5/16/13 5/16/13

There's More to Noah's Ark Than a History Lesson

Pictures of Christ and salvation are spread throughout the Old Testament in types. Noah’s Ark is one of those examples. The story involves faith, obedience to God’s only way of salvation at the time, an ark, a door and God’s faithfulness to keep his promise.

Mankind had become exceedingly sinful. God determined to destroy them from the face of the earth. But God showed grace to Noah and his family. God planned to save them, but it required faith manifested in obedience on Noah’s part. God told him to build an ark and enter into it. God was going to bring rain and a world-wide flood. Faith was especially necessary, because it had never rained before. But he had faith, proved by his works, and he became an heir of the righteousness that is by faith.

The way of salvation through Christ is presented in this story. Only when we are “in Christ” are we safe. He is the ark and he is the door to enter into the ark. I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh unto the father but by me (John 14:6).

The story is in the column on the left. The column on the right comments on what is directly beside it.

Old Testament

Notes

Gen 6:5-8 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (6) And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. (7) And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. (8) But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD….

Gen 6:11-18 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. (12) And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. (13) And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. (14) Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. (15) And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits. (16) A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it. (17) And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die. (18) But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee.

Gen 7:4-5 For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth. (5) And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him….

Gen 7:12-13 And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights. (13) In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark;….

Gen 7:15-17 And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life. (16) And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in. (17) And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth….

Gen 7:21-22 And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man: (22) All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died.

For the wages of sin is death…(Romans 6:23A)

Noah found and experienced God’s grace in this hopeless time.

Eph 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Apart from grace, death is determined for all mankind.

Rom 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Noah’s faith proved itself when he obeyed and built that ark and entered in by the door.

Joh 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. (Hebrews 11:7)

Noah’s faith was tested with a command. “Build an ark.” He passed. (When Adam’s faith was tested with a command, he failed. His works did not match his faith, and he sinned.)

Jas 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

The Lord shuts us in. He keeps us.

And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: (Ephesians 2:6)

1Pe 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.