01-32 Noah's Ark

Gen 6:13-22

As we approach the biblical account of the flood in Genesis, it is among the most well known in the OT. If you grew up in the church you most likely learned about Noah and his 3 sons from early on. Not many people can claim to have never heard about such a devastating event in the history of the world as this. Now, a vast majority of people will express doubt that such an event actually happened but they’ve at least heard about it.

Dr. Duane Gish (Dinosaurs by Design) tells us that in historic records all over the world there are stories about a global flood. He mentions at least 270 stories among various people groups worldwide—including Persia, Syria, Greece, Egypt, Russia, China, India, Mexico, Peru, Fiji Islands, Hawaii, and among native Americans.

The Chickasaw Nation (SW OK) has this account preserved in their historical roots:

Long ago, perhaps in the days when our Chickasaw ancestors still resided in the land of the setting sun, the Great Spirit, Aba'Binni'li', sent rain. Soon, water covered all the Earth. Some Chickasaws made rafts to save themselves. Then, creatures like large white beavers cut the thongs that bound the rafts. All drowned except one family and a pair of each of all the animals. When the rain stopped and the flood began receding, a raven appeared with part of an ear of corn. Aba'Binni'li' told the Chickasaws to plant it. Aba'Binni'li' also told them that, eventually, the Earth would be destroyed by fire, its ruin presaged by a rain of flood and oil.

Nearly every account includes in some form, the most prominent feature of the flood narrative, being the ark. It may be a raft, a boat, an ark—some vessel the provides the salvation of humans (and often the animals as well).

Now, most people believe the event described in ch 6-9 is impossible. They argue that a world-wide flood just isn’t reasonable (one that covers all high mtns everywhere—7:19-20). They say “there is not enough moisture in the atmosphere to result in that type of cataclysm. They also argue that the ark wouldn’t be nearly large enough to hold 2 of every species that we see today. They also doubt that a wooden vessel could carry that heavy load in violent seas and stay afloat. Others doubt that Noah and his family (and animals) could survive on the boat for the length of time indicated in the Bible. Even with satisfactory answers, skeptics will not be convinced of the reality of a global flood as God’s judgment upon the world. They weren’t in the days of Christ or the apostles. Yet the Bible does answer each question that is raised when it is studied carefully.

Our vv give the 1st indication of God’s method for saving humanity thru which the promised seed would come forth. There are 4 parts to the narrative that I’ll unfold for you today.

1. God’s Determination

God reveals His course of action to Noah, explaining that He is determined to bring about judgment that will destroy “all flesh.” Here that means all things that have the breath of life in them (human and animal). God explains to Noah why… “earth is filled with violence (vs 11-12).” So He tells Noah, “I am about to destroy...” The word destroy is the same term used to describe the “corruption” that is manifest on earth. It means to come to ruin, to be destroyed. God’s determination is to bring to ruin (destroy) that which is essentially self-destroyed. All this corruption stems from what is taking place beginning in ch 6.

That is what sin is—self-destruction. All sinful acts are self-destructive and God determined in Noah’s day to bring an end to the corruption by destroying man (and every living thing).

2. God’s Instruction

It is interesting to note that Noah does not respond to God (doesn’t speak until he curses Ham 9:25). Noah simply obeys—that’s what faith does!

But to preserve humanity, God gave specific instructions that Noah would need to follow if he were to find salvation from the coming judgment of the flood. There are several features of God’s instruction that we can observe.

A. The Ark

The ark is very prominent in chs 6-9. The term appears 26x and outside of Genesis it is found only 1 other place in the OT:

Exodus 2:3–5 NASB95

3 But when she could hide him no longer, she got him a wicker basket and covered it over with tar and pitch. Then she put the child into it and set it among the reeds by the bank of the Nile. 4 His sister stood at a distance to find out what would happen to him. 5 The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the Nile, with her maidens walking alongside the Nile; and she saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid, and she brought it to her.

