In March of 2014, Noah came back to life on the Big Screen. I chose not to go see Hollywood’s distorted version of his life as it took several liberties in recounting the Biblical narrative. For example, Hollywood depicted Noah as a man who was willing to kill his family. The Bible testifies that he went to great lengths to save it. Hollywood “corrected” the Bible’s characterization of fallen angels as evil. It made them out to be essentially “good”. Why? Because they helped Noah build and defend the ark. Really?! And lastly, Hollywood unveiled the “real” Noah to be a man who turned, not to God for strength, comfort and endurance, but to alcohol. So I wasn’t about to waste my time, much less my money. About the only components Hollywood kept in line with the Biblical record were the basic facts, like his name, that he had a wife, and that he had three sons who helped him build an ark in order house both sexes of every animal. Nothing else in the film rang true.
What I found most disappointing about the film, however, was its failure to depict Noah as a man of great faith. Even if Hollywood was insistent in denying any trace of the supernatural, it could’ve still trumpeted his most notable faith. Logically, who would spend most of his adult life building something to rescue all man- and animal-kind based upon a supposed revelation from some mystical deity?
Well FFF is not going to replicate Hollywood’s gross reinterpretation. Please come this Sunday to hear how the story really unfolded so you can discover for yourself that Noah was indeed an incredible example of faith.
Be sure to check out our Closing Poems for Sermon Series “God’s Early Hall of Faith” Hebrews 11:1-19
