In Genesis chapter 6, we read of how God saw that “the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). God thus decided to destroy mankind from off the face of the earth, using a global flood. However, there was Noah, a “just and perfect man”, who found grace in the eyes of the LORD (Genesis 6:8-9). God gave Noah a series of specific instructions concerning the construction of an ark, to save Noah and his family. Did Noah comply with God’s instructions exactly? At the end of Genesis chapter 6, we see that:
Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he. (Genesis 6:22)
From this verse, we see that Noah did not subtract from God’s commands. Recall that at this point in human history, it had never rained at all (cf. Genesis 2:5-6). The people around Noah may have mocked Noah for even suggesting that a Global Flood was possible. Also, to build an ark 300 cubits long (about 130 metres!) without modern electricity and machinery would have been a tremendous task. Despite all these obstacles, Noah did not give up on the construction of an ark. He did not subtract from God’s commands, but proceeded to build an ark, exactly as he had been commanded.
From Genesis 6:22, we can also see that Noah did not add to God’s commands. God gave Noah specific instructions concerning various aspects of the ark. For example, Noah was to build the ark out of gopher wood (Genesis 6:14). Since God had specified a particular type of wood, did Noah have the authority to change the type of wood used? Did Noah have the right to add in another type of wood? Surely not, because he had not been commanded, or authorized to do so. When the Bible said that Noah did according to all that God commanded him, that also meant that he did not add to God’s commands.
What can we learn from the example of Noah? We learn that we should neither subtract from, nor add to God’s instructions. This has always been the case both in the Old Testament, as well as in the New.
Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. (Deuteronomy 4:2)
For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (Revelation 22:18-19)
We need to ask ourselves an important question: if we claim to be followers of God, then are we respecting His authority when we subtract from, or add to His commands?
Are we not subtracting from His commands when we…
…do not love our neighbors as ourselves? (Matthew 22:37-40) When we bear grudges against them, or gossip about them, or wish evil upon them?
Are we not adding to His commands when we…
…impose additional requirements on those who have wronged us, before we forgive them? (Luke 17:3-4) When their repentance is not enough for us, when we demand that they “jump through hoops” to earn our forgiveness?
Let us strive to be more like Noah, who did all that the LORD commanded him to do. Let us remember the words of Jesus, who said that
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)
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