Interesting that God saved both Noah and Moses from drowning by putting them in an “ark.” Most scholars think that Moses borrowed this word from the Egyptian language meaning “chest or casket.”

Hebrews 11:7 NASB95

7 By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

Th Gk term employed by the NT refers to a “sea-faring vessel or a boat.” Henry Morris III says it is any device that is designed to save the occupants from death (hence Noah & Moses).

Materials Used

vs 14 “gopher wood” This is not a translation but transliteration—using equivalent Eng letters for Heb letters. It is very difficult to translate b/c it is used only this 1 time in the OT. Some have suggested it is a cypress tree (NIV) but other Eng versions simply use “gopher.” Various other tree species have been suggested: teak (very resistant to rot and mildew), pine, fir or cedar. One writer shows how many believe it is not a type of tree but a process that makes the wood very hard (like burying wood underground).

The other component God instructed Noah to use is “pitch.” This word is related to the word “cover” (in fact has the same consonants—Heb alphabet does not have vowels, so the root is identical). Lit could be translated “cover with a covering” or “pitch it with pitch.” This is the same word used later “to make atonement” and would become the Jewish festival Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement).

Now, one of the arguments made against the ark and flood is that today’s pitch is a petroleum product form under pressure and heat over millions of years. That is simply not true as oil has been produced in labs rapidly using heat and pressure. A satisfactory answer lies in the fact that pitch didn’t have to be petroleum based (though God could have created the earth with this for Noah to use).

Jonathan Sarfati explains “For centuries, the pitch-making industries in Europe made pitch from pine resin mixed with charcoal.” There would be 2 reasons to cover the Ark with a substance like this (1) Waterproof the ark, (2) a resinous coating on both sides of the wall of the ark would provide strong impact resistance. The flood would have produced a great deal of floating debris and the pitch would leave the Ark protected and undamaged.

Dimensions

The ark was massive in size (particularly in that ancient setting). God told Noah the dimensions to build the ark and it would become the perfect balance of comfort, strength and stability. 300 cubits, 50 cubits, 30 cubits. At 18 inches (how most modern scholars understand the ancient cubit) it would be 450’ long by 75’ wide by 45’ tall. But the Egyptian cubit (“Royal Cubit”) was 20” as was the Sumerian cubit (at that length it would add another 50’ in length, 8’ width, 5’ height. The total volume is over 1.5 million cubic feet. That’s the equivalent of 340 livestock trailers.

It wasn’t until the late 19th century that a ship would be built larger than the ark. You can see the comparison to well known ships. One of the issues raised by skeptics is that 1 man could not possibly have built something of that size (or even with the help of 3 sons).

Noah could have enlisted the help of others (Methuselah and Lamech). He might have even used unbelievers who were skilled in various trades. The Bible doesn’t tell us but look around our valley—a small crew can put up a large house in just a few months. The skeptic will say “But they have machinery and power tools.” I think Noah could have figured out how to construct lifts and hoists to elevate the heavy timbers. These men weren’t unintelligent fools. They had hundreds of years to learn and accumulate knowledge and were proficient in forging tools. I’ve seen estimates that Noah and 3 sons could have completed the ark in less than 65 years.

Construction Details

There are 4 specific details about the construction of the ark that are included in God’s instructions.

1) Rooms (vs 14)

God told Noah to build the ark with rooms or compartments. The Heb term is lit “nests” referring to a bird’s nest:

Psalm 84:3 NASB95

3 The bird also has found a house, And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, Even Your altars, O Lord of hosts, My King and my God.

Proverbs 27:8 NASB95

8 Like a bird that wanders from her nest, So is a man who wanders from his home.

The ark, with these rooms/compartments would be necessary for all the animals that are part of God’s instructions a little later.

