes of the Faith.” 

Since I didn’t have a suitable “road sermon” on Noah, it was back to the old grind of writing a new message. I titled it, “Noah—The Man Who Dared to Be Different.”  

That sermon included a thought I’d read in a devotional recently: “Sometimes faith looks stupid . . . until it starts to rain.”

An end to patience 

Genesis 7:7-9 describes how pairs of animals came to Noah and entered the ark. Noah didn’t have to trap them; they instinctively came to him. How do geese intuitively know where to go for the winter? How do bears know it’s time to gorge on food and then sleep through the winter while their body organs slow down? It’s just instinctive.

A select few animals in Noah’s day somehow sensed an impending disaster and instinctively came to him. The people there had to be astonished (and nervous) when they saw the odd sight of two of every species voluntarily parading into the ark. 

That peculiar sight must have given the scoffers second thoughts. The Bible says Noah preached righteousness. What if all his rants about the need for repentance from sin and God’s impending judgment were true? 

Genesis 6:3 quotes God as saying, “My Spirit will not contend with humans forever . . .” Even God’s mercy has limits, and His patience with the wickedness and violence in the pre-flood world had reached an end. 

Once the animals and Noah and his family were safely in the ark, the Lord closed the door, and it started to rain. The opportunity for salvation was over; the time for panic had begun. Faith sometimes appears stupid, until it starts to rain.

Scoffing at truth 

Remember a little over a year ago when skeptics scoffed at Vice President Mike Pence because of his belief in the sacredness of marriage? When Pence publicly stated that it was his policy not to spend time alone with any woman other than his wife, the late-night comedians and political pundits had a field day mocking his “prudish” position.

Several months later, the “Me Too” movement gained momentum. Dozens of prominent public figures were accused of sexual harassment in the workplace. Many who had played loose with their marital vows lost credibility—some influential positions too—because of inappropriate behavior. 

Suddenly the vice president’s convictions didn’t seem so foolish after all. Faith looks stupid until it starts to rain.

Simon Peter wrote, “God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it, only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:20-21). 

When Noah and his family entered the ark, it must have looked silly to the skeptics at that time. When you decide to accept Jesus as your Savior and enter the waters of baptism, it might look foolish too. However, “the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom” (1 Corinthians 1:25).  

Ridicule fades

Your friends might ridicule your “religious” beliefs until they are diagnosed with cancer. Then they’ll ask, “Would you pray for me?” Some parents may think you’re too strict with your kids because you don’t let them go to unchaperoned parties. But when their child gets arrested for a serious offense, they wish they had given their children more oversight.

No one was ridiculing Noah when the flood came. They now realized the old prophet knew what he was talking about. Sometimes faith appears stupid until it starts to rain.

Photo source: istock 

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Bob Russell became the pastor of Southeast Christian Church at just 22 years old. That small congregation of 120 members became one of the largest churches in America, with 18,000 people attending the four worship services every weekend in 2006 when Bob retired. Now through Bob Russell Ministries, Bob continues to preach at churches; conferences throughout the United States, provide guidance for church leadership, mentor other ministers and author Bible study videos for use in small groups. Learn More »

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