Genesis 6:17-7:6
“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 everything that is in the earth shall die. 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.” vv. 17,18.
Noah labored on his task for perhaps more than one hundred years. Faith and courage were both needed to undertake the tremendous project. Day after day of fair weather, with never a cloud in view, undoubtedly brought forth ridicule from those who were looking on. Yet he persevered, for was it not God’s own voice that had instructed him? Faith in what God said was indeed the answer, just as we are informed in Hebrews 11:7: “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the sang of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” There are many today who scoff at warnings of impending judgment, too. Yet their scoffing does not alter the fact one iota. “He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world.” Acts 17:31.
“Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.” v. 22. Noah was obedient to all of God’s instructions. He changed no dimension of the ark. He followed the divinely given pattern, which was his assurance of safety. God will never accept compromise or substitution for any of His requirements. Those who tamper with His ways will only find insecurity and trouble. Salvation is found alone in Christ, that blessed One in whom the Father finds full delight.
“And the Lord said unto Noah Come thou and all thy house into the ark.” Genesis 7:1. We do well to notice that the invitation was “Come.” He would ever draw souls to Him with His love, while yet being faithful in warning of impending judgment. His message of old was: “Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee.” Jeremiah 31:3. The Saviour’s words now are: “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28. How sweet it is to accept that invitation.
The call to Noah assured him that God would be in that ark. A precious time lay ahead of him and his family in proving God’s preserving mercy, and Noah’s faith would again and again rejoice in the God who had invited Him in and would never forsake him.
Provision was made for animals and birds, as well. One pair of all the unclean ones were taken into the ark, and seven pairs of the clean, some of which would later be offered up as sacrifices when the passengers of the ark would step out on a purged world. Noah, in fear for his own safety, might have thought only of salvation for himself and his family, but God looked on to their future needs, as well as to the preservation of all His creatures.
Memory Verse: “GOD FORBID THAT I SHOULD GLORY, SAVE IN THE CROSS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, BY WHOM THE WORLD IS CRUCIFIED UNTO ME, AND I UNTO THE WORLD.” Galatians 6:14.
ML-10/25/1964