2) Levels

vs 16c The 3 levels of the ark have been a temptation for interpreters looking for allegories in biblical stories (deeper, hidden meanings). example: 3 levels are 3 parts of universe (heaven, earth, underworld)

Augustine was a master of allegory. He tried to find hidden meanings in so much of the Bible:

Undoubtedly the ark is a symbol of the city of God on its pilgrimage in history. It is a figure of the church that was saved by the wood on which there hung the “Mediator between God and men, himself man, Jesus Christ.” Even the very measurements of length, height and breadth of the ark are meant to point to the reality of the human body into which he came as it was foretold that he would come. It will be recalled that the length of a normal body from head to foot is six times the breadth from one side to the other and ten times the thickness from back to front. Measure a man who is lying on the ground, either prone or supine. He is six times as long from head to foot as he is wide from left to right or right to left, and he is ten times as long as he is high from the ground up. That is why the ark was made three hundred cubits in length, fifty in breadth and thirty in height. As for the door in the side, that surely, symbolizes the open wound made by the lance in the side of the Crucified--the door by which those who come to him enter in, in the sense that believers enter the church by means of the sacraments that issued from that wound. It was ordered that the ark be made out of squared timbers--a symbol of the four- square stability of a holy life, which, like a cube, stands firm however it is turned. So it is with every other detail of the ark's construction. They are all symbols of something in the church.

No, you don’t need to try and find hidden meanings in the ark or the details of the ark.

3) Window

There is some difficulty in translating God’s next instruction in vs 16 “window” or (roof in ESV/NIV). This again, is the only time this word is used in the OT. It is related to the word for “noon” “noontime” and likely has to do with letting light into the structure. Noah was also directed to “finish it to a cubit...” top/above. It probably wasn’t a single porthole in the ark but intended to be either a sheltered opening along the middle of the roof or a row of windows all around the ark. Later, Noah will open the window and release a raven (Gen 8:6-7).

4) Door

The door will become more prominent in ch 7. It should seem evident that a door would be necessary thru which the people and animals would enter into the ark—to be saved from the coming deluge.

The Occupants

The final instruction given to Noah pertains to the occupants of the ark itself in vv 19-20. Obviously Noah and his wife, his sons and their wives would be the 8 humans saved from the flood (confirmed in 7:7). But God also detailed his plan to repopulate the earth after destroying all flesh in which is the breath of life (vs 17). Since all things on earth would perish, it would be necessary to start again and instead of a new creation, God will use the old...

Two of Every Kind

This is another example of where people often stake their unbelief in the flood. They claim that all the existing species of animals today would never fit into the ark (even 2 of them). Estimates among scientists suggest there are 1.8 million documented species of organisms in the world today—but accord. Answers in Genesis 98% of those are fish, invertebrates and non-animals (plants and bacteria) leaving only about 34,000 species of land-dependent animals.

The word “kind” however, does not refer to species but to a broader category (God created according to their kind). Various species can develop from the various kinds: ex would be the equine kind: horses, donkeys, zebras…all develop since the flood and only 2 of those would be needed. I’m have no expertise in this area of study but from what I’ve read, there were less than 7000 animals on the ark (including the 7 clean from ch 7).

Noah needed to keep them alive—requiring a bulk of edible food for the humans and the animals. This obviously then would present issues with watering systems, waste and waste-water issues—but I think Noah was up to the challenge to design every system that would keep them healthy and alive over the duration of their time on the ark (1 year 10 days).

3. God’s Covenant

vv 17-18

This is the 1st time “covenant” occurs in Bible. Man is created with an inherent obligation to serve and worship God. But the Noahic Covenant is the first biblical covenant which is also called (everlasting covenant).

Genesis 9:16 NASB95

16 “When the bow is in the cloud, then I will look upon it, to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.”

Here and more so in Gen 9, God establishes a covenant b/t Himself and creation (uni-lateral covenant—not dependent on anything but God Himself). There are several provisions of this covenant:

A. Stability of Creation

Genesis 8:22 NASB95

22 “While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, And cold and heat, And summer and winter, And day and night Shall not cease.”

