1. NOAH

When we look at history, because the ties of indemnity are formed only through Abel's blood-line, Noah had paid much indemnity even before the call from God. For this reason, when he tried to establish the condition through working 120 years after receiving God's commands, there was Satan's attack. Satan tested him: "You think you are doing good. Let's see how much you really love God. Let's see if you will build the ark for 120 years." Everyone, please think about this. If a ship is built near a river, it is a different matter; but isn't it fundamentally wrong to build on a mountain? It is a task which will surely receive opposition. Absolutely, it cannot be seen as normal. Also, when Noah was on his way to build the ship, do you think he went up thinking, "Maybe today I will go up after eating lunch and after taking a nice walk?" No, he didn't. He went up to the mountain to build the ark, even without concern for food.

Noah was a person who invested his whole heart and effort day and night. He had the heart that he must reduce the 120 year period, even if God gave the commandment of building the ark for 120 years. Thus, he established the integrity of heavenly character. (18-156)

Have you thought about Noah's family? Noah built the ark on the top of a mountain. If it were on flat land, it would be a different story; but building a ship on the top of a mountain is not only beyond common sense it also certainly passed the limits of logical tolerance. In any ordinary sense, Noah was acting like a crazy person. If he wanted to build a ship, he should have built it on a bank; however, since he built it on a mountain, his action was totally beyond common sense.

Do you think God who ordered such a command did so in a joking manner? No. God knew better than anyone that Noah's course required a life of long dedication on the path of unbearable suffering, and He did not command him with any more peacefulness than Noah would find in his suffering course. It was because God knew that this the least difficult way that He commanded Noah to go the path of suffering for 120 years. How miserable would must such a heart of God have been? His misery was indescribable.

Therefore, when Noah took the obedient position at the decisive, tense moment of whether to accept or not to accept that command, don't you think God was happier than Noah? Moreover, God was the one who could have been saddened more than Noah. God's position cannot be established without establishing the position of such an owner who takes the responsibility for joy and sorrow. (48-69).

Noah fought for 120 years in order to conquer himself and his own family. It was not an easy task. After receiving the command of God which foretold that He would judge this earth after 120 years, Noah didn't wait around thinking, "Only a year has passed, so 119 years are left." God promises once to a person who embraces and relates to a great purpose. (19-237)

What should you do if you want to be victorious? You should go into the satanic world and be hit. It is same as Jacob entering into Laban's family which represented the satanic world and being tricked ten times and thus hit ten times. However, Jacob patiently and without a word waited until he stood in front of God's Will. It was the same with Noah. Grandpa Noah was patient and remained loyal to God for 120 years. God commanded Noah to build the ark, informing him that He would judge the world after 120 years.

Why did God gave such a command? Seen from the common sense perspective this command was not normal. Why did God command Noah to build the ship on the top of the mountain even though a ship should be built near a river or ocean? It was a strategy to put Noah in the position where everyone would oppose him. Among the people who lived at that period, there was no one who did not judge Noah with words. He had to stand in such a position. Consider the situation of grandpa Noah building the ark for 120 years, disregarding young and old, women and men; all pointed their fingers at Noah, mocking and kicking him and giving all kinds of unthinkable persecution. This was to place Noah in the position where Satan could do everything he could symbolically and substantially.

God allows the satanic world to strike the person whom God loves and brings forth. This is because if the satanic world strikes first, then God can strike the satanic world. Judgment is carried out in such a way. God allows his loving children to be struck first, and then He strikes Satan.

It was the same with Noah. Jacob, who established the victorious foundation of Israel, was brought out after being tricked in Laban's house. It was the same with Moses and Jesus . (14-112)

We can see another example in Noah's building the ark on the mountain for 120 years. He fought with Satan for that long period. Noah suffered rejection from his wife, family, neighbors and relatives. He received mockery and opposition from his people and the whole world around him. If he had attempted to abandon his task even once, then he would have been attacked by Satan again. However, he overcame all difficulties and was successful in completing his mission.

He fought against Satan and separated himself from Satan. God came to love him, and he came to dwell within the realm of God's love. However, that was not all. Whoever comes to dwell in the midst of God's love, God makes that person sacrifice himself by sending him into the satanic world and into difficulties. Of course, one reason may be to train him; however, it is really for the purpose of saving more people. Noah who was righteous, honest and good had always to sacrifice himself with a sorrowful heart and with the shedding of tears. (52-52)

Even in the environment of persecution and chaos, grandpa Noah was able to triumph over such an environment because he gave his utmost effort. He went forth with the humble mind that he could only try his best in front of God's law to fulfill the duties of filial piety and loyalty. As he went closer in front of God, he felt the cruelty of his environment and became sorrowful. In such moments, because grandpa Noah went on shedding tears of repentance and apologizing to God, there was no one who could stop his way. Do you understand?

Think of Noah who lived in such a way for 120 years. Even though the satanic world mobilized every possible means to hit this one person Noah, he never deviated from the standard which God established as the center. That standard is established as the absolute center of the cosmos, as the righteous man of the cosmos, and as the victor of truth. Therefore, God wanted to cleanse the elements of all enemies which go against this standard. Thus, if one is struck until the end, then a great thing may result. (18-159)