Day 4: The Ark
“I will remember my covenant between me and you and all the living creatures: water will never again become a flood to destroy every creature.”
Genesis 9:15
I was staying over at my grandparents house, one wet, windy and miserable Saturday evening in the middle of October. We were sat watching whatever drivel was on the TV as my Gran lamented the weather and in particular the darkness as the nights drew in. Her solution to this issue was simple I was sent up the loft to retrieve the decorations and the tree in order to cheer the place up.
My Gran loved Christmas. It was her absolute favourite time of year. She loved everything about it. She loved the music. She loved the food. She loved the lights. She loved the tree. She loved the decorations. Most importantly she loved Jesus. She loved Christmas so much that we used to tease her that the tree and the decorations went up earlier and earlier each year.
October is miles too early for decorations but it made her happy and reminded her that her favourite time of year was on it’s way and that her saviour had come.
Our passage today is about a decoration God hangs in the sky in order to remember. Not His favourite time of year, but the covenant He made with Noah never to destroy out all living creatures in a flood again.
The flood narrative in Genesis 6-9 is a story of both judgement and grace. It is a reminder that God takes sin seriously, that His wrath is real and His holiness unavoidable.
The certainty of God’s just judgement of sin and sinner is front and centre when we read the early chapters of Genesis. The first lie that Satan tells Eve back in the Garden was an assault on this truth:
“No! You will certainly not die.”
Genesis 3:4
But despite the Serpent’s word the Lord’s judgement came, rebellion led to death both spiritual and physical along with banishment from God’s presence. Cain soon discovers that God saw his crime and he can’t escape the Lord’s justice. Humanity spreads our wickedness grows and so the flood comes. Sin has inescapable consequences.
The story of the flood reminds us, that God’s judgement against sin is certain. But it also reminds us that God has made a way for us to be saved from His wrath.
“Noah, however, found favour with the Lord.”
Genesis 6:8
Noah received God’s free and unearned favour. By God’s grace he and his family were saved. God provided them with a means of deliverance from the flood. The Ark.
“In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the sources of the vast watery depths burst open, the floodgates of the sky were opened, and the rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights. On that same day Noah and his three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, entered the ark, along with Noah’s wife and his three sons’ wives. They entered it with all the wildlife according to their kinds, all livestock according to their kinds… Then the Lord shut him in.”
Genesis 7:11-16
The Lord, saved Noah, from Himself, for Himself, by Himself.
The same is true for us God has provided a way for us to be saved from His wrath. He sent His beloved son Jesus to rescue us, to live for us, and to die as our substitute, taking the punishment we deserved. We are saved not by being in a boat but by being in Christ. By faith in the person and work of Jesus.
5 ways Noah points to Jesus and 7 ways the Ark points to Jesus.
Noah.
1. Noah’s name means ‘rest’ or ‘restore.’ Jesus is the great rest-giver or restorer.
2. Noah is chosen to save God’s people. Jesus is ‘The Chosen One' sent to save God’s people.
3. Noah was righteous blameless in his generation. Jesus is 'The Righteous One.’
4. Noah was called to salvific work and accomplished it alone. Jesus was sent for the salvific work and accomplished it alone.
5. Noah’s success is seen in the salvation of his family. Jesus success is seen in the salvation of his family, the church.
Ark.
1. The Ark was divine provision to save. Jesus is God’s provision to save sinners.
2. The Ark was revealed to God’s chosen one. Jesus is revealed to God’s chosen people for salvation.
3. The Ark was uniquely designed to save sinners. Jesus the God-Man is uniquely equipped to save sinners.
4. The Ark was the only refuge from the flood. Jesus is the only refuge from God’s wrath.
5. Noah and his family were called into the Ark. The elect are called into Christ.
6. The Ark was a place of absolute safety. Jesus provides people with absolute security.
7. The Ark only has one door. Jesus is the only way.
Written by Andrew Mathieson
A Thought to Remember: God’s judgement against sin is certain. But God has made a way for us to be saved from His wrath.
A Bit More to Read: Genesis 6-9,Romans 6:23
A Question to Ask: Am I in Christ? If so, what difference does that certain refuge make today?
A Song to Sing: Flee From Sin
A Picture for the kids: The Ark & Rainbow