While many people consider the story of Noah's Ark merely an instructive myth or parable about God's punishment for man's wickedness, others believe that the story is historically accurate. To them, Noah's tale describes events that really happened only a few thousand years ago.
Similar to several other early Old Testament writings, I have been studiously attempting to wrap my mind around the Noah and the Great Flood story and, as usual, have had to refer to original Hebrew interpretations for a degree of clarification.
A plausible ark? Let's plunge into the story a little bit.
 |
| While we know the chemistry of polyurethane we can’t know about the properties of the pitch used on the Ark. Nowadays, we think of pitch derived from oil or coal, but European shipbuilders sealed vessels for many centuries by using pine-tree resin. |
kopher) in Genesis is different from that used in other places in the Old Testament. It is equivalent to the Hebrew kaphar (“to cover”) and, in the noun form, means simply a “covering.”
However, it is also the regular Hebrew word for “atonement,” as in Leviticus 17: 11, for example. In essence, therefore, this is the first mention of “atonement” in the Bible. Whatever the exact nature of this “pitch” may have been, it sufficed as a perfect protective covering for the Ark, to keep out the waters of judgment, just as the blood of the Lamb provides a perfect atonement for the soul. Ah, a hint no doubt!
The earliest form of quarantine
Recently, a striking image has circulated on Facebook. It is a depiction of Noah’s Ark being tossed by the waves in a storm with the statement “first quarantined family.” If you know the biblical account of Noah’s Ark, then you will know that Noah and his family, eight people total, were chosen by God to be saved from His judgement on the earth. This judgement came in the form of a flood, and Noah and his family were “quarantined” inside the ark.
Most of us can begin to relate to what Noah must have felt quarantined inside of the ark. Just as we are sheltering in place to preserve human life, God quarantined Noah and his family, along with two of every kind of living creature, inside the ark to save their lives. There are many parallels that can be created from the biblical account of Noah to our present time in COVID quarantine:
However, it is also the regular Hebrew word for “atonement,” as in Leviticus 17: 11, for example. In essence, therefore, this is the first mention of “atonement” in the Bible. Whatever the exact nature of this “pitch” may have been, it sufficed as a perfect protective covering for the Ark, to keep out the waters of judgment, just as the blood of the Lamb provides a perfect atonement for the soul. Ah, a hint no doubt!
The earliest form of quarantine
Recently, a striking image has circulated on Facebook. It is a depiction of Noah’s Ark being tossed by the waves in a storm with the statement “first quarantined family.” If you know the biblical account of Noah’s Ark, then you will know that Noah and his family, eight people total, were chosen by God to be saved from His judgement on the earth. This judgement came in the form of a flood, and Noah and his family were “quarantined” inside the ark.
Most of us can begin to relate to what Noah must have felt quarantined inside of the ark. Just as we are sheltering in place to preserve human life, God quarantined Noah and his family, along with two of every kind of living creature, inside the ark to save their lives. There are many parallels that can be created from the biblical account of Noah to our present time in COVID quarantine:
-- Noah and his family were separated and isolated
-- Noah and his family’s lives were threatened and the way to stay safe was to go into the ark and into “quarantine”
-- Noah tried to save the lives of others through his actions and lifestyle
-- Noah and his family placed their trust in the Lord despite the circumstances
-- Noah and his family experienced the separation that comes from death and would experience grief
-- Noah and his family worked during their “quarantine” caring for the animals, the ark, and each other knowing they would eventually leave the ark
-- Noah and his family praised the Lord for His goodness and love when the waters receded, and they were able to leave the ark
The parallels are certainly interesting to think about but we cannot overlook the fact that God, a loving and merciful God, does bring judgement upon those who oppose him (James 4:6), but he always provides a way for the righteous to escape (Psalm 55:16). Perhaps the greatest parallel we can see in our current situation is the significance of 1 Peter 3:18-20:
"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water."
Sin had almost completely corrupted the culmination of God’s creation -- man. But Genesis 6:8 tells us that “Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.”
For 120 years, at the command of God, Noah (it is said he lived to be more than 600 years old) labored to build the ark. The ark provided a means of escape for Noah and his family who sought to serve God, instead of falling into the binding and destructive chains of sin. This ark-building was Noah’s ministry.