Humanity will enjoy the promise of God allowing for it to function without the threat of a global catastrophe.

Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth The Noahic Covenant

As long as “the earth remains,” humans can count on the cycle of seasons. Not only is this a blessing to all creation, both animate and inanimate, but it also allows for God’s kingdom plans to unfold in history. Thus, the Noahic covenant functions as the platform on which God’s kingdom and salvation plans play out. It is also the basis for the fulfillment of the other biblical covenants.

B. Reaffirming God’s Initial Command

Genesis 9:1 NASB95

1 And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.

Genesis 9:7 NASB95

7 “As for you, be fruitful and multiply; Populate the earth abundantly and multiply in it.”

Noah and his sons would begin to repopulate the earth post-flood and this blessing was the provision for what we have today—right at 8 billion people—all from Noah.

C. Fear of Man

Genesis 9:2 NASB95

2 “The fear of you and the terror of you will be on every beast of the earth and on every bird of the sky; with everything that creeps on the ground, and all the fish of the sea, into your hand they are given.

D. Food for Man

Genesis 9:3 NASB95

3 “Every moving thing that is alive shall be food for you; I give all to you, as I gave the green plant.

Apparently prior to the flood man ate plants, fruits, nuts…but now they would enjoy meat wiht 1 exception: no blood

Genesis 9:4 NASB95

4 “Only you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.

E. Sanctity of Life

Genesis 9:5 NASB95

5 “Surely I will require your lifeblood; from every beast I will require it. And from every man, from every man’s brother I will require the life of man.

As the image-bearers of God, the life of every human is sacred and God offers this protection for it in the covenant.

F. Capital Punishment

Genesis 9:6 NASB95

6 “Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed, For in the image of God He made man.

I know there remains the debate over capital punishment but God instated the punishment of death for anything that murders the image-bearer of God.

G. Divine Promise

God promised never to destroy the earth with water as He had done before. Though there would be a future judgment—but with fire.

4. Noah’s Obedience

Genesis 6:22 NASB95

22 Thus Noah did; according to all that God had commanded him, so he did.

God takes delight in the obedience of His people.

1 Samuel 15:22 NASB95

22 Samuel said, “Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.

This pleases God.

Exodus 39:42–43 NASB95

42 So the sons of Israel did all the work according to all that the Lord had commanded Moses. 43 And Moses examined all the work and behold, they had done it; just as the Lord had commanded, this they had done. So Moses blessed them.

Leviticus 8:36 NASB95

36 Thus Aaron and his sons did all the things which the Lord had commanded through Moses.

Numbers 27:22 NASB95

22 Moses did just as the Lord commanded him; and he took Joshua and set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation.

Deuteronomy 34:9 NASB95

9 Now Joshua the son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; and the sons of Israel listened to him and did as the Lord had commanded Moses.

If you want to enjoy the fruit of life and blessing—obedience is the way.

Well, here is Noah’s ark. While a great deal of the world rejects the account described here, doubting that there ever was a global flood and the destruction of all humans and animals except what was saved on the ark, what is revealed should be received by faith.

The NT reminds us that Noah and the ark stand as a symbol of judgment and God’s readiness to judge.

Matthew 24:36–41 NASB95

36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. 37 “For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. 38 “For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 “Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41 “Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.

Though the certainty of coming judgment (imminent) is a frequent warning in the NT, Noah and the ark are also illustrations of God’s patience, offering guilty sinners a brief respite before judgment will come, God extending mercy by calling men to repentance.

2 Peter 3:3–9 NASB95

3 Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” 5 For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, 6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. 7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

The ark was the instrument of salvation for Noah and his family, so Christ today is the Ark—the instrument of salvation for all who call upon the name of the Lord—the promise is forgiveness, salvation and eternal life. Follow Noah’s example and by faith receive the promise of God.