The Ark: A True Type of Christ, (Genesis 8)

Posted on June 26, 2015 by KD Manes under Bible Study

But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and He sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded. Now the springs of the deep and the floodgates of the heavens had been closed, and the rain had stopped falling from the sky.” Genesis 8:1-2

Read Genesis 8 here: Bible Gateway

The Hebrew term for remember means “began again to act on their behalf”.

After 150 days of reeling on the water the ark finally came to rest, most likely on Mount Ararat since it was the highest mountain in the region, Gen. 8:5.

After another seven months—totaling 371 days—Noah, his family, and the animals finally exited the ark.

The Ark: A true type of Christ

The Bible is full of parallels or “types.” We can see God arranging the affairs of several Old Testament people and events to show us similarities to Jesus Christ, the focal point of the Gospel. Consider the following parallels:

After five months of providing refuge and laboring to accomplish its work of saving its occupants from judgment of sin, the ark finished its mission. After Christ came to earth and provided refuge and healing for many, He died on the cross and finished His mission: the work of salvation (John 19:30).
The ark’s construction was made to be waterproof and resistant to decay by sealing it with “pitch” inside and out. The Hebrew word for pitch—kopher—means a “covering”. But it’s also the Hebrew word for atonement. This is the Bible’s first mention of atonement. Henry Morris writes: “It sufficed as a perfect covering for the ark, to keep out the waters of judgment, just as the blood of the Lamb (Christ) provides a perfect atonement for the soul.”
The Jewish date that the ark rested (Gen. 8:4) and the date Jesus Christ rose from the dead are the same: “the seventeenth day of the seventh month”.
The ark became the bridge from the old evil world to the present one (Gen. 7:7, 2 Peter 3:6-7). God would help Noah and his family with their new life in their new world. God also graciously provides deliverance from spiritual death to us through His Son, Jesus. This is symbolized through water baptism (1 Peter 3:21). He saves us from God’s judgment of sin. He not only gives us the opportunity for a new beginning, but also offers help in our daily walk.
Although Noah wasn’t perfect, he is described as a “righteous man who walked with God” (Gen. 6:9). Jesus was the perfect, blameless man who consistently obeyed His Father (Heb. 4:15).
Noah was like a “second Adam” since all people come from him (Gen. 8:15-9:17). Christ is called “the second man (Adam)” since He is the only source of eternal life (1 Cor. 15:47; Acts 4:12).
Human evil had reached a deplorable high, so God decided to undo his creation with a flood (Gen. 6:6-7). In God’s timing, He will undo His creation again; this time by fire (2 Peter 3:12-13) and then re-create it (Rev. 21:1).

Questions

Each of us share some similarities with Noah as we look forward to the removal of sin and its curse.

How is Jesus like a bridge for us to God the Father and new life?
Have you accepted God’s gracious invitation of new life through Jesus Christ?
How should we be living today? (2 Peter 3:12-14)

*For scientific evidence of the worldwide flood, read Starling Evidence for Noah’s Flood. Also, The Genesis Flood by Henry Morris is a comprehensive geological book that includes Biblical commentary.

God is Patient and Long-suffering (Genesis 7)

Posted on June 19, 2015 by KD Manes under Bible Study

I didn’t watch Hollywood’s version of the movie, Noah. But I’ve read about their false representation of God, portraying Him as a mean and cruel God.

The reality, however, is: Although our holy God and Judge won’t tolerate rebellious sinners forever, He is also long-suffering and extremely patient.

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For an entire century, God used Noah—as he obediently finished the ark—to warn people of the coming worldwide flood and to turn from their wickedness (1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 2:6; Luke 17:26, 27).

God desires a relationship with us, but He gives us free will. He’s a gentleman and won’t force Himself on anyone.

Because Noah walked with God and demonstrated his faith through obedience, God delighted in having fellowship with him. The Bible records God speaking to Noah seven times, each time in blessing and/or fellowship (Gen. 6:13; 7:1; 8:15; 9:1, 8, 12, 17).

This contrasts with Psalm 29, which speaks of the flood. Here the “voice of the Lord” thunders seven times in judgment and majesty before those who have turned their backs on Him. This also corresponds to the “seven thunders” and their “voices” that will be uttered in the future judgment (Revelation 10:3, 4).

Time Frame of the Flood

Noah was 600 years old when the flood waters came upon the earth (7:6-9). This initiates the postdiluvian age.

Read Gen. 7 here: Bible Gateway

It’s significant that the Lord told Noah, “Come into the ark” instead of “Go”. For God would be with Noah and his family, keeping them safe just as He promised (6:18) long before they even chose to enter (7:7).

Just as God kept Noah and his family safe, we can also be assured that God will deliver us from certain coming judgment through a faith saving relationship in Jesus Christ (Jude 1:24).

