Seeing Faith Through the Eyes of Noah and Peter

Faith should be easy. After all, it’s trusting in our savior. But since Jesus says faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains, and I haven’t seen any colossal land masses get up and walk, I’m guessing most people lack even that little drop of faith.

Some people had great faith. Others fail to find Jesus when He’s standing right there.

One of the first biblical accounts any church will teach little kids is of Noah and the flood. How one lowly man obeyed God, leading to his salvation.

But teachers often leave out three things: Man’s fallibility, God’s grace, and Noah’s faith.

Man’s Fallibility

Let’s face it: Sin is in nearly every nook and cranny of this world. It started in the beginning with the first two humans and hasn’t gotten any better. I’ve messed up, and so have you.

Sin ran rampant in Noah’s time. It was so bad that God was sorry He made people (Genesis 6:6). Ouch! There was no hope left for the unrepentant.

God’s Grace

Despite the people’s sins, we see the redemption story. After all, we serve a merciful God. He’s omnipotent—meaning that He didn’t make a mistake but knew before the beginning of time that man would fall. Yet, He had compassion for His people. As verse eight says, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.”

Noah’s Faith

I want to focus on the part about “godly fear.” That’s when we respect God as being master of our fates.

Note Noah’s culture. If sin was bad enough that God was willing to start over, what kind of oppression would Noah have been up against to build an ark in the Lord’s name?

Noah had enough faith—and godly fear—to follow God’s command, trusting that God would work (all things together for those who love Him), and he acted on that faith.

Peter’s Doubt

It’s pretty easy to forget Jesus in the middle of a storm or to call on Him long after we need His help.

When Jesus called Peter to join Him on the water, it didn’t take long before the petrified disciple looked away—and what he saw terrified him. The waves crashed around him, and the water threatened to swallow him whole.

The disciple began to sink.

When We Face a Flood

I don’t expect you to walk on water, but you might still feel like Drowning Peter. Are you struggling to study for an exam, work enough hours, or bring peace into the family situation putting you on edge? Did the interviewer or college reject your application? Does media churn your stomach?

Maybe it seems as though God is creeping away. Perhaps you wonder if He exists at all.

You’re not the only one, but see Jesus’ words in Matthew 14:31 when He asks Peter, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

That question hits home. Why did Peter doubt? After all, this was the same guy that put the winds there in the first place.

Noah or Peter?

I have seen many people embodying one of these two men.

Most are like Peter—claiming to look at Jesus, but considering the damage the storm will cause.

Other people, however, put complete faith in God—just like Noah did despite the storm. And I’m guessing a worldwide flood was a bit more dramatic than whatever Peter was going through.

Peters of the world tend to forget that God directs the storm (like in Mark 4:35–41), and He will not let His faithful sink.