EGW Notes - Lesson 4
Sabbath Afternoon, April 16
[In the days of Noah] the human race yet retained much of its early vigor. But a few generations had passed
since Adam had access to the tree which was to prolong life; and man’s existence was still measured by centuries.
Had that long-lived people, with their rare powers to plan and execute, devoted themselves to the service of God,
they would have made their Creator’s name a praise in the earth, and would have answered the purpose for which
He gave them life. But they failed to do this. There were many giants, men of great stature and strength,
renowned for wisdom, skillful in devising the most cunning and wonderful works; but their guilt in giving loose
rein to iniquity was in proportion to their skill and mental ability.
God bestowed upon these antediluvians many and rich gifts; but they used His bounties to glorify themselves,
and turned them into a curse by fixing their affections upon the gifts instead of the Giver. They employed the gold
and silver, the precious stones and the choice wood, in the construction of habitations for themselves, and
endeavored to excel one another in beautifying their dwellings with the most skillful workmanship. They sought
only to gratify the desires of their own proud hearts, and reveled in scenes of pleasure and wickedness. Not
desiring to retain God in their knowledge, they soon came to deny His existence. They adored nature in place of
the God of nature. They glorified human genius, worshiped the works of their own hands, and taught their
children to bow down to graven
images.—Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 90, 91.
Of the antediluvians we read, “God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every
imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. . . . And God said unto Noah, The end of all
flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with
the earth” (Genesis 6:5, 13).
God warned the inhabitants of the old world of what He purposed to do in cleansing the earth of its impurity.
But they laughed to scorn what they regarded as a superstitious prediction. They mocked at Noah’s warning of a
coming flood. When Christ was upon the earth He gave warning of what was coming upon Jerusalem because the
people had rejected truth, despising the messages that God had sent. But His warning was unheeded.
The Lord has sent us, by His ambassadors, messages of warning, declaring that the end of all things is at hand.
Some will listen to these warnings, but by the vast majority they will be disregarded.
Thus will it be when Christ comes. Farmers, merchants, lawyers, tradesmen, will be wholly engrossed in
business, and upon them the day of the Lord will come as a
snare.—In Heavenly Places, p. 343.
Sunday, April 17
Preparation for the Flood
More than one hundred years before the Flood the Lord sent an angel to faithful Noah to make known to him
that He would no longer have mercy upon the corrupt race. But He would not have them ignorant of His design.
He would instruct Noah and make him a faithful preacher to warn the world of its coming destruction, that the
inhabitants of the earth might be left without excuse. Noah was to preach to the people, and also to prepare an ark
as God should direct him for the saving of himself and family. He was not only to preach, but his example in
building the ark was to convince all that he believed what he preached.
Noah and his family were not alone in fearing and obeying God. But Noah was the most pious and holy of
any upon the earth, and was the one whose life God preserved to carry out His will in building the ark and
warning the world of its coming
doom.—The Story of Redemption, pp. 62, 63.
Noah stood like a rock amid the tempest. He was surrounded by every species of wickedness and moral
corruption; but amid popular contempt and ridicule, amid universal wickedness and disobedience, he
distinguished himself by his holy integrity and unwavering faithfulness. While the world around him were
disregarding God, and were indulging in all manner of extravagant dissipation which led to violence and crimes of
every kind, the faithful preacher of righteousness declared to that generation that a flood of water was to deluge
the world because of the unsurpassed wickedness of its inhabitants. He warned them to repent and believe, and
find refuge in the ark. . . .
. . . A power attended his words; for it was the voice of God to man through His servant. Connection with
God made him strong in the strength of infinite power, while for one hundred and twenty years his solemn
warning voice fell upon the ears of the men of that generation in regard to events, which, so far as human wisdom
could judge, seemed impossible. . . . How simple and childlike, amid the unbelief of a scoffing world, was the faith
of Noah. . . . He gave to the world an example of believing just what God
said.—Reflecting Christ, p. 322.
It is a fearful thing to treat lightly the truth which has convinced our understanding and touched our hearts.
We cannot with impunity reject the warnings which God in mercy sends us. A message was sent from heaven to
the world in Noah’s day, and the salvation of men depended upon the manner in which they treated that message.
Because they rejected the warning, the Spirit of God was withdrawn from the sinful race, and they perished in the
waters of the flood. . . . Looking down to the last days, the same infinite power declares, concerning those who
“received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved,” “For this cause God shall send them strong delusion,
that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in
unrighteousness.” As they reject the teachings of His Word, God withdraws His Spirit, and leaves them to the
deceptions which they love.—Early Writings, p. 45.
