All I Ever Needed To Know, I Learned From Noah's Ark
I'm sure you've seen one of those (or maybe even have one yourself) wall hangings which begin, "All I ever needed to know, I learned from..." There are a variety of teachers on these, including "my dog", "my cat", "Star Trek", "hockey", etc.. Let's consider what Noah's ark teaches us.
Plan Ahead
- It wasn't raining when Noah began to build the ark!
- We need to prepare for the judgment (Matthew 25:13; 1 Peter 4:16-19
Don't Listen To Critics - Just Do What Has To Be Done
- Noah was no doubt ridiculed for building the ark. It had never rained upon the earth, and yet here he was, building a HUGE boat because there was going to be a blood. ("Noah? What's rain? BTW, what's a flood??")
- We may be ridiculed for serving God (2 Timothy 3:12; Acts 4:1-4,
17-18; Acts 5:17-18,28 ). Serve Him anyways.
Two Is Better Than One
- Of the unclean animals, God had pairs preserved in the ark.
- Companionship is a blessing (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; Psalm 133:1).
Don't Miss The Boat
- To miss the boat in Noah's day meant certain destruction!!
- To miss the church today is sure destruction (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Acts 20:28)
“The ark was built by amateurs, the Titanic by professionals.”
The Ark Was Built By Amateurs, The Titanic By Professionals
- Noah was not a ship maker, but by building according to God's plan, he could have confidence.
- God's way is always better than man's (Isaiah 55:8-9; Proverbs 15:25)
The Woodpeckers Within Are A Bigger Threat Than The Storm Without
- Holes in the hull of the boat would have been a serious problem. Moses had to keep the woodpeckers otherwise occupied.
- There are some in the church who sadly are a threat to the church (Galatians 5:15; 1 Corinthians 1:10-11, 3:1-3)
No Matter How Bleak It Looks, There's Always A Rainbow Coming
- God made a promise to Noah, and all mankind, that never again would He destroy the world by water. The rainbow was the symbol of that promise.
- Regardless how many or how severe the trials, heaven will be worth it (2 Corinthians 4:16-18; Romans 8:18).
Maybe Being Saved Through Water Isn't Such A Crazy Idea
- As much as the water was the means whereby God destroyed the wicked of mankind, it was by the same water that God raised Noah and his family up, saving them through water (1 Peter 3:20)
- The New Testament reveals that water is an essential part to salvation, in the form of baptism (1 Peter 3:21; Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16; Colossians 2:11-13)
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Answering The Atheist
The Atheist's Complaint:
Who brought evil on Job? Was it Satan (Job 2:7) or was it God (Job 42:11). Is there a contradiction?
Response:
The questioner would do well to consider ALL that is revealed in the story of Job, and not just pick a couple of seemingly contrary verses to set against one another.
Job 1 tells of Satan coming in the midst of the sons of God as they presented themselves before the LORD. God commended the faithfulness of Job in Satan's presence, to which Satan laid a challenge:
Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hand,s and his possessions ahve increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face! (Job 1:8-11)
God permitted Satan to test Job through the loss of his flocks, servants and family, but forbade him to touch his person (Job 1:12). Job concluded, "The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." (Job 1:21)
Again, in chapter 2, Satan cam ein the midst of the sons of God as they presented themselves before the LORD. Once more, God commended Job's faith, adding, "...still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause." (Job 2:3). Satan again laid a challenge regarding Job:
Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. But stretch out Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face! (Job 2:4-5)
Once more, God permitted Satan to test Job through the loss of his health, but forbade him to take his life (Job 2:6.
Who was it that brought the evil upon Job? Look through the text:
- Satan challenged God to bring it upon him (1:11)
- God permitted Satan to bring it upon him (1:12)
- Job perceived that God has brought it upon him (1:21)
- God acknowledged His involvement (2:3)
- Satan challenged God to bring it upon him (2:5)
- God permitted Satan to bring it upon him (2:6)
- Satan struck Job's body (2:7)
- Job perceived that God had brought it upon him (2:10)
- etc....
What is the point? Throughout the book of Job, both God and Satan are attributed with bringing the troubles upon Job. God permitted it to be so, and Satan worked the devastation in Job's life.
There is no contradiction.
This article is in response to Skeptic's Annotated Bible.