Make Yourself an Ark
A Devotional Series from Genesis
Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)
6/4 Reading Portions: Deuteronomy 8; Psalm 91; Isaiah 36; Revelation 6
Genesis 6:13-14
And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch.”
REDEMPTION
God’s command to Noah to build an ark reflects the Word of Christ’s gospel truth ministering to you and me as redeemed souls saved by God’s grace. Noah had found favor in eyes of the YHVH God (Gen 6:8) because a judgment was coming to an evil, violent, and corrupt population (Gen 6:5, 11-12). Having saved Noah by His grace, God speaks to Noah and tells him the truth of His holy judgment (Gen 6:13) and proclaims the truth of His amazing grace (Gen 6:14). First let’s look at the truth of God’s holy judgment.
Before we were saved, if we attempted to read the Bible, he might understand in plain English what it said, but its spiritual truth was sadly lacking to our reprobate minds. Now that you and I have been saved by God’s grace, Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, reveals to us the truth of its content (Gen 18:17; Psa 25:14; John 14:26; Heb 1:1-2; et al).
Second, because we’ve been saved by God’s grace and His Word is illuminated to us, the Bible’s commandments present to us how we are to lovingly and fearfully respond to God’s mercy, love, and grace, because His commandments are not grievous or burdensome (1 Jn 5:3). As Noah was commanded to make himself an ark of gopher wood, we are to take up our cross daily, as it is written:
And He said to all, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” Luke 9:23
As the ark was made of wood, a refuge from coming judgment, Christ’s cross, the Son of God suffering and dying on a tree of wood, is our refuge from the final judgment. We are to build upon that truth, little by little (Isa 28:10), as Christ’s return approaches. Next, we are to abide in the truth of Christ crucified, just as Noah was commanded to make rooms in the ark. Jesus said,
“I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5
As I’ve said and preached and written for years, not only can we do nothing apart from Christ, we are nothing apart from Christ—a branch that doesn’t abide in the vine is good for nothing but kindling. Finally, we are to seal the truth of our salvation with the truth of God’s atoning grace in, by, from, and through Jesus Christ, just as Noah was commanded to cover it inside and out with pitch. The Hebrew word for “cover” is כָּפַר (kha-FAR), which means “cover,” “pacify,” or “atone.” The Hebrew word for pitch is כֹּפֶר (KHŌ-fer), which means to “cover,” “ransom,” or “redeem.” It is written,
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16
This is how we are “redeeming the time” (Eph 5:16, KJV) as we await the return of our Lord Jesus. Amen! Hallelujah! What a Savior!