Monday, April 18
The Event of the Flood
The Bible record is in harmony with itself and with the teaching of nature. Of the first day employed in the
work of creation is given the record, “The evening and the morning were the first day.” Genesis 1:5. And the same
in substance is said of each of the first six days of creation week. Each of these periods Inspiration declares to have
been a day consisting of evening and morning, like every other day since that time. In regard to the work of
creation itself the divine testimony is, “He spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.” Psalm 33:9. .
. .
. . . Before the Flood the development of vegetable and animal life was immeasurably superior to that which
has since been known. At the Flood the surface of the earth was broken up, marked changes took place, and in the
re-formation of the earth’s crust were preserved many evidences of the life previously existing. The vast forests
buried in the earth at the time of the Flood, and since changed to coal, form the extensive coal fields, and yield the
supplies of oil that minister to our comfort and convenience today. These things, as they are brought to light, are
so many witnesses mutely testifying to the truth of the word of
God.—Education, p. 129.
God’s love for the world was not manifest because He sent His Son, but because He loved the world He sent
His Son into the world that divinity clothed with humanity might touch humanity, while divinity lays hold of
divinity. Though sin had produced a gulf between man and his God, a divine benevolence provided a plan to
bridge that gulf. And what material did He use? A part of Himself. The brightness of the Father’s glory came to a
world all seared and marred with the curse, and in His own divine character, in His own divine body, bridged the
gulf. . . . The windows of heaven were opened and the showers of heavenly grace in healing streams came to our
benighted world.—Our High Calling, p. 12.
There is need that much time be spent in secret prayer, in close communion with God. Thus only can
victories be won. Eternal vigilance is the price of safety.
The Lord’s covenant is with His saints. Everyone is to discern his weak points of character and guard against
them with vigor. Those who have been buried with Christ in baptism, and been raised in the likeness of His
resurrection, have pledged themselves to live in newness of life. “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things
which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things
on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear,
then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.” Colossians
3:1-4.—Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, p. 258.
Tuesday, April 19
The End of the Flood
As the violence of the storm increased, trees, buildings, rocks, and earth were hurled in every direction. The
terror of man and beast was beyond description. Above the roar of the tempest was heard the wailing of a people
that had despised the authority of God. Satan himself, who was compelled to remain in the midst of the warring
elements, feared for his own existence. . . . In that terrible hour [the people] saw that the transgression of God’s
law had caused their ruin. Yet while, through fear of punishment, they acknowledged their sin, they felt no true
contrition, no abhorrence of evil. They would have returned to their defiance of Heaven, had the judgment been
removed. So when God’s judgments shall fall upon the earth before its deluge by fire, the impenitent will know
just where and what their sin is—the despising of His holy law. Yet they will have no more true repentance than
did the old-world sinners. . . .
Love, no less than justice, demanded that God’s judgments should put a check on sin. The avenging waters
swept over the last retreat, and the despisers of God perished in the black
depths.—Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 99–101.
The waters had been fifteen cubits above the highest mountains. The Lord remembered Noah, and as the
waters decreased, he caused the ark to rest upon the top of a cluster of mountains, which God in his power had
preserved and made them to stand fast all through that violent storm. These mountains were but a little distance
apart, and the ark moved about and rested upon one, then another of these mountains, and was no more driven
upon the boundless ocean. This gave great relief to Noah and all within the ark. As the mountains and hills
appeared they were in a broken, rough condition, and all around them appeared like a sea of roiled water or soft
mud.—Spiritual Gifts, vol. 3, p. 77.
“By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving
of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.”
Hebrews 11:7. While Noah was giving his warning message to the world, his works testified of his sincerity. It was
thus that his faith was perfected and made evident. He gave the world an example of believing just what God says.
All that he possessed, he invested in the ark. As he began to construct that immense boat on dry ground,
multitudes came from every direction to see the strange sight and to hear the earnest, fervent words of the
singular preacher. Every blow struck upon the ark was a witness to the
people.—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 95.
Oh, how easy for us to forget God, while He never forgets us; He visits us with His mercies every
hour.—Our High Calling, p. 314.
