In Hebrews chapter 11, the writer lists many Old Testament people that are commonly referred to as “Heroes of the Faith”. Part of the explanation offered as to how these ordinary people were able to do extraordinary and even supernatural things was that they considered themselves “aliens and strangers – they were longing for a better country, a heavenly one.” Their unbelievable faith and courage was grounded in the fact that they saw themselves as strangers on earth with their true citizenship in heaven. Strangers.

Also, many of the stories that are told about these strangers haven’t been heard since we were little kids and they were shown to us on those Flannel Graph boards. So in a very practical sense, Noah and others are Strangers to us because we haven’t heard their stories in many years.