Eight People on One Boat

O.T. #22  "Eight People on One Boat"
April 10, 2013
Genesis 7-Part 1
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.  Hebrews 11:7 KJV

LET IT GLOW

What kind of influence does your homelife have on your children? Will they take on the world's ungodly ways and attitudes or follow your godly influence? Time will tell.
We are so blessed to have both our children and their families following the Lord's ways. Our grandchildren are being raised in loving and God-fearing homes, taught about Jesus, and taken to worship.

Noah's children faced the same kind of world that our families face. Throughout his life, Noah didn't compromise his integrity. How fortunate his three sons were to have such a godly, righteous, and just father who walked with God for their role model. However, Shem, Ham, and Japheth had to choose for themselves whether they would believe those around them or trust their father. We know their choice because they helped Noah build an ark in a dry place, not near an ocean or lake, and without ever having seen rain. Even Noah's daughter-inlaws came along. That makes 8 people to care for all those animals. Whew!

In their devotional book, Experiencing God Day-By-Day, the Blackabys wrote,

As the world tries to persuade people to follow its standard, your life should stand in stark contrast as an example of a righteous person. Your life should convince those around you of the wisdom of following God. Do not underestimate the positive effect that your obedience will have upon those close to you.
 

Are you teaching God's faithfulness to your children and His Truth to your grandchildren?

In the first verse, the LORD said to Noah, come thou and all thy house into the ark: for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

What two invitations did God give Noah?
God was already in the ark, bidding Noah and his family to come in. He didn't instruct them to go in.
Before that, 120 years before, God told Noah to make himself an ark (6:14).

"Ya'll come on in," was a greeting I used to hear growing up. It meant the visitors were friends, family, or neighbors and they were welcome into our home.
Did you notice that Noah didn't shut the door to the ark, God did. This illustrates to us that as Noah was saved in the ark, so are we saved in the ark of Jesus. He invites us to come in, saves us, then protects and provides for us.

In John 10:9, Jesus says, I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

Brothers and sisters, have you entered into the door for ark of salvation? People aren't summoned to enter in masses, but as individuals. He loves each of us and died for us individually, therefore we must come alone to Jesus for salvation. Only we can ask Him into our heart as Lord and Savior, to forgive us of our sins. Please come in today.
If you have already entered the ark, won't you share it with someone today so they can come in?


LET IT GROW

Under what circumstances do we see Noah's faith?

• He listened to God, then shared God's instructions with his family, and his sons helped him build the ark.
• He finished the ark after 120 years.
• He followed God's directions, dimensions, and details.
• He rounded up the animals and food for their journey.
• He believed that God could send water to cover the whole earth.
• He trusted his soul to the salvation of the Lord.
• He waited in the ark 7 days for the rain to fall.
• He believed God would cause the water to recede so they could get out of the ark after 197 days.
• He sent a raven out and a dove (3 times) to scout for dry land and trusted God for the signal.
• He endured 40 rainy days consecutively.
• He floated around with all those stinky animals and only 7 other people for 150 days after the rain stopped, without going outside.
• He trusted in the Lord to keep His promises-not to flood the entire earth again, seasons would continue.

Is my faith as strong as Mrs. Noah? She went along with her husband's carpentry idea, furnished the guys lunch as they worked on the ark for all those years, followed him into the ark without experiencing rain, left her home behind, lived 6 months with all those noisy and smelly animals, probably cleaned up after them, hosted dinner parties with the same guests attending, allowed 3 other women in her kitchen... Well, maybe I got carried away with a woman's perspective.
How supportive am I when my husband says he is following God's will somewhere else? Can I sing in the rain for 40 days in a row?

The number  "40"  in the Bible  is associated with testing and purification; a period of trial ending in victory to the good and ruin to the evil. We see 40 occurring later in the Bible:
Moses on Mt., Sinai, the 12 spies to Canaan, Israel's wandering in the wilderness, Elijah fasted in the wilderness of Beersheba, the days the Ninevites had to repent, Jesus fasted in the wilderness, was tempted by Satan, days Christ was on earth after His resurrection.

If I had to endure 40 rainy days, could I with a loving attitude shown to those around me? Am I staying faithful to the task God has called me? Even if it takes what seems forever?

LET IT GO

Leave the world behind and step into the boat of faith.

Trust God to keep my salvation in Jesus for all eternity.

Praise Jesus in the rainy days.

Remain faithful.