Noah | Genesis 6-9

Welcome to Real Life. I saw the movie Noah. I heard the hype. Still, I wanted to see and judge it for myself.

Since the recent success of The Bible miniseries, Hollywood has rushed to capitalize on biblically-inspired movies. However, not every movie with a biblical reference is inspired by the Word of God. Such is the case with Noah. The director, Darren Aronofsky, considers the flood a myth. His film is inspired by his own childhood imaginings of the flood,[1] as well as the teachings of a mystical sect of Judaism known as Kabbalah.[2] Aronofsky calls Noah the least biblical biblical film ever made.[3]

In the biblical account:

The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. (Genesis 6:5-8 NIV)

Aronofsky’s film portrays the violent[4] depravity of mankind before the flood. However, his focus is environmental. Man destroys nature and hunts animals to extinction. Therefore, God sets out to destroy the enemy of nature—man. In Aronofsky’s film, Noah’s sole purpose is to rescue the animals so they can repopulate a re-born earth. Then, Noah and his family are destined to die out, leaving the new earth with no human to harm it.

In the biblical account, God chooses Noah and his sons (and their wives) to repopulate the earth after the flood. Why Noah? “Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God” (Genesis 6:9 NIV). As good as Noah was, he wasn't perfect.[5]  He didn't save mankind. God did. 

The biblical message is one of judgment: sin will be punished. Yet, it is also one of redemption and rebirth. Life begins again. God places the rainbow in the clouds as a promise to future generations that he will never again destroy the earth with a flood.

The ark foreshadows Christ. God sent his son, Jesus Christ, to rescue mankind from destruction. Just as Noah entered the ark and was saved, so those who enter into Christ are saved from the judgment to come.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17 NIV)

Afonofsky’s God views mankind as the enemy of creation and dooms him to destruction. The Bible's God loves mankind so dearly that he himself (in the person of Jesus Christ) comes down from heaven and sheds his blood to redeem us. The door of the ark stands wide open (see last week's blog). Come on in before it starts to rain!

Have you seen the movie Noah? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Taking it further …

• The biblical account of Noah and the Flood in Genesis 6-9. 
• Article “Was There Really a Noah's Ark and Flood?” by Ken Ham and Tim Ken.
• Geological evidence of a worldwide flood. 
• Article “Sympathy for the Devil” by Dr. Brian Mattson on worldview behind Noah.
• Jesus said,"As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man … Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come."  (Matthew 24:37-39, 42 NIV)

RAINBOW IMAGE: Public Domain Image from http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=3180&picture=enhanced-rainbow 

[1] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/10739539/Darren-Aronofsky-interview-The-Noah-story-is-scary.html
[2] http://drbrianmattson.com/journal/2014/3/31/sympathy-for-the-devil
[3] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/15/noah-film-debate_n_4959583.html
[4] Genesis 6:11
[5] Genesis 9:21