Where are Your Ravens?

Noah's Ark:  Part I - The Instuctions           Genesis cc. 6-8

 

        One of my favorite Bible stories is the story of Noah's Ark.  I've listened to it for nearly thirty-some years, yet now, older and more spiritually mature, it has a greater meaning in my life than that little kid so long ago could understand at the time.  Let us enter this first day of the new year of Days in His Grace with one question.

Where are Your Ravens?

     In Genesis chapter six we see that the creation of the human race is running violently down the slope of wickedness ( v. 5 ) and this brings the LORD to the decision of destroying His beloved creation ( vv. 6, 7 ).  "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD."  Man! how Noah must have felt to have the favor of God upon him.  Today, the beginning of a new year, we still find our world in this same predicament.  I wonder, will we find God's favor in our lives.  

     In verse nine God's Word says that Noah was "perfect in his generations".  What about you?  Do you have a Godly heritage...if not, YOU can be the beginning of a Godly heritage for your children and future "generations" to come.  How about it?  In vv. 10-13 God warns Noah of the impending destruction and gives instructions on how to prepare.

The building of the Ark:

 

     In vv. 14-16 we see the dimensions of the ark and how Noah is directed by God to build it. 

     "Make thee an ark of gopher wood;...".   Well shout the glory!  In a short research this morning from www.encylopedia.com I found out that "gopher" wood was used when timber was scarce, this involving cypress, cedar and pine, which is considered "waste" wood...Well glory, God, for the second time is taking something less desirable and making and molding it for His use, the first being the earth "void and without form" ( Gen. 1:2 )!  What will you allow Him to do with your wasted efforts of do-it-yourself Christianity in this new year...won't you allow God to take your wasted efforts and make something new and useful of them?

     God then instructs Noah to build "room"s in the ark, and in this, God is making sure there would be room enough for all to lodge.  Dear lost friend, God is sending destruction to this earth in our near future, but not with a flood, but with hail and fire     ( Rev. 8-9 ).  He has made ample room for all but the choice is yours.  Which path will you choose ( Matt. 7:13 or 7:14 ).  Though these verses are close in Scripture, the choice you make will take you vastly in one direction or the other.

    

     "...pitch it within and without with pitch." ( v. 14 )

     

     The pitch here would "seal" the ark from any leaks, keeping it from sinking while afloat on the flood waters.  This is also a picture of the "sealing" power  ( Eph. 1:13 ) of the blood of Jesus Chirst ( Col. 1:14 ).  This is why we, as Independent Fundamentalist, believe once a person is saved, they are "sealed" with the Holy Spirit ( v. 13 previous ) of promise.  This means we can never be taken out of God's caring hands ( John 10:27-30; Romans 8:38, 39 ).

     God finishes His instructions with the dimensions of the Ark:

     Length: 300 cu.  1 cubit = 18-22 inches  ( 450 ft )

Breadth:  50 cu.  breadth/width  ( 75 ft )

Height:  30 cu.  ( 45 ft )

Hoping that today finds you in "His Grace"