Walking with God

First, I just want to thank God that He has guided me to just following the bible-reading plan printed at the back of an NKJV bible. I've been reading the Bible according to the plan. While I would have preferred a more in-depth study, I guess just reading the Bible and reflecting on certain verses that jumped out at me is it for the moment. But I'm really enjoying it and benefiting greatly from it.

When I was reading Genesis 6, I was drawn to what the Bible said about Noah.

Gen 6:8-9

⁸ But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. 

⁹ This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God.

Gen 6:22

²² Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did. 

It never dawned on me the immensity of Noah's character until I realised that he was a man against the world then. Rain had not fallen on the earth as yet during his time, and he must have endured a lot of ridicule and humiliation as he set about building an ark when the land had always been dry. 

I really liked Matthew Henry's commentary on this part:

[1.] He was a just man, that is, justified before God by faith in the promised seed; for he was an heir of the righteousness which is by faith, Heb. xi. 7. He was sanctified, and had right principles and dispositions implanted in him; and he was righteous in his conversation, one that made conscience of rendering to all their due, to God his due and to men theirs. Note, None but a downright honest man can find favour with God. That conversation which will be pleasing to God must be governed by simplicity and godly sincerity, not by fleshly wisdom, 2 Cor. i. 12. God has sometimes chosen the foolish things of the world, but he never chose the knavish things of it.

[2.] He was perfect, not with a sinless perfection, but a perfection of sincerity; and it is well for us that by virtue of the covenant of grace, upon the score of Christ's righteousness, sincerity is accepted as our gospel perfection. 

[3.] He walked with God, as Enoch had done before him. He was not only
honest, but devout; he walked, that is, he acted with God, as one always under his eye. He lived a life of communion with God; it was his constant care to conform himself to the will of God, to please him, and to approve himself to him. Note, God looks down upon those with an eye of favour who sincerely look up to him with an eye of faith. 

But, [4.] That which crowns his character is that thus he was, and thus he did, in his generation, in that corrupt degenerate age in which his lot was cast. It is easy to be religious when religion is in fashion; but it is an evidence of strong faith and resolution to swim against a stream to heaven, and to appear for God when no one else appears for him: so Noah did, and it is upon record, to his immortal honour.

After reading the above, I reflected on what it meant to walk with God. I thought about why God chose to use "walk with" when describing Noah's relationship with Him. 

When I visualised the image of "walking with", some phrases came to my mind:

- Communion
- Companionship
- Presence
- Silence
- Familiarity
- Comfort level
- Assurance
- Conversation
- Bonding
- Security
- Enjoyment
- Engagement
- Closeness




I also remembered the scene in Dead Poets' Society, when the students were told to walk along the perimeters of the square courtyard. After a while, they were falling in step with each other. 

As we walk with God, we soon fall in step with Him - meaning we align ourselves with His purpose and His heart. And because we're walking with Him, we are both heading in the same direction - with a destination in mind. And because we're right next to Him, we increasingly grow more and more sensitive to Him and what is on His heart. This will then guide us in what we say and what we do.

And all this comes by faith.

Hebrews 11:7

⁷ By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.