Noah’s Ark: The Promise of Salvation Devotional
Daily Reading: (Genesis 6:14-16):
“So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out. This is how you are to build it: The ark is to be three hundred cubits long, fifty cubits wide and thirty cubits high. Make a roof for it, leaving below the roof an opening one cubit high all around. Put a door in the side of the ark and make lower, middle and upper decks.”
If you miss Christ in this story of Noah’s Ark you miss the whole point. So, what do you do with the story of Noah building a boat to save himself, his family, and the animals?
For starters, Noah’s ark points us to Jesus who is the ark of our salvation.
When you trace the Messianic line from Adam to Noah (Genesis 6:8) the ark of salvation will be constructed to preserve the Messianic lineage to Jesus. The Gospel message was declared through the Messianic lineage (Genesis 3-5) and declared by God (Genesis 3:15) right after sin entered our world. The names of the Messianic lineage that starts after God with Adam, Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, and Noah gives the good news of Jesus. The God Man (Christ) is appointed a mortal man of sorrow is born! The glory of God shall come down instructing that His death shall bring those in despair comfort and rest.
Make an ark out of Cypress wood (Genesis 6:14). Why? Because this story is foreshadowing Jesus. Though it doesn’t state what type of wood the cross of Christ was made of, many Bible scholars believe, based on information passed down through the years, that the cross was also made from Cypress wood.
“Coat it with pitch inside and out.” Pitch was a seal that was used to keep a vessel safe. As believers this is a powerful statement that points to the work of Jesus over us. For the blood of Christ Himself has become our covering, our seal, under which we are always kept safe and secure.
Genesis 6:16: “Put a door in the side of the ark” A vessel this big is constructing with only one door? Isn’t that against code? There is only one door on the ark because there is only one path to salvation.
It is a lie from the devil that there are many paths or many doors to heaven.
“Then the Lord said to Noah, ‘Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation,” (Genesis 7:1). Jesus is the ark of our salvation as He is the door to enter to be saved. (John 10:9).
The ark offered rescue from the flood – Today, we have an infinitely greater Ark—the Lord Jesus Christ! Jesus offers us rescue from the flood of sin. The wooden ark that offered a safe place of rescue for Noah and his family points to the wooden cross of Christ, which is the very place we find rescue today from the penalty of sin and death. Without it, we are doomed.
The olive tree branch brought back by a dove (Genesis 8:11) signifies the Holy Spirit, which descended on Jesus at the time of His baptism by John the Baptist. The olive branch is a symbol for peace. Jesus is our peace (Ephesians 2:14), reconciling us to God.
When you read the story of Noah remember the infinitely greater ark of salvation that we have. Next time it rains and you see a rainbow- may it remind you that God always keeps His promises. God has rescued, saved all who enter into the salvation of Jesus Christ and because of that faith in Jesus, God is greatly pleased and His favor is upon your life.
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