Noah's ark

A few days ago, a group of Chinese and Turkish explorers claimed to have found the remnant of Noah's ark on top of Mount Ararat in Turkey. The news was reported by many top media. For example, http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2949640/Noahs-Ark-found-in-Turkey.html. This was certainly not the first time that a report like this has been made. Whether this is a true finding of the original Ark or not is immaterial. What matters is that with or without a remnant of the Ark found, the Bibilical account of the flood and the Ark is true and still gives us lessons to remember.

The story of Noah's ark actually traces back up to Enoch and Methuselah, who were Noah's great grandparent and grandparent (Genesis 5). The times that they lived in were sinful (Genesis 6:1-6), as people showed evil inclinations of their hears. When Enoch was 65 years old, he had a life-changing event of some kind. He prophesied about the imminent judgment of God, who would judge the ungodly acts and harsh words of the ungodly people (Jude 1:14-15). At 65, Enoch had a son and named him Methuselah, meaning that "when he dies, it (the judgment) will be sent." The very name of Methuselah was a warning to the people. After Enoch had Methuselah, Enoch walked with God for 300 years (Genesis 5:21-24) and then was taken by God, so he did not experience death (Hebrews 11:5). While he was alive, he was commended as one who pleased God -- because he believed that God exists and rewards those who earnestly seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). The first lesson in the story of Noah's ark is that God is just and judges. The judgment is not only for those in the days of Enoch and Noah, but for every man (Hebrews 9:27).

Methuselah is recorded as the person who lived the longest in the Bible. He lived 969 years (Genesis 5:27). He died in the year that the Great Flood came -- when his grandson Noah was 600 years old (Genesis 7:6). Methuselah's longevity is testament to how long-suffering and patient God is before He sends His judgment. God waited patiently (I Peter 3:20), as if the thousand years were like a day (II Peter 3:8, Psalm 90:4). God is not slow in bringing His promise of judgment, but is patiently waiting so that all His people will repent and not perish (II Peter 3:9). Our Lord does not lose a single person that is His own (John 17:12, Romans 8:38-39). The second lesson in the story of Noah's ark is that God is patient and long-suffering before He brings His judgment.

When the Flood came, there were only 8 people in the Ark to be saved from God's wrath and judgment (I Peter 3:20, II Peter 2:5). They were Noah and his wife, their 3 sons and 3 daughters-in-law. They were a remnant of people to re-populate the earth. This principle of God saving a remnant of people runs throughout the Bible: Before the great famine at the time of Joseph, he had been sent to Egypt ahead of his brothers to preserve a remnant (Genesis 45:7). During the days of Ahab, God told Elijah that He reserved 7,000 who did not bow down to Baal or kiss him (I Kings 19:18). When Hezekiah and Judah were invaded by Assyria, the king prayed for the remnant of survivors (II Kings 19:4) and God answered that a remnant of the house of Judah will take root below and bear fruit above (II Kings 19:30). When Judah fell to Babylon, God still left a remnant of Israel that escaped the sword (II Chronicles 36:20). Isaiah prophesied that a remnant of Judah would return to the God of Israel (Isaiah 10:21-22, 11:11). Though beginning with a remnant, God's kingdom will grow to a great multitude who will sing Hallelujah like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder (Revelations 19:1,6), as if the smallest mustard seed becomes the largest of garden plants (Mark 4:31-32). The third lesson in the story of Noah's ark is that through a small remnant of people, God accomplishes great things.

Jesus recounted the story of Noah (Luke 17:26-27) to describe how people are preoccupied with their daily affairs and forget the imminent judgment that is surely coming. We need to take lessons from Noah and take notice. God is just and judges all men for what they have done. God is patient and long-suffering, giving everyone a chance to repent and return to Him. But the Judgment Day has been appointed and only those who have been chosen to be saved will be saved. A great multitude will get to sing God's glory and honor for His redemption. Blessed are those who will partake in the New Heaven and New Earth!