Couples in the Bible
The Good, The Bad, and The Downright Evil
by
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Noah & Mrs. Noah
“True Companions”
Genesis 6 - 9
“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work.” Ecclesiastes 4:9
“By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear, built an ark to save his family.” Hebrews 11:7
“But God remembered Noah…” Genesis 8:1
We don’t even know her name. God evidently didn’t see the need to record Noah’s wife’s name in scripture. Other wives of significant biblical men are named, but not Noah’s wife. When I was a little boy, I thought it was “Joan” as in “Joan of Arc.” OK, I guess there’s always time for some kid humor. One woman related this story about Noah: “During a weekend visit with my sister, I read to her granddaughter Adrienna from her children’s Bible story book. After our story time, I quizzed Adrienna on what we read.”
“Who was the man with the big boat?”
“Noah,” she piped right up.
Then – I don’t know why, but I asked, “What was his last name?”
“Zark!” she replied with authority.
Since we don’t know the actual name of “Mrs. Noah”, and because I will get tired of just referring to her as “Mrs. Noah”, I think we will just call her “Norma.” Norma was my maternal grandmother’s name, and I’ve always thought that it indicated strength and grace. And, it actually kind of goes with Noah.
Even though we don’t know much about Norma, she is a prime, yet overlooked part of this story. Generally, our sermons and teachings are built around Noah, and rightfully so. Scripture lists Noah, alongside Moses, Abraham, and other great people of God in the commonly called “Roll Call of Faith”, (Hebrews 11). Nothing is said of Noah’s wife. However, if we look closely, a lot is implied. I believe Noah and Norma made a strong team. They are the perfect example of a couple of faith. Noah heard God’s outlandish call and obeyed it; Norma simply stayed by her man because she believed in him and respected him.
Most of us know the story of Noah and the ark pretty well. It was one of the first stories we were taught in Sunday school and Vacation Bible School. We have read it to our children. If I ever sing another verse of “Arkie, Arkie” I think my head will explode. We’ve given little Noah’s Ark toys to our kids where the roof comes off and you can add the animals two by two. These toy arks usually have wheels and a draw string. We talk about the animals, the flood, the size of the ark and the rainbow. We wonder about inconsequential things like who gathered the animals and why they didn’t eat each other and who shut the ark door.
Tremendous lessons of faith, obedience, patience, sin, judgment, salvation, and hope are imprinted in this story. Perhaps most of all, this is the wonderful lesson of a faithful man and his faithful wife.
Jesus uses the story of Noah and the ark as an example that we should be ready at all times for the Lord’s coming – “For in the days before the Flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day that Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. This is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matthew 24:38-39). So for all those who want to dismiss this story as mere myth, Jesus saw it as truth.
In 1988, Robert Fulghum wrote a little book entitled, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. This credo became a phenomenal #1 best seller. There have been lots of imitations of that “All I really need to Know” idea.
One of my favorites is about everything I need to know about life I learned from Noah’s ark. Here are a few of the many lessons:
1. Plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah build the ark.
2. Stay fit. When you’re 600 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.
3. Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic was built by professionals.
4. No matter how bleak it looks, there’s always a rainbow on the other side.
This is a pretty good list, but there is another lesson that applies– “When all else fails, read the directions.” The best directions for life and relationships are found in the Bible.
For couples, I find in this story of Noah and the ark several lessons - lessons of trust, courage, and hope.
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About the Book
Read and apply this book and build a strong marriage. Real stories. Real couples. We see it all—success, heartbreak, evil, flaws, love. There is no shortage of good marriage books. Most are topical studies of marital issues and how to resolve them. They are great resources.
This book goes right to the core of a biblical marriage. It is less of man’s opinions and more on what God said about marriage.
The Bible gives us short accounts of couples, but not a complete account of any one couple. It supplies us with rich stories and insights of how they lived and loved. We know these people. In many ways, their lives are our lives. They are real people who fell in love, raised a family, argued, and grew old together (well, some of them did).
God pulls back the curtain, and we see these couples “warts and all.” There is no sugar-coating, no spin job. We see people and couples in their best behavior and worst behavior. However, this is helpful to us as we can learn from both the good and the bad, and even the downright evil.
Enjoy this book. Apply the biblical truths. I pray that this book may be the catalyst to save or strengthen your marriage. May you enjoy a lifetime of love!
About the Author
Jim Schnorrenberg is the Pastoral Care and Counseling Minister, at First Christian Church of Owasso. He is a retired US Army Chaplain, and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, (OK). He and his wife, Gwen, live in Owasso, Oklahoma. They have three great sons, (and three beautiful daughters-in-law), and eight adorable grandchildren.