Noah Builds The Ark

Genesis 6:13–22
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These verses give us a description of the ark that Noah built. It was a sizable structure, to  say the least, being 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high (v. 15). It was made out of gopher wood which was probably a type of cedar or Cyprus (vv. 13-14). It was sealed with pitch, which must have been like an asphalt substance, to keep it from leaking. At the top of the ark was a window (v. 16). J. Vernon McGee thinks this window went all the way around the ark and that the roof overlapped it quite a bit. This would act as a ventilation system. Then the ark had only one door which meant there was only one way to get in, just as Christ is the only way to heaven.

Keep in mind that when God told Noah to build the ark Noah had never seen an ark. Furthermore, Noah has never seen rain because up to this point it had never rained on the earth (v. 17). But he believed God and by faith prepared an ark for the saving of his house (v. 18). For the many years while the ark was being built he alerted the people of the coming destruction.

Even his  assistant carpenters refused to believe his words and perished in the flood. This should be quite a lesson to those who are just church members and do not know the Lord today. In addition to Noah, his wife, their three sons and their wives, God told Noah to take a male and female of all beasts, birds and creeping things on to the ark (vv. 19-22). Since Noah was no  big game  hunter he didn’t go after all of these animals, but rather they came to him.

Application

When God tells me to do something, like He did Noah, I need to be willing to obey. My life and the life of others depend on it.