Noah’s Ark

Introduction:
It is important, from the standpoint of understanding past history and being able to defend our faith that we understand the events that took place in Noah’s day.

• The majority of scientists claim there never was a global flood. They claim that Noah couldn’t have fit all the animals on board the ark.
• The “bathtub” image that many have of the Ark may contribute to the rejection of the Bible’s account of the flood?
• To the majority of modern intellectuals, Noah is merely a legendary character and the Ark and its animals nothing but a story for children.

Scripture: Genesis 6:5-14a

Conformation of the historical account of Noah

• The prophet Isaiah wrote of Noah- Isaiah 54:9
• The prophet Ezekiel mentioned Noah – Ezekiel 14:14, 20
  (More than 1,700 years after the flood)
• Jesus referred to Noah – Matthew 24:37-39
  (About 2,400 years after the flood)
  He also likened the days before the flood, to what life would be characterized by just before His return.
• Luke lists Noah on the genealogy of Christ- Luke 3:36
• The writer of Hebrews confirmed Noah’s existence – Hebrews 11:7
• The Apostle Peter wrote of both Noah and the flood – 2 Peter 2:5
• There are flood legends from all parts of the world (Most have similarities to the Genesis account)
• All over the earth there is evidence of Noah’s flood

The physical feature of the earth’s terrain clearly indicates a catastrophic past (canyons, fossils, etc.)

1.God is not oblivious to wickedness
God saw the wickedness of man – Genesis 6:5-6

• The wickedness of man was great in the earth (vs.5a)
• Evil thoughts continually (vs.5b)
• The earth was corrupt before God (vs.11a)
• The earth was filled with violence (vs.11b)

2.God is touched by the sin of man

God’s response – Genesis 6:6b, 7

• God saw and it grieved Him at His heart – vs. 5, 6, 12

According to Henry Morris – The first mention of the word “heart” occurs here, connecting the evil in man’s heart with the grief in God’s heart.

• “It repented the Lord” – vs.6, 7
• “Repented” does not imply that God changed His mind, for He is changeless
• God was sorrowful
• Judgment – vs. 7,13, 14a – Judgment by the flood

3.God extends grace
Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord (vs.8)

The Character of the Man, Noah – Genesis 6:8, 9

• Just – 6:9
  • Noah was a just man – “Just” means to be genuine, sincere, right with God
• Obedient – 6:22; 7:5
• Belief / Faith – Hebrews 11:7
  • Divinely warned by God of things not seen
• Fear of God
  • Sense of awe, reverence toward God
• Relationship – walking, listening
  • Noah walked with God (vs.9b)
• Faithfulness
  • Steadfast, dedicated, dependable and worthy of trust (Henry Blackaby)
  • It could have taken up to 75 years for Noah to build the Ark
  • Faithfulness – a lifelong goal
• Servant of the Lord / Witness – 2 Peter 2:5
  • Noah was a preacher of righteousness

4.Just because God’s judgment is delayed does not mean it will not come

The Physical Cause of the Flood: Where did the water come from?

2 Sources- Genesis 7:11

• Below the earth – “All the fountains of the great deep broken up”
  • The earth’s crust was split open all around the globe and water burst forth from inside the earth
  • Great subterranean pools of water were broken up volcanic and earthquake activity
• Above the earth – “The windows of heaven opened”
  • Torrential global rainfall

Reasons to believe it was a Global Flood:

A. God said, He would destroy all flesh with the earth – Genesis 6:13
B. The Ark would not have been needed if it were only a local flood – Genesis 7:1-7

• Noah, his family and the animals could have just migrated away from the region to be flooded

C.The size of the Ark testifies to more than a local flood Genesis 6:15, 16
The Ark was far too large to accommodate only a local or regional evacuation
Ark Measurements:

• 450 Feet long
• 75 feet wide
• 45 Feet high
• 3 Stories
• Total deck of 97,700 square feet (Equivalent to 20 standard basketball courts)
• The volume of space in the Ark was 1.4 million cubic feet, equal to the capacity of 522 railroad stock cars, which could carry 125,000 sheep

A.Jesus testified that the flood killed every person not on the Ark – Matthew 24:37-39
B.The water rose above the mountains- Genesis 7:19, 20
C. Marine fossils found on mountains

• The Himalayas (reaching up to 30,000 feet above sea level)- Marine fossils buried in limestone beds

D. Universal flood traditions
E. God promised not to send such a flood again – Genesis 9:9-17
There has since been many local floods
God’s Covenant with Noah – vs.8 – 17
The first mention of the word “Covenant” in the Bible – 6:18

• Actually made and explained here in Genesis 9:9-17

Covenant: An agreement between two or more people that involves promises on the part of each to the other
God would not send a global catastrophe by flood again – vs. 11
The sign of the covenant – the rainbow – vs.12-16

Present Day Condition:

• Deviating from God’s design and plan – Homosexual, transgender lifestyle
• Sexual sin ramped
• Pornography
• Abortion
• Murder
• Greed/ materialism (lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God)
• Idolatry
• Misuse of God’s Holy Name
• Apostasy – Falling away from the truth (churches compromising)

The World Wide Destruction Future
2 Peter 3:10-14; Matthew 24:35; Revelation 21:1

• 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 – The Rapture
• Revelation 4–18 – The Tribulation (7 years)
• Revelation 16:14-16; 19:11-21 – The Battle of Armageddon
• Revelation 19:11 – The Coming of Christ
• Revelation 19:20 – Antichrist cast alive into the Lake of Fire
• Revelation 20:1-3 – Satan bound in the bottomless pit
• Revelation 20:4-6 – Christ reigns on earth 1000 years (Millennium Reign)
• Revelation 20: 7-9 – Satan’s final rebellion
• Revelation 20:10 – Devil cast into the Lake of Fire
• Revelation 20:11-15 – The Great White Throne Judgment
  • Verse 11 – “The earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them”
• Revelation 21:1 – A new heaven and new earth (the first earth was passed away)

See 2 Peter 3:10-14
A.The Day of the Lord will have a surprise arrival (as a thief in the night) – vs.10

• Sudden, unexpected
• Disastrous for the unprepared

B.The elements will melt with fervent heat – vs.10

• Possibly an atomic reaction that disintegrates matter
• The heavens refer to the physical universe
• The earth and the works that are therein shall be burnt up (the physical earth in its present form with its entire universe will be consumed)

C.Challenge to Christians to conform their lives to God’s standards in view of the reality of coming judgment and eternity – vs.11-14

• Holy conduct
• Godliness
• Without spot – Spotless character
• Blameless – Reputation

The Ark is a Picture of Salvation in Christ

Noah was saved by God’s grace – Genesis 6:8
We are saved by God’s grace – Ephesians 2:8, 9

God provided the plans for the Ark – Genesis 6:14-16
God provided the plan for salvation through Christ – 1 Peter 1:17-21

The judgment of the Flood was decreed by God – Genesis 6:7, 13
The final judgment of mankind is decreed by God – Acts 17:31

Noah preached righteousness and one way to be saved – 2 Peter 2:5
Jesus preached righteousness and one way to be saved – John 14:6

The Ark had only one door that led to safety – Genesis 6:9; 7:7
Jesus referred to Himself as the door that leads to salvation – John 10:9

All who were not in the Ark perished – Genesis 7:21-23
All who are not in Christ will perish – 2 Thessalonians 1:8, 9