Peace & Blessings Beloved,
TGBTG for allowing us to see another day. I pray all is well with you and yours, and that your week has been fruitful & blessed thus far.
In the third post of our new Humble Servant Blog Series, Stories of the Bible, we're going to analyze the Flood, and take an in-depth look at what caused it, how it played out, and the immediate aftermath.
Video courtesy of LUSU Media Group, BrandLUSU, LLC
The Bible Story of Noah's Ark
This is a summary of the Biblical account of the flood and Noah's ark. The story of Noah's ark is one filled with faith, perseverance, and promise. Noah was a man who found great favor in God's eyes. The entire population of mankind had become evil and wicked and God decided to bring a flood to the earth to destroy everyone but Noah and his family. God told Noah to prepare an ark big enough to hold one male and one female from every kind of animal and creature. When it started raining, Noah brought his wife and his sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and their wives onto the ark. It rained for 40 days and 40 nights. After coming to rest on a mountain, Noah sent out a dove to find dry land but it returned. Seven days later he sent out another dove and it returned with an olive leaf, signaling that it was now safe to go onto land.
God promised to never destroy the earth with a flood again and He placed a rainbow in the sky as a sign of his promise.
Noah is warned of the flood and given directions for building the ark in verses 12-21. God told Noah his purpose to destroy the wicked world by water. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him (Psalm 25:14). It is with all believers, enabling them to understand and apply the declarations and warnings of the written word. God chose to do it by a flood of waters, which should drown the world. As he chooses the rod, which he uses to correct his children, so he chooses the sword with which he cuts off his enemies. God established his covenant with Noah. This is the first place in the Bible where the word covenant is found; it seems to mean, 1. The covenant of providence; that the course of nature shall be continued to the end of time. 2. The covenant of grace; that God would be a God to Noah, and that out of his seed God would take to himself a people. God directed Noah to make an ark. This ark was like the hulk of a ship, fitted to float upon the waters. It was very large, half the size of St. Paul's cathedral, and would hold more than eighteen of the largest ships now used. God could have secured Noah without putting him to any care, or pains, or trouble; but employed him in making that which was to be the means to preserve him, for the trial of his faith and obedience. Both the providence of God and the grace of God, blesses the obedient and diligent. God gave Noah particular orders on how to make the ark, which could not therefore but be well fitted for the purpose. God promised Noah that he and his family should be kept alive in the ark. What we do in obedience to God, we and our families are likely to have the benefit of. The piety of parents gets their children good in this life and furthers them in the way to eternal life if they improve it.
We see Noah's faith and obedience in action, as shown in verse 22. Noah's faith triumphed over all corrupt reasonings. To rear so large a building, such a one as he never saw, and to provide food for the living creatures, would require from him a great deal of care, and labor, and expense. His neighbors would laugh at him. But all such objections, Noah, by faith, got over; his obedience was ready and resolute. Having begun to build, he did not leave off till he had finished: so did he, and so must we. He feared the deluge, and therefore prepared the ark. And in the warning given to Noah, there is a more solemn warning given to us, to flee from the wrath to come, which will sweep the world of unbelievers into the pit of destruction. Christ, the true Noah, which same shall comfort us, hath by his sufferings already prepared the ark, and kindly invites us by faith to enter in. While the day of his patience continues, let us hear and obey his voice.
Noah's Ark and the Flood: Genesis 7
Noah, and his family and the living creatures, enter the ark, and the flood begins. (1-12) Noah shut in the ark. (13-16) The increase of the flood for forty days. (17-20) All flesh is destroyed by the flood. (21-24)
Noah's Family and the Creatures Enter the Ark, Verses 1-12
The call to Noah is very kind, like that of a tender father to his children to come indoors when he sees night or a storm coming. Noah did not go into the ark till God bade him, though he knew it was to be his place of refuge. It is very comfortable to see God going before us in every step we take. Noah had taken many pains to build the ark, and now he was himself kept alive in it. What we do in obedience to the command of God, and in faith, we ourselves shall certainly have the comfort of, first or last. This call to Noah reminds us of the call the gospel gives to poor sinners. Christ is an ark, in whom alone we can be safe when death and judgment approach. The word says, "Come;" ministers say, "Come;" the Spirit says, "Come, come into the Ark." Noah was accounted righteous, not for his own righteousness, but as an heir of the righteousness which is by faith, (Hebrews 11:7). He believed the revelation of a savior and sought and expected salvation through Him alone. Thus was he justified by faith, and received that Spirit whose fruit is in all goodness; but if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. As Noah prepared the ark by faith in the warning given that the flood would come, so he went into it, by faith in this warning that it would come quickly. And on the day Noah was securely fixed in the ark, the fountains of the great deep were broken up. The earth had within it those waters, which, at God's command, sprang up and flooded it. The windows of heaven were opened, and the waters which were above the firmament, that is, in the air, were poured out upon the earth. The rain comes down in drops; but such rains fell then, as were never known before or since. It rained without stop or abatement, forty days and forty nights, upon the whole earth at once.
The Creatures of Noah's Ark, Verses 13-16
The ravenous creatures were made mild and manageable; yet, when this occasion was over, they were of the same kind as before; for the ark did not alter their natures. Hypocrites in the church, who outwardly conform to the laws of that ark, are yet unchanged; and it will appear, one time or other, what kind they are after. God continued his care of Noah. God shut the door, to secure him and keep him safe in the ark; also to keep all others forever out. In what manner this was done, God has not made known. There is much of our gospel duty and privilege to be seen in Noah's safety in the ark. (1 Peter 3:20-21) Observe then, it is our great duty, in obedience to the gospel call, by a lively faith in Christ, to come into that way of salvation which God has provided for poor sinners.
The Flood, Verses 17-20
The flood was increasing for forty days. The waters rose so high, that the tops of the highest mountains were overflowed more than twenty feet. There is no place on earth so high as to set men out of the reach of God's judgments. God's hand will find out all his enemies, (Psalm 21:8). When the flood thus increased, Noah's ark was lifted up, and the waters which broke down everything else bore up the ark. That which to unbelievers bestows death unto death, to the faithful bestows life unto life.
The Aftermath of the Flood, Verses 21-24
All the men, women, and children, that were in the world, except those in the ark, died. Our Savior tells us, that till the very day that the flood came, they were eating and drinking, Luke 17:26-27; they were deaf and blind to all Divine warnings. In this posture, death surprised them. They were convinced of their folly when it was too late. The sin of sinners will be their ruin, first or last, if not repented of. The righteous God knows how to bring ruin upon (2 Peter 2:5) the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. If we neglect, refuse, or abuse the salvation of Christ, we shall be destroyed in the common ruin of an unbelieving world.
May we establish, nurture, and grow a sincere love for the word of God, and study it lovingly & faithfully.
I pray you receive this with the love intended, and apply it to wisdom.
Love you much.
Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, Stay Blessed!
-Humble Servant
P.S- If you have not given your life to Jesus Christ, I implore you to take the time to do so right now. Use John 3:16 & Romans 10:9-10 as a foundation for making your confession of faith. And use Ephesians 2:1-10 to provide proper context for your salvation.
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