"Noah!" Genesis 6.

"And Noah did all that God commanded him – he did indeed."
(Gen. 6:22 NET)

Bill Cosby released his first comedy album in 1963, and it contained 3 short skits about Noah. If you've never heard them, or it's been a while, enjoy this video, and then take a look at some thoughts below the video for you to comment on.



Bill Cosby was able to have some fun with the story of Noah, because the biblical account tells us nothing about Noah's experience in building the ark and getting it ready for the flood, beyond one very remarkable statement, "Noah did all that the Lord commanded ..."

Why are these skits so funny? (I'll assume you find them so.) Well, naturally one reason is that they say the unexpected. But it's the unexpected that should be expected. Why? Because we're a lot like the Noah Cosby portrays. Even when we're acting righteously and "doing what the Lord commanded."

If you've ever had a rough patch in life, you probably had moments of doubt, uncertainty, weariness, pain, perhaps even momentary rebellion, even if in the large picture, you remained faithful to what God wanted you to be and do. And whenever, in the end, you have kept on, remained loyal, regained your trust and certainty as you pushed past any moments of uncertainty (like Thomas following Jesus to Bethany), then you have done what the Lord commanded.

Cosby gives us a look at a human Noah, someone who accomplished the task, but surely had to deal with all kinds of problems, including the ridicule of his neighbors and the wearying length of his task. Perhaps he knew God so well, that he didn't suffer any moments of uncertainty. That seems unlikely, given all the other stories of people in the Old Testament, like Moses, and David, who did, but we have to allow for the possibility, given the silence on this matter. (We do know that Noah at least made mistakes, as related in his getting drunk from the wine of his vineyard after the flood.) And whether Noah experienced any moments of uncertainty, I know I would have, and so Cosby's skits are terrifically funny to me.

If you haven't listened to the skits yet, go ahead and do so, because I want to finish this post with some comments on how accurate Cosby is to portions of the biblical account. Here we go.

Noah hears God speaking to him. While still doubtful, "Right," he says to God, "Whadda ya want? I've been good." -- Sure enough, Gen. 6:9 says, "Noah was a godly man; he was blameless among his contemporaries."

"What's an ark?" -- What Noah was to build would be all new to him, although the idea of an ark as a box or container would be known.

"Who is this really? What's goin' on?" -- Is it really God talking to us? How is our life about to change?

Cosby says we should imagine the effect on the average neighbor ... -- And the response too. You're doing what? God told you? Are you kidding? And with that, dismissal.

"two mosquitoes ..." -- Now this is something to think about. God's goal is to effect justice on the unrighteous, and begin anew. Noah's task is to preserve the other living creatures. Does that mean that every animal would have to be on board? A seagull, for instance? The likely answer is that only the creatures that couldn't survive the flood were required. Mosquitoes? What do you think?

"You change one of 'em (the two male hippos)!" -- Fed up, tired, almost done, yet one more task remains. Why does God not usually work this way, just fixing stuff up miraculously so we don't have to do the work? (And notice how this is the temptation that Satan presented to Jesus.) And man, who would want to go back and herd another hippo?

(About God) "... you know all and see all ..." "... who's gonna clean up this mess?" -- The climax of Noah's rant ... 'nuff said.

(Sounds of thunder in the background.) "OK, Lord, me and you" -- "And Noah did all that God commanded him – he did indeed."