Entering The Ark
March 19, 2022
Commentary
When God pronounced the destruction of man from the face of the earth (Gen. 6:7,13) he still gave sinful man 120 years to repent while Noah built the ark. And now in this chapter Noah enters the Ark (v. 1). Some have questioned why it would say in one place that Noah took two of every kind and in another place seven of a kind. Please note the distinction between clean and unclean beast (v. 2). All you have to do to answer this is read chapter eight and verse twenty and you will see that when Noah left the ark, he offered clean beasts as sacrifices to God. Where would he have found clean beasts if he had not taken more than two of them. After the sacrifice there was still a male and female of every animal. In this passage we can see:
1. A full commitment demanded of Noah (v. 1). What it meant for Noah to be “in the ark” in his day is what it means for us to be “in Christ” today. Noah and his family had to take a step of faith by getting in the Ark. They had to make a total commitment of themselves to the salvation that had been provided for them at a tremendous price. The gospel invitation was given to Noah and his family in that glorious word “Come!”
2. A final commission delivered to Noah (vv. 2-4). He was to take seven of each kind of “clean” beast into the ark. One of each seven of the “clean” beasts was no doubt intended for sacrifice. God directed the creatures of the earth to make their way into the ark. The ark was the serpent’s abode, the lion’s den etc. Just as “the saved” today are changed (II Cor. 5:17) so perhaps the natures of the beasts were changed so long as they were in the ark.
3. A faithful compliance demonstrated by Noah (vv. 5-9). Just as the animals went into the ark Noah and his family went in while the rest of mankind yawned in the face of God. Noah did everything the Lord commanded him to do (v. 5). He was 600 years old when the flood came to the earth (v. 6). The costly work of salvation was for all who enter in (John 1:12).
4. A fateful commencement of destruction to all except Noah’s Family (v. 10).
Application
God has warned us in His word that a day of judgment is coming. The rapture of the church could be any time and then will be great tribulation. Am I faithfully sounding the warning as Noah did?
Genesis 7:1– 10 (NET)
1 The Lord said to Noah, “Come into the ark, you and all your household, for I consider you godly among this generation. 2 You must take with you seven pairs of every kind of clean animal, the male and its mate, two of every kind of unclean animal, the male and its mate, 3 and also seven pairs of every kind of bird in the sky, male and female, to preserve their offspring on the face of the entire earth. 4 For in seven days I will cause it to rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and I will wipe from the face of the ground every living thing that I have made.”
5 And Noah did all that the Lord commanded him.
6 Noah was 600 years old when the floodwaters engulfed the earth. 7 Noah entered the ark along with his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives because of the floodwaters. 8 Pairs of clean animals, of unclean animals, of birds, and of everything that creeps along the ground, 9 male and female, came into the ark to Noah, just as God had commanded him. 10 And after seven days the floodwaters engulfed the earth.