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” – Acts 4:12.

Noah, Saved By Grace

Posted on June 12, 2015 by KD Manes under Bible Study

But Noah found favor in the eyes of God the LORD . . . . Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God.” – Genesis 6:8, 10

Sin grieves God’s heart. The flood of wickedness in Noah’s day prompted God to cleanse the earth by destroying all mankind, beasts, birds, and creeping things with a worldwide flood. But there was one exception: Noah.

Why did Noah find favor (grace) from the Lord?

(found on Pinterest)

Noah wasn’t perfect; Genesis 9:20 shows that his sin nature traveled with him on the ark, (along with his family and the animals God designated).

So what set Noah apart from the people around him?

The Bible says that Noah was justified by God through his faith. Noah is an exemplary model of one who had great faith. Of all the people listed in the “Hall of Faith” (Hebrews 11), his description is the only one that both begins and ends with “by faith” (Hebrews 11:7). Noah believed God’s promises and followed God’s will.

Walk describes the closest communion with God. It represents fellowship and obedience. Since Enoch, Noah was the only one left in his long life span who “walked with God” (vs. 10).

Noah was also recorded as a “preacher of righteousness” (2 Peter 2:5). Although no one responded to his message except his family.

Noah Declared Righteous By God

With unmerited favor, God looked upon Noah as a righteous man and enabled him to walk closely with Him step by step, day by day. It’s here in Genesis where grace is first mentioned; God giving undeserved favor to sinners (Noah and his family).

God deemed Noah righteous not because he was perfect, but because he believed and wholeheartedly loved and obeyed God (Gen. 6:22; 7:5, 9, 16):

Even though it had never rained before—the earth had been watered by underground springs—Noah didn’t question God.
When God told him to build this huge boat—the length of one and a half football fields and height of a four-story building—Noah got right to work.
Even though he was most likely ridiculed and labeled “crazy”, Noah chose to obey God rather than cave to the expectations and temptations surrounding him (1 Peter 3:20).
For 120 long years—longer than our life span—Noah pressed on to build the ark according to God’s detailed specifications.

So What?

Noah is our antediluvian link. Because Noah believed God and obeyed, he is a model of faith of how we too can please God.

As Noah and his family were saved by entering through the ark’s door, we are also saved by entering through the narrow door (gate) of Jesus Christ: “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it,” (Matthew 7:13-14).

As in Noah’s day, living God’s way may not be popular, but it is true and right.

Have you entered through the narrow gate by placing your faith in Jesus Christ? Trust in Christ is the only way to heaven because He alone died for our sins so we can be right before our holy God.

Conditions Before Christ’s Return (Genesis 6-8; Mt. 24)

Posted on June 5, 2015 by KD Manes under Bible Study

No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.” – Matthew 24:36-41

The door to Noah’s ark represents salvation. As the door to the ark was the only way to preserve life, so Jesus is the only way to eternal life with God (Jn. 14:6).

(Source: alittleperspective.com)

Although we don’t know the exact time Christ will return, Jesus tells us to be watchful (Matthew 24; Mark 13:32-37; Luke 21:34-38). As the pre-flood days of violence and evil foreshadowed the coming world-wide flood, so will conditions in the last days foretell an even greater destruction for those who have rejected God’s son, Jesus Christ.

What Are these Conditions?

Henry Morris summarizes some similar characteristics of the pre-flood era to conditions in these last days preceding Christ’s return:

Preoccupation with physical appetites (Luke 17:27)
Rapid advances in technology (Genesis 4:22)
Grossly materialistic attitudes and interests (Luke 17:28)
Uniformitarian philosophies (Hebrews 11:7)
Inordinate devotion to pleasure and comfort (Genesis 4:21)
No concern for God in either belief or conduct (2 Peter 2:5; Jude 15)
Disregard for the sacredness of the marriage relation (Matthew 34:38)
Rejection of the inspired Word of God (1 Peter 3:19)
Population explosion (Genesis 6:1, 11)
Widespread violence (Genesis 6:11, 13)
Corruption throughout society (Genesis 6:12)
Preoccupation with illicit sex activity (Genesis 4:19; 6:2)
Widespread words and thoughts of blasphemy (Jude 15)
Organized Satanic activity (Genesis 6:1-4)
Promulgation of systems and movements of abnormal depravity (Genesis 6:5, 12)

Sound familiar?

As the flood in Noah’s day was swift and sudden, so will the return of Christ be. This should motivate us to obey Him every day. Jesus’ warns us to be ready for His return (Mt. 24).

Like Noah, are we in right standing with God?

Will Christ find faith and obedience in us when He returns?

Next week I’ll explore more of Noah’s life and why he found favor (grace) in God’s eyes.

Have a great week!