Genesis 8:1-19

Noah's Exodus: Walking on Dry Ground

Introduction

Main points

Text

the ark resting

the ark opening

the ark emptying

Doctrine

Application

Text

the ark resting (vv. 1-5)

“God remembered Noah”

Firm commitment of covenantal faithfulness of the Lord toward Noah

Not that God forgot, but a reminder for us that He never forgets

The work of Christ is a new-creational event (8:1, “God made a wind blow over the earth”)

Wind that blows over is same word for Spirit

God’s Spirit stopped the chaos

Back to Jesus walking on water

John 3.1ff.

“the ark came to rest”

Prophecy of Noah’s name

Genesis 5:29 “and called his name Noah, saying, “Out of the ground that the Lord has cursed, this one shall bring us relief from our work and from the painful toil of our hands.””

Noah’s ark brought God’s people to rest (Noah)

Where did ark rest?

On a mountain

Significance of mountains in OT

Place where God meets with His people

Eden upon the mountain top

Ezekiel 28:13–14 “You were in Eden, the garden of God; … You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked.”

In God’s new-creation, Noah and his family are being brought back to the place where God meets with man atop a mountain

Edenic imagery

The ark as a microcosm of Eden

Animals present

God’s people present

But not as great as Eden

Sin still present

That the ark rested atop a mountain points to God’s salvation

the ark opening (vv. 6-12)

the ark emptying (vv. 13-19)

Doctrine - Christ the New Exodus

M. Kline, “The flood episode like the exodus salvation is portrayed on an elaborate scale as a re-creation event, and the decisive initiating moment is God’s making a wind to move over the earth to subdue the waters”

1 Corinthians 10:1–4 “For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.”

Christ’s Sabbath

Jesus brings His people to ultimate/true rest

Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Revelation 21:4 “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.””

Jesus as the door, brings His people to the holy mountain where they have rest

Hebrews 12:18–24 “For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.”

Application

Use 3. Rest in the perfect work of Jesus Christ.

Where is rest (Noah) found? In Christ

Riches I heed not / nor man’s empty praise / thou mine inheritance / now and always

Only the work of Christ brings us to ultimate rest

His sacrifice means we sacrifice for Him

Matthew 19:29 “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.”

How do we rest in Christ?

Practicing Sabbatarian principles

Putting on Christ anew each day, but especially Sunday

Reaffirming covenant promises

Holding on to his promises

Remembering He is the door and He has closed us in His ark

John 10.