I have been thinking lately about the story of Noah’s ark. This is due to the number of times per day I find myself reading a Noah’s ark children’s book to my kids. They have several and although it is a great story, I was tired of reading it. Especially the ones who try to make the story into a poem. Some are better than others but as a whole, they start driving me crazy, real quick. Something caught my eye in one of the stories as I read it for the 100th time the other day. Genesis 7:16 says that after everyone was loaded up on the ark, “the Lord shut them in.” I had never really thought about this before. I had to cross check my bible to make sure some aspiring poet hadn’t just added that because it happened to rhyme.
Shut them in he did indeed. I had never really thought about what probably happened next. I mean, if I was the one drowning with a 2-year-old and a 4-year-old, I’d be swimming up to that boat as quickly as possible. Clawing to try to find a way in. Climbing on top of the roof and praying to Noah’s God for forgiveness. Banging incessantly on the door. Crying out in agony as my family was swept away.
God had to close them in. He was the deliverer of judgement and mercy all at the same time. It was God’s decision, not Noah’s, and God knew in his infinite wisdom that Noah couldn’t keep that door shut. Would you?
I wonder what Noah was thinking. God had told him specifics of how to build the ark and the flood that was to come. But, God didn’t impart one detail as to when it would be over or how it would go away. So many times, this is also true in our own lives. We know that hardships will come but in the midst of them, our human minds can’t fathom how they will ever come to an end. You know, the same hand that brought destruction to all the people of the world, brought deliverance and mercy to Noah and his family.
As I continued to reflect, I decided to check a commentary to see what other insights I could gain from Noah’s story. Matthew Henry’s commentary shed powerful insight into the symbolism of the dove and raven that Noah sent out to check for dry ground.
The raven didn’t return. He probably continued to roam to and fro, feasting on the floating carcases that were sure to be floating in abundance. The carnal hearts of this world are satisfied to feast on the flesh of this world. They ignore the peace and rest found in God’s mercy.
The dove found no peace in the carnal world before God’s deliverance was complete. He came back to Noah and the ark of mercy to wait and rest. Just as Noah reached out his hand to welcome the dove, God reaches out His hand to each of us, beckoning us to find rest in the palm of His hand.
Lastly, God’s promise, