Genesis 6:13-22

February 6, 2013 Were going to go back a little in Genesis to chapter six because I want to take a look at some details about the ark. The two main themes of the Bible are judgment and redemption, and this chapter is a perfect story which shows us these two themes. The world is destroyed in judgment while Noah is preserved (Jude 1) in the ark. The ark is a type of Christ; those inside it are protected and kept from death. The whole world is wicked, and God has determined the time has come to destroy them: And God said unto Noah, Four things to notice from this verse: First, God had a plan from the beginning and He revealed it to Noah. This is the same as the gospel. There is no plan Beverything is already planned. Second, Noah didnt know anything about what was coming until God told him. We were the same way. We didnt know about the coming wrath until God made us aware of it and told us how to escape it. It makes me think of Lot in Sodom. Third, God didnt reveal His plan or warn the whole world. He told Noah to build an ark so that He can destroy the rest of the people. This is true grace for Noah. Finally, Noahs name means rest. Think of it this way: the man who will rest is found in the ark. What a great picture! 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. 14Make thee an ark Again we see grace. Everyone is going to perish, but not you. You make an ark. The word ark simply means box. This isnt a ship, and it has no rudder or sails and not even a steering wheel! The only captain of this box is God, and Hell take good care of it until the storm is over. This is the just living by faith! of gopher wood;

No one knows what gopher wood is, but it could be a wood type or a laminate (layered) wood or wood covered in tar. Whatever it is it was designed to keep the water out. rooms shalt thou make in the ark, Rooms is always translated nest everywhere else (13 times). These are places of rest. You might do better to think of these as stalls that lined the sides of the ark. Have a look at this picture for clarity: http://www.purifiedbyfaith.com/CreationEvolution/Genesis6thru9/images/Inside Ark.jpg

These little rooms were to keep the animals in place during the several months on board. and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.

Its covered in pitch to make it water-tight. This is the only safe place on earth, and its absolutely secure. Pitch means to cover, and it makes me think about the blood of Atonement. I dont know if thats what God wants us to see here or not, but it is a working parallel.
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. This is a pretty big box: 100,000 square feet or 522 railroad cars, so thousands of animals can be kept in it. Its important to remember that Noah probably didnt take full grown animals because young ones take less space. The main point is that theres enough space for everything God has ordained will enter. He didnt lack space for even one.
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; I dont think the window was a square cut out of the roof. Read it carefully and notice that theres only one dimension givenin a cubit shalt thou finish it above. Imagine the walls going all the way up but stopping just short of the roof (about 1718 inches). So youve got a little overhang from the roof, and just under it (running the entire length of the ark) youve got an open space for light and ventilation. Think of the window on a chicken house. You can open and close it with a tarp or whatever. with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it. This way theres plenty of space for all the animals.
17

And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth,

Theres no mistaking this: God takes full credit for killing every person on the earth. Every baby, every grandmother, and every puppy that died did so as a result of Gods work. Some people really want only a loving, kind, gentle, and pleading God, but the truth is that He is harsh and unrelenting to every person whose name isnt in His book. Noah found grace, but everyone else perished without mercy. to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.

The purpose is clear: it was not to raise awareness or cause curiosity. The purpose was to destroy all flesh. Again Im reminded of Lot in Sodom. The angels didnt try to turn the town aroundthey delivered the godly and reserved the ungodly for punishment (II Pt. 2:9).
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But with thee will I establish my covenant;

This is the main point of this story. Its not about a boat ridethis is about Gods covenant and everything hinges on it. Note the pronouns: will I establish my covenant. This isnt something that goes both ways; its not a contract where Noah performs and God performs. This is Gods covenantfinished before the foundation of the world, and it is established by Him! and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons wives with thee. 19And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female. 20Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive. Everyone who was supposed to be with Noah made it on board; as many as were ordained (Acts 13:48).
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And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them. Everything they needed to make the trip was available.
22

Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.

Praise God for His true grace; He has preserved us in Christ, our Ark! newgracebaptistchurch.wordpress.com