Thought for week ending 10 October

 

 

Genesis 7 v 1-5

7 The Lord then said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation. ² Take with you seven pairs of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate, and one pair of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate, ³ and also seven pairs of every kind of bird, male and female, to keep their various kinds alive throughout the earth. ⁴ Seven days from now I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and I will wipe from the face of the earth every living creature I have made.”

 

⁵ And Noah did all that the Lord commanded him. 

The story of Noah’s Ark is a popular and meaningful Bible story often shared in Sunday School because it teaches important lessons about faith, obedience, God’s justice, and mercy. 

When we trust and obey God, He protects us and gives us new beginnings.  Even when the world was full of wrong, Noah chose to do what was right. Because of his faith, God saved him and his family—and gave them a fresh start. The rainbow is a beautiful reminder of God’s promises and love for us all. 

The biblical story of Noah and the Ark conveys a message of divine judgment, salvation, and grace. In response to the wickedness of humanity, God sends a catastrophic flood to cleanse the world, but saves the righteous Noah, his family, and two of every animal by instructing them to build an ark. 

Core messages and interpretations 

Divine judgment and justice

• Judgment on sin: God's decision to flood the Earth is a direct response to humanity's widespread corruption and violence. The story serves as a stark warning that sin has severe consequences.
• The seriousness of sin: For many believers, the flood demonstrates that God does not take sin lightly and that His justice demands judgment.  

Salvation and grace

• A new beginning: By saving Noah and the animals, God ensures the continuation of life and grants a new beginning for creation. The story is fundamentally one of hope and a second chance.
• Salvation through obedience: Noah's salvation was not automatic; it was a result of his faith and obedience to God's precise and unconventional command to build the ark.
• God's grace: The narrative highlights that it was not all bad news and that God would give Noah and all the creatures in the ark a fresh start. 

The covenant and the rainbow

• God's promise: After the flood, God makes a covenant with Noah and all living creatures, promising never again to destroy the Earth by water.
• A sign of hope: The rainbow serves as the visible sign of this promise, reminding believers of God's faithfulness and mercy. 

 Trust and faithfulness

• Trusting the impossible: Noah's task of building a massive ark was seemingly impossible and attracted mockery from his neighbours. The story teaches that believers must trust in God's plan, even when it seems illogical or defies worldly wisdom or understanding.
• Perseverance: Noah's long years of patient work and faith demonstrate the value of persistence in the face of immense challenges and doubt. 

The ark as a symbol

·        In Judaism, the ark's dimensions and structure have been linked to the Temple in Jerusalem.

·        In Christianity, it represents salvation through baptism and Christ as the sole refuge from judgment. The single door to the ark symbolizes that Jesus is the only way to salvation.

·        The dove's return with an olive leaf has become a universal symbol of peace and hope. God will never attempt to wipe out humanity with a flood again. His sign of this covenant is the rainbow.

 

Prayer:  

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the life of Noah, who had faith in you even without seeing rain for so long. Please grant us that same unwavering faith and the grace to walk in obedience to your Word, even when we might have difficulty understanding. Help us to trust in your plan and not lean simply on our own initiatives, following your commands with reverence and diligence.  All this we ask in your most gracious name, Amen.