Finally, I have seen the Noah movie. I must say that its detractors have spoken truthfully. It departs from the biblical account within the first minute of the film. Much could be said about the errors in the film, only some of which may be attributed to poetic license. Other errors are simply fantasy and speculation, but some are just simply wrong and miss the entire point of the biblical narrative. Now, while I dont get too worked up about speculation, I must stridently object when vital elements of the story are either ignored or abased. I will mention some of these below. SPOILER ALERT: IF YOU WISH TO SEE THE FILM AND DO NOT WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS AHEAD OF TIME, PLEASE STOP READING. One of the first red flags for me flew up, as I said, about a minute into the film. This notion that the rebellious angels were cast down to earth for wanting to help Adam is simply not scriptural. They were cast out of heaven for following Lucifer in a battle to overthrow heaven. That they then became stone creatures who continued to help Adam and Eve and taught them how to care for the earth, is very nearly heretical. This film even has them helping Noah build the ark. Absurd! Similarly, the sin of man and the cause of the flood is not rebellion against the divine command not to eat from the Tree of Good and Evil, but that mankind abused the earth, or, as the film version of Noah says it: Broke the world. Nor is there any mention of the promised Messiah or redemption of any kind. Indeed, Noah seems utterly confused as to Gods purpose for the flood, thinking that His intention is to wipe all mankind from the face of the earth, which was never His desire, and, as a prophet of God, Noah would surely have known this. But in the film he thinks God is even going to destroy him and his family, even though in Scripture God establishes a covenant with Noah and his family (Gen. 6:18). In the film Noah insists that he and his family are as evil as those around them, and yet, God says in Gen. 7:1 that Noah is righteous before Him. And the whole business of Shems wife being barren and miraculously healed by Methuselah is nothing less than ridiculous. Equally ridiculous is the portrayal that only Shem had a wife and that his brothers didnt. Scripture clearly says that Noah, his wife, his sons and their wives all entered the ark. There is much more foolishness in the film that could be discussed, but Ill leave it with the above. Please understand that I am not simply nit-picking. Nor are the errors I have mentioned here minor points of embellishment in typical Hollywood fashion. These are critical points of departure from the biblical account that ultimately change the meaning of the event. They deny the promise and hope of the Savior promised in Gen. 3:15, as though Noah knew nothing of this, which, if he knew the creation account (as the movie portrays) he surely would have known the Messianic promise as well. I would like, however, to point out some good things I was surprised to find in the film. First of all, as I just mentioned, there is the recounting of the 6 days of Creation. The producers may not believe in it, but they show that Noah did. This is good. Also, they show the importance of mercy and hint that God Himself is merciful. On what His mercy is based they do not say, but seem to suggest that it has something to do with an inherent goodness in man, which is erroneous at best. But at least they allow God that capacity, even though He slew nearly the entire human race for making a mess of the planet. Which could easily lead into a discussion of the duplicity of God as presented in this film, which is what happens when you remove the Messianic motivation from the account. You end up with a schizophrenic God who either cant make up His mind or is hand-cuffed by the inherent goodness (or lack thereof) in His subjects. Save the good ones, damn the rest, seems to be Gods position in the film. But Scripture clearly indicates that only God is truly good, and salvation is not based on our own innate goodness, but on Gods goodness in the promised Savior who died and rose for all. You may comment if you wish. Please keep it civil. And remember - its Holy Week, so I may or may not be able to respond.
Posted on: Tue, 15 Apr 2014 02:27:35 +0000
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