In 2 Peter 2:5, the apostle writes:
“And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly.”
Noah is described as “the eighth person.” This stuck out to me as I came across this verse. That simple phrase holds a powerful picture of godly leadership, especially in the home. If Noah was the eighth, then seven others went in before him. He made sure every member of his household was safely inside the ark before he stepped on board. He didn’t rush to be first; he waited to be last. He served his family by leading from behind.
That is the heart of a father. That is the calling of every true leader.
Servant Leadership Begins at Home
In a world where many chase recognition, the biblical model for leadership is radically different. Jesus said in Mark 10:44:
“And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.”
The father in the home is not called to be the boss, but the servant. Not the first to take, but the last to receive. Like Noah, a godly man ensures his family is spiritually and physically secure.
The ark was a place of safety, and Noah’s family entered first. His leadership was not proven by a title or a platform, but by his willingness to go last.
The Last Shall Be First
Jesus taught in Matthew 20:16:
“So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.”
This kingdom principle turns worldly thinking upside down. To the world, leadership is about climbing higher. In God’s kingdom, leadership is about stooping lower. It is about washing feet, bearing burdens, and entering the ark last.
The father who rises early to pray over his family, who denies himself for the sake of his wife and children, who leads by example and not just by instruction. This is the man who follows in Noah’s footsteps.
A Picture of Christ
In Philippians 2:7, we see the ultimate Servant:
“But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.”
Christ, our perfect example, became the Servant of all. He, too, went last so that we could go in first. He gave His life that we might live. Just as Noah bore the burden of faithfulness for his family, Christ bore the cross for us.
Conclusion: Be the Eighth Man
Let this be our challenge: fathers, pastors, and leaders, be the eighth person in. Be the one who serves, sacrifices, and waits. In doing so, we reflect the heart of Christ and model a kind of leadership that this world rarely sees but desperately needs.
Because in God’s eyes, the greatest is not the one who enters first, but the one who makes sure everyone else gets in first.
“If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.”
— Mark 9:35
Let us lead not by force, but by faith. Not by pushing ahead, but by stepping back, like Noah, the eighth man in.
Jeremy Kamer Ministries 