-- Noah and his family’s lives were threatened and the way to stay safe was to go into the ark and into “quarantine”
-- Noah tried to save the lives of others through his actions and lifestyle
-- Noah and his family placed their trust in the Lord despite the circumstances
-- Noah and his family experienced the separation that comes from death and would experience grief
-- Noah and his family worked during their “quarantine” caring for the animals, the ark, and each other knowing they would eventually leave the ark
-- Noah and his family praised the Lord for His goodness and love when the waters receded, and they were able to leave the ark
The parallels are certainly interesting to think about but we cannot overlook the fact that God, a loving and merciful God, does bring judgement upon those who oppose him (James 4:6), but he always provides a way for the righteous to escape (Psalm 55:16). Perhaps the greatest parallel we can see in our current situation is the significance of 1 Peter 3:18-20:
"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water."
Sin had almost completely corrupted the culmination of God’s creation -- man. But Genesis 6:8 tells us that “Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.”
For 120 years, at the command of God, Noah (it is said he lived to be more than 600 years old) labored to build the ark. The ark provided a means of escape for Noah and his family who sought to serve God, instead of falling into the binding and destructive chains of sin. This ark-building was Noah’s ministry.
Noah warned others of the impending judgement and invited them to be saved by boarding the ark with him. Sadly, Scripture tells us that no one, aside from his family, accepted his invitation to salvation. Only eight people were saved from the flood through the ark (Genesis 7:7).
Following the flood, humanity continued to populate the earth and a nation was formed and set apart to be God’s people (Genesis 12:2). However, because sin was brought into the world through Adam and Eve’s disobedience (Genesis 3), mankind continued its path of sin and separation from God until finally, God made a way for humanity to be permanently saved. God sent His son, Jesus, as the propitiation for the sin of all mankind (1 John 2:2). Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines propitiation as “the atonement or atoning sacrifice offered to God to assuage his wrath and render him propitious sinners.” Simply put, through Jesus we are restored to right standing with God who is ready to forgive sins and bestow blessings upon us.
Jesus’ ministry, culminating in his death and resurrection, is a parallel to the days of Noah: again, the enemy thought he had won the war for mankind by sentencing Jesus to death on the cross. Instead, Jesus’s death brought eternal victory! Jesus is sitting at the right hand of the Father and is the way of salvation for all who believe. Philippians 2:9-10 says, “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow.”
Just as the ark saved Noah and his family from God’s righteous judgement, the cross of Jesus is a means of salvation today. Just as Noah and his family boarded the ark and God shut the door to shield them from judgement and death, Jesus offers himself as the door of salvation.
"I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved." (John 10:9)
Following the flood, humanity continued to populate the earth and a nation was formed and set apart to be God’s people (Genesis 12:2). However, because sin was brought into the world through Adam and Eve’s disobedience (Genesis 3), mankind continued its path of sin and separation from God until finally, God made a way for humanity to be permanently saved. God sent His son, Jesus, as the propitiation for the sin of all mankind (1 John 2:2). Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines propitiation as “the atonement or atoning sacrifice offered to God to assuage his wrath and render him propitious sinners.” Simply put, through Jesus we are restored to right standing with God who is ready to forgive sins and bestow blessings upon us.
Jesus’ ministry, culminating in his death and resurrection, is a parallel to the days of Noah: again, the enemy thought he had won the war for mankind by sentencing Jesus to death on the cross. Instead, Jesus’s death brought eternal victory! Jesus is sitting at the right hand of the Father and is the way of salvation for all who believe. Philippians 2:9-10 says, “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow.”
Just as the ark saved Noah and his family from God’s righteous judgement, the cross of Jesus is a means of salvation today. Just as Noah and his family boarded the ark and God shut the door to shield them from judgement and death, Jesus offers himself as the door of salvation.
"I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved." (John 10:9)
NOTE FROM DICK: Sorry folks, that's the best I can do. Still more questions than answers, but there is a limit to my aging mind and simplistic theological study. Wish I could do better!
Good thing I'm not out for ratings, right!?
No comments:
Post a Comment