Wednesday, April 20
The Covenant: Part 1
In the joy of their release Noah did not forget Him by whose gracious care they had been preserved. His first
act after leaving the ark was to build an altar and offer from every kind of clean beast and fowl a sacrifice, thus
manifesting his gratitude to God for deliverance and his faith in Christ, the great sacrifice. This offering was
pleasing to the Lord; and a blessing resulted, not only to the patriarch and his family, but to all who should live
upon the earth. “The Lord smelled a sweet savor; and the Lord said in His heart, I will not again curse the ground
any more for man’s sake.” . . . Here was a lesson for all succeeding generations. Noah had come forth upon a
desolate earth, but before preparing a house for himself he built an altar to God. His stock of cattle was small, and
had been preserved at great expense; yet he cheerfully gave a part to the Lord as an acknowledgment that all was
His.—Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 105, 106.
Adam and Eve, at their creation, had a knowledge of the law of God; they were acquainted with its claims
upon them; its precepts were written upon their hearts. When man fell by transgression the law was not changed,
but a remedial system was established to bring him back to obedience. The promise of a Saviour was given, and
sacrificial offerings pointing forward to the death of Christ as the great sin offering were established. . . .
Adam taught his descendants the law of God, and it was handed down from father to son through successive
generations. But notwithstanding the gracious provision for man’s redemption, there were few who accepted it
and rendered obedience. By transgression the world became so vile that it was necessary to cleanse it by the Flood
from its corruption. The law was preserved by Noah and his family, and Noah taught his descendants the Ten
Commandments.—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 363.
As Noah looked upon the powerful beasts of prey that came forth with him from the ark, he feared that his
family, numbering only eight persons, would be destroyed by them. But the Lord sent an angel to His servant with
the assuring message: “The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon
every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are
they delivered. Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all
things.” Before this time God had given man no permission to eat animal food; He intended that the race should
subsist wholly upon the productions of the earth; but now that every green thing had been destroyed, He allowed
them to eat the flesh of the clean beasts that had been preserved in the
ark.—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 107.
Thursday, April 21
The Covenant: Part 2
It is not because of inherent power that year by year the earth produces her bounties and continues her
motion round the sun. The hand of God guides the planets and keeps them in position in their orderly march
through the heavens. It is through His power that summer and winter, seedtime and harvest, day and night follow
each other in their regular succession. It is by His word that vegetation flourishes, that the leaves appear and the
flowers bloom. Every good thing we have, each ray of sunshine and shower of rain, every morsel of food, every
moment of life, is a gift of love.
While we were yet unloving and unlovely in character, “hateful, and hating one another,” our heavenly Father
had mercy on us. “After that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of
righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.” Titus 3:3-5. His love received, will
make us, in like manner, kind and tender, not merely toward those who please us, but to the most faulty and
erring and sinful.—Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, pp. 74, 75.
As we look upon this bow, the seal and sign of God’s promise to man, that the tempest of His wrath should no
more desolate our world by the waters of a flood, we contemplate that other than finite eyes are looking upon this
glorious sight. Angels rejoice as they gaze upon this precious token of God’s love to man. The world’s Redeemer
looks upon it; for it was through His instrumentality that this bow was made to appear in the heavens, as a token
or covenant of promise to man. God Himself looks upon the bow in the clouds, and remembers His everlasting
covenant between Himself and man. . . . The bow represents Christ’s love which encircles the earth, and reaches
unto the highest heavens, connecting men with God, and linking earth with heaven.
As we gaze upon the beautiful sight, we may be joyful in God, assured that He Himself is looking upon this
token of His covenant, and that as He looks upon it He remembers the children of earth, to whom it was given.
Their afflictions, perils, and trials are not hidden from Him. We may rejoice in hope, for the bow of God’s
covenant is over us. He never will forget the children of His care. How difficult for the mind of finite man to take
in the peculiar love and tenderness of God, and His matchless condescension when He said, “I will look upon the
bow in the cloud, and remember thee.”—Our High Calling, p. 314.
We are to send our petitions through the darkest clouds that Satan may cast over us, and let our faith pierce
to the throne of God encircled by the rainbow of promise, the assurance that God is true, that in Him is no
variableness neither shadow of turning. . . .
We are to come before the mercy seat with reverence, calling up to our mind the promises that God has given,
contemplating the goodness of God, and offering up thankful praises for His unchangeable love. We are not to
trust in our finite prayers, but in the word of our heavenly Father, in His assurance of His love for
us.—In Heavenly Places, p. 125.
Friday, April 22
For Further Reading
Spiritual Gifts, “Disguised Infidelity,” vol. 3, pp. 94, 95;
The Upward Look, “Time for Action,” p. 88.
