Today you should read: Genesis 7
The story of Noah and the ark is one of the more famous stories in the Bible and a favorite of children. Before Bill Cosby was getting arrested for being a creep he was known for his comedy routine on Noah and the ark and there’s been plenty of movies portraying this story as well. Children’s Ministries and little kid’s rooms are littered with murals, paintings and even wallpaper of the cute cuddly animals entering the ark two by two (see picture). I always laugh at this scene because it’s the exact opposite of a cute children’s story. In fact this story plays out more like a horror story when reading it. God’s wrath and justice is shown as He looks at the world and sees its sin and unrighteousness. He then wipes out all of mankind for their sin in the flood. I’ve never seen floating bodies in the water in those cute cuddly children pictures. (Not to say that adults need to scare their children with the grotesque details of today’s passage).
However let’s not miss the main point as well. The purpose of Noah and the ark is found in the next chapter (which we’ll read about tomorrow), where we see the ark as Noah’s salvation like Christ is ours. Jesus is our ark and we receive that salvation through faith in Him. That same saving faith that Noah had when He trusted God in building the ark, maintaining the ark, and trusting the ark as chaos was happening outside of it during the flood. Faith is hard. Our faith in Christ continues when chaos happens in our life as well. Parents divorce, broken relationships, habitual sin, depression, lost jobs. Pick your poison CPC. It’s not hard to point out that we live in a fallen world where life feels chaotic because of sin. We need to trust in Jesus like Noah trusted God in the midst of the chaos. Because like Noah, we have a covenant with God where He has not only promised us to never destroy the earth through a flood again but to give us new life in this dead world.
Do you trust God when life gets chaotic?
Is Jesus your ark & salvation from God’s wrath?
By: Erik Koliser
JumpstartCPC.com 
As a young(er) adult I often struggled with stories like this in the Bible. Seeing them as anything other than the felt board characters I grew up with was a huge transition.
I struggled with the idea of Jesus being my ark from Gods wrath. I grew up in a very Pentecostal church & from my earliest church memories I was taught to “be good” so that I could make it to heaven. As a teenager I felt so confused… “If I loose my salvation every time I sin what’s the point…. How can I possibly keep my salvation?”
Long story short, I took a very deep dive into sin because I felt stranded. I was not taught or even told how to be a Christian. I was never told that Jesus was my ark & that I was already safe from Gods wrath!! After MANY years of struggling & praying I finally was able to allow Jesus to undo what was taught to me as a child. Now I live strong in my faith and I know that Jesus is my ark — without a doubt. I know that it is impossible for me to ever be good enough to get to God & that’s why Jesus came: to rescue us from our sins.
I am so blessed and thankful that I am a part of a church that teaches truth. A church that not only points people to Christ but also is passionate about teaching Christians how to take 1 step closer to being a true disciple of Christ. Most importantly, I am thankful that my children are growing up in CPC & that they will never have to go through the same struggle I had with trusting my salvation.
Thanks CPC!! 😀
Good word Eric. I think too often we miss the point of what God’s trying to teach us. In this passage our minds naturally focus on the animals being loaded into the Ark, the flood, the rainbow etc. But it’s the way in which God is dealing with sin that should stop us in our tracks. It’s horrifying really, but then again that’s the reality of how much he hates sin.
In Hebrews 11:7 the bible says ‘Noah, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.’
My prayer this morning, for myself, and us as the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, is to remember the things God has told us. And in reverent fear, place our faith in Him above everything else.
Paul said what I wanted to say –only better. I couldn’t agree more.
So grateful for the covenant between God and his followers! I, too, appreciate a church who stands by truth! That is freeing!!
There are over 270 flood stories told in cultures all over the earth, which owe their origin to this one global event.
“He blotted out every living thing that was on the face of the ground, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens. They were blotted out from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those who were with him in the ark.” – Genesis 7:23
Lord you are my protecting arm, fortress, refuge, shield, buckler. You blot out my every living sin, they are utterly destroyed. Fight for me and my foes must flee. Uphold me and I cannot fall; strengthen me and I stand unmoved. Blessed Lord Jesus, at Your cross, may I be taught the awful miseries from which I am saved, ponder what the word ‘lost’ implies, see the fires of eternal destruction. Then may I cling more closely to You.
v.16b) then the Lord closed the door behind them.
Like a good Father, He tucked them in safe & sound. Today I am reminded that what God has sealed man cannot unseal. We are “sealed” with the blood of Christ. He is indeed our ark! Amen!
This verse stood out to me today as well. Thankful!
It’s amazing how we have taken a story of God’s wrath being poured out on deserving people and made it about fluffy animals coming onto a boat in pairs! Thanks Erik for this morning’s word and thanks so much for Jumpstart!
Eric,
For some reason too that picture captures everything you said (which is true) regarding the fairy tale culture we’ve created around Noah…
Even the elephants look kinda aloof in their eyes…I agree, it’s really a dark season in our history, and has been kinda glossed into something it’s not. The grace of God in the next chapter was also important for us as Christians to be reminded of His power and mercy.
Great job as always!!