NOAH: Salvation & Redemption
Genesis chapter 7 opens with an invitation:
“Then the Lord said to Noah, ‘Enter the ark, you and all your household …’” (Gen. 7:1, Christian Standard Bible [CSB])
God invited Noah to “enter the ark.” The Hebrew word for “enter” is bo which means “to come, to go, to enter.” This is the first time the word “come” is used in Scripture. God’s invitation to Noah reminds us of the gospel call.
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matt 11:28)
“Then the master told the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges and make them come in, so that my house may be filled.’” (Luke 14:23)
There is no way of knowing how long the ark had been completed before Noah went inside.
What we do know is that Noah waited patiently and obediently on God’s command, “Go into the ark, you and your whole family …” (Gen. 7:1, NIV) He also did not leave the ark until God said so.
“After he had waited another seven days, he sent out the dove, but it did not return to him again. In the six hundred first year, in the first month, on the first day of the month, the water that had covered the earth was dried up. Then Noah removed the ark’s cover and saw that the surface of the ground was drying. By the twenty-seventh day of the second month, the earth was dry. Then God spoke to Noah, ‘Come out of the ark, you, your wife, your sons, and your sons’ wives with you. Bring out all the living creatures that are with you—birds, livestock, those that crawl on the earth—and they will spread over the earth and be fruitful and multiply on the earth.’ So Noah, along with his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives, came out.” (Gen. 8:12-18, CSB)
Noah and his family gained life by his obedience.
How can we imitate Noah’s example of waiting on God?
The Hebrew word for ark is tebah (tay-baw). The only other place this word is used is in Exodus chapter 2, to refer to “the ark” into which baby Moses is placed. In both instances an individual destined to be used by God is saved from drowning by being placed in an ark.
What does the ark symbolize?
The Ark is a picture of Christ, in Him alone we can be safe, when death and judgment approach.
The image of Christ portrayed in the ark offers many parallels:
The ark was constructed of wood. Jesus died upon a wooden cross.
The ark had only one door to enter and access was controlled by God. (Gen. 7:16). Likewise, Jesus said that He is the door, and that no one comes to the Father except through Him.
“I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” (John 10:9, ESV)
Ark was covered with pitch. The basket (ark) in which Moses was placed was also covered in pitch. (Ex. 2:3) The Hebrew verb for pitch, kaphar (kah-far), also means "atonement," "to cover," or "to reconcile." This connection highlights how Jesus Christ's sacrifice atones for our sins, provides cover/protection and reconciliation with God.
Finally, the ark carried all of its passengers safely to the destination that God had prepared for them. Jesus also has a prepared place for those who belong to Him.
“Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also.” (John 14:1-3, CSB)
What does the water signify?
Judgment and Cleansing:
The flood acts as a powerful act of divine judgment, wiping out the wickedness of the world, preparing it for a new beginning.
Baptism and Salvation:
The ark, floating on the waters, represents salvation. Just as Noah and his family were saved by being in the ark, Christians are commanded to be baptized. However, baptism is not a requirement for salvation. Think of the thief on the cross who surely was not baptized as a Christian, yet Christ promised he would be with Him in paradise that very day (Luke 23:43).
1 Peter speaks how Noah and his family were saved through water:
“Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you (not as the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a good conscience toward God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” (1 Peter 3:21, CSB)
The flood waters prefigure baptism. Just as Noah was saved through the judgment of the flood, those baptized into Christ, by faith in Him, are saved through the flood of God’s wrath that fell on Jesus.
“Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4, CSB)
When someone is baptized, they are symbolically buried under the water, representing death to the old way of life, and then raised from the water, symbolizing a new life in Christ. Christ is our ark (1 Pet. 3:18-22).
There are also similarities between beginning of creation and Noah’s story.
In the beginning God created Adam and Eve. They were instructed to multiply and fill the earth. They were to have dominion over the animals. And they were to eat of all the vegetation of the earth. With one exception—the tree of life.
In Noah, humanity had a new start, a second chance. God’s words to Noah are remarkably similar to those spoken to Adam.
“Then God blessed Noah and his sons and told them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth. All the animals of the earth, all the birds of the sky, all the small animals that scurry along the ground, and all the fish in the sea will look on you with fear and terror. I have placed them in your power. I have given them to you for food, just as I have given you grain and vegetables. But you must never eat any meat that still has the lifeblood in it.’” (Genesis 9:1-4, CSB)
Even though God had to destroy creation, His plan had not changed. His plan was still to have a relationship with man.
What is a covenant? It is a solemn agreement between God and humans, often involving God making promises and setting conditions to be fulfilled.*
Adam and Eve broke their agreement by eating of the tree of Knowledge. Yet “still God was gracious to Adam, for though mankind died spiritually at the moment of Adam’s disobedience, our Lord did not immediately strike us dead. More importantly, God promised to redeem His people through an agent [Jesus Christ] who would keep the covenant of works! (Gen. 3:15; Rom. 5:16-17).” Jesus became flesh to bring salvation to mankind. (John 1:14). {The Noahic Covenant | Reformed Bible Studies & Devotionals at Ligonier.org)
What is the significance of Noah’s story for us today?
“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. And they were oblivious until the flood came and swept them all away.” (Mat. 24:36-39)
Let us not neglect, refuse, or abuse the salvation of Christ. Abide in Him at all times, especially during the hard, dark times and we will receive our inheritance of dwelling with Him eternally in one of the rooms prepared for us.
Genesis 9 Explained: Noah's Covenant, the Rainbow, and God's Promise!
Parallels of the Ark: Noah & Jesus
https://eccelmira.org/articles/saved-through-water-thoughts-on-baptism/
https://tabletalkmagazine.com/posts/what-is-a-covenant-2020-05/
https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/what-covenant
https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-stories/noah-s-ark.html
*AI Overview
The Covenant of Works, also known as the Covenant of Creation, is a theological concept describing God's original covenant with Adam and humanity, outlining the conditions for eternal life. Essentially, God promised eternal life for perfect obedience, but death for disobedience, with Adam serving as the head of humanity in this covenant.
Additional thoughts:
Floating on the endless waters of destruction for months, Noah might have felt cursed and forgotten, not favored. Christians can relate to the challenges Noah faced: Waiting on God and remembering His promises.
Unclean raven and the clean dove …
… are good illustrations of the believer’s old and new natures. The old nature loves to feed on garbage and carrion whereas the new nature cannot find satisfaction in a scene of death and judgment. It finds no rest until it sets its feet on resurrection ground.
The olive tree and olive branch have been symbols of peace and reconciliation ever since the account of Noah’s flood. When the dove brought Noah “a plucked olive leaf in its beak,” the olive branch represented new life sprouting on the earth Gen. 8:11). The olive tree was alive and growing. The promise of the dove’s olive branch was a new beginning for humanity, peace and reconciliation with God, renewal, and revival. The slow and hearty growth of the olive tree also implies establishment and peace. Some of the oldest olive trees in the world still grow today in the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. (https://www.gotquestions.org/olive-tree-Bible.html)
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