Noah And His Family Leave The Boat

Genesis 8:13–19
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God tells Noah to - Come out of the ark (vv. 13-19). At the command of God, Noah had built an ark. At the command of God, Noah had gathered together the necessary food for their time in the ark. At the command of God, Noah, his family, and all the animals that God had summoned, entered into the ark. Lastly, at the command of God, “Come out of the ark,” Noah, his family, and all the animals God had summoned, exited the ark. One of the defining characteristics of Noah was that he was obedient to the commands of the Lord. Note that Noah was a man who:

1. Waited for God and his commands. He did not run on ahead of God and his will, there were certain things that he knew required the go ahead from God before he would act.

2. Knew that the timing of the leaving of the ark was for God to determine. How about in our lives?  Sometimes we want to go on ahead of God. God’s timing is something we struggle with. When we wait for God and don’t try to force our wills upon whatever the situation is, then we’ll get God’s best and we won’t be disappointed.

3. Obeyed God when after 377 days (more than a year) the door of the ark was opened!!! God spoke unto Noah and told him to go forth out of the ark with his wife, his sons and his son’s wives and all the living animals. What a sight that must have been as everyone excitedly streamed out of the ark and ran over the earth and the birds flew through the sky singing joyfully. It was a very happy occasion.

The theme of “rest” seems to be quite strong throughout the story. The ark rested (v. 4); at first the dove could find no resting place for its feet (v. 9). When the ark came to rest on Ararat, this was more than a physical landing on dry ground. It was a new beginning; clean and at rest.

Application

Jesus said in John 10:9 “I am the door.” He’s the door to Heaven. How can I enter into that door? By believing in the Lord Jesus and receiving Him as my Savior from sin. The people in Noah’s day had all seen the door and they knew what the ark was but did that save them? No, they died in the flood if they weren’t obedient to God’s instruction to enter in the door. Jesus said if I come to Him he will not cast me out. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Jesus is my ark of safety but I must obey Him.