He Hideth My Soul...

The Ark of Our Salvation

(Genesis 6:9-7:24, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, August 3, 2014)

[9] These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. [10] And Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.... [12] And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt ...

Everyone on the earth came from the line of Noah through his three sons. What do we know about this ancestor? He was called a righteous man, and like Enoch before him, Noah walked with God. He did this in an era that was so corrupt and filled with violence that the Lord determined to make an end of all other humanity in the world that once was. The Lord gave Noah detailed instructions that would be necessary to survive the judgment day that was coming. Salvation would be through an ark that would be able to withstand the flood. He promised to establish His covenant with Noah—His arrangement for new life upon the earth. Noah heard the covenant word of promise and believed. He did all that God commanded.

[7:1] Then the LORD said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation. [2] Take with you seven pairs of all clean animals, the male and his mate, and a pair of the animals that are not clean, the male and his mate, [3] and seven pairs of the birds of the heavens also, male and female, to keep their offspring alive on the face of all the earth. [4] For in seven days I will send rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and every living thing that I have made I will blot out from the face of the ground.” ...

The account of the boarding of the ark and the coming of the flood makes noticeable use of the number seven—the biblical number of perfection or completeness. There would be seven pairs of animals that could be used for sacrifice and seven pairs of birds of the heavens. The flood would come seven days after the boarding of the ark. God's judgment would surely come. Noah's obedience to the Word of the Lord would require faith. That faith was blessed with survival.

[11] In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the windows of the heavens were opened.... [17] The flood continued forty days on the earth. The waters increased and bore up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. [18] The waters prevailed and increased greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the face of the waters. [19] And the waters prevailed … [20] The waters prevailed … [23] ... Only Noah was left, and those who were with him in the ark. [24] And the waters prevailed on the earth 150 days.

The water did come. It came from below and from above. The waters of the Lord's judgment prevailed upon the old earth. That pronouncement was repeated in the account for emphasis. Only that which was in the ark survived the waters.

Put the Word to Work: There can be no doubt that the Lord is able to judge the earth. Nor can there be any doubt that He is able to save His chosen people from that judgment. The flood reminds us of these facts. Another day of judgment is coming. The only way to be saved from that judgment is through the provision of Jesus—the ark of our salvation. Hear. Believe. Obey.

Memory Verse from the Songs of Ascents—Psalm 121:8 – The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.

Gospel Reading—Matthew 13:34-35 – Prophecy and parables