The Triumphal Ark
And the waters increased, and bore up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. (Genesis 7:17b)
Gen. 6:3, 5-9, and 7:11-24; Mt. 24:37-39; I Cor. 1:18; I Jn. 5:4
What Is God Saying?
The story of a flood has come down in many languages and traditions, Babylonian, Sumerian, and Akkadian. All accounts are similar yet the flood with its true significance and interpretation is unique to the Scripture. God was grieved. Human life hadn't gone according to His plan (Gen. 6:5). The purpose of the flood was to restore goodness to the earth. It did not come without warning. Noah pleaded with his neighbors and friends for 120 years. The Holy Spirit had also striven with them (Gen 6:3 KN). ‘Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord’ (6.8). He followed directions from God in building an ark. The ark proved to be salvation for Noah and his family. Those around Noah had chosen to ignore this eccentric old man who was marching to a different drumbeat. Imagine! Building a three-decked ship near a river where a canoe would be better suited, but Noah went through the narrow gate of trust and obedience. Scoffers and the indifferent held their course through the wide gate of doubt and cynicism. The whole thing was a joke to them. The ark was made. It had no sails. It would only float. This floating ark saved the believing family.
How Does This Apply To Us?
Noah ‘found grace in the eyes of the Lord’ through the ark. We find grace in the eyes of the Lord through the Cross. Sin is the flood. The Cross is the ark. As the building of the ark was foolishness to everyone but Noah, so ‘the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing’ (I Cor. 1:18). As the waters of trouble and disaster increased the ark was borne up. It rose above the earth (Gen 7:17b). The very thing that spelled death to the unbelieving, caused the believers in the ark to rise. The more trouble that comes, the higher we rise as we trust in the love of God, obey His Word, and conform to His perfect plan for our lives. There is unfailing buoyancy in the love of God; peace in His blessing; and eternal life in His salvation. Are we overcoming? Or are we in the waters and being overcome? The story of Noah and the ark is the blessed assurance that in every trial, every temptation, every problem, every need, ‘You are of God and have overcome them. Greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world’ (I John 4:4). ‘This is the victory that overcomes the world, even your faith’ (I Jn. 5:4).
Pray With Me
I am thankful for the ark as a symbol of my salvation and security. Noah put his absolute trust in that ark. He found his hope in that ark. In the same way, I rely completely on the salvation You gave. Your saving grace always makes the difference. Flooding cares and surging anxieties would hold me down, but in the exercise of faith, they become the very things that lift me up. Failure and disappointment that might be overwhelming lead me, instead, to greater trust in You. I am lifted above the goals prized by the world. I am brought nearer to the peace of Your perfect will. I am assured of Your love. Without the ark, everything goes under. With the ark, everything is lifted up. Teach me to trust the buoyancy of Your love. Help me understand the ways of Your wisdom. Hold me above things that can destroy. Help me simply to float on the expanse of Your love as You transform the threat of trouble into the fulfilment of joy.
In His name whose everlasting arms are always underneath. Amen.
Moving On In The Life of Prayer
When we pray, we want to learn God's design and purpose for a great life. Don't look to God in prayer for 120 years from now. Listen for His plan for life today. Say, yes to Him right now and trust Him through all the storms and floods, ‘For greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.’
