GENESIS 7 THE FLOOD From far beyond the events of the past, I stop and look back at a huge wooden vessel, the proportions of which men still follow in ship-building. To see a man with such a project committed to him personally, is very unusual. He knew the dimensions of the ark from God. He knew the materials to use for God told him what to use. The long-term commitment he made to building the ark is an example to us who are called by God to a task that seems much larger that our ability to accomplish.
Noah has two very motivating factors that prompted him to finish the project in the exact way he was instructed. First, he had walked with God and wanted to obey Him. He knew his God. Secondly, he had a family and wanted to save them from the promised coming judgment. By faith he did what God told him to even though the work was long and tedious.
I hear in my mind's ear, the voice of God calling from inside the ark, "Come thou and all thy house into the ark." The time had come, and drawn by the power of God, the creatures of the wild and those tamed by man came in harmony without their natural instincts controlling them, into the ark for safety. I am amazed at the supernatural changes that happened there so that the Lord God could carry out His sovereign plans.
I wonder what Methuselah thought when he died. He must have urged Noah on to complete his work as he knew his day of death was drawing near. When thousands of animals drew near to the ark, Methuselah perhaps just smiled at the wisdom and power of God, pulled his feet up into his bed and died.
The details of ark building were Noah's responsibility. The details of gathering animals of such a variety, had to be the work of God.
I watch and learned that I cannot neglect the things under my control and responsibility, and I do not need to worry about those things only God can do. By His grace, I will rest in Him and do what He calls me to. I cannot save souls. I cannot create anxious thoughts about spiritual things. I cannot convict sinners of their sin and need. But I can prepare myself to give warnings of coming judgment. I can apply myself to learning how to explain the way of salvation. And I can identify myself with those who are in need of salvation that they may seek the Lord.
As I looked and watched in my mind's eye, I saw the waters rise over the cities, the valleys, the hills, and then the mountains disappeared under the rising water. The cleansing power of God should never be underestimated. He who can cleanse a world, can cleanse a sinner who repents of his sin. How sad to think of hard-hearted sinners who lost their lives in the deluge. How sad to know that there are those today who can be saved in the Ark which is our Lord Jesus Christ, but want to go their own way without God.
Inside that great ark I can visualize the family in safety and doing the things that needed to be done there until the year passed. I too find myself in a place of safety in view of coming judgment.
I am safe in Christ - even me!
The Voice of God - the response of a family The Power of God - thousands of creatures obey Him The Grace of God - provision for safety was made The Judgment of God - sin's wages have to be paid
The faith of a man - acting on what God said The obedience of a man - believing without dread The walk of a man - in fellowship with the Lord The acts of a man - building according to God's Word
A family is secure - the father really cared A family is safe - the father prepared A family is inside - the storm is without A family is preserved - able to make a new start
God expects to be obeyed - He has our best interests at heart God knows the future - His grace sets us apart God has the right to judge - He knows the end from the beginning God punishes evil - He want to preserve others from sinning.
The reason for the flood - evil was getting worse and worse The fact of the flood - to cleanse the sin on the earth The result of the flood - a whole new day was ushered in The lesson from the flood - reject and turn away from sin
"I know O God, there are many who will not accept the account of a world-wide flood. But I also know that I, like Noah, am obligated to warn people of coming judgment. Help me to be a preacher of righteousness like Noah. Give to Thy servant the compassion to speak of these things with grace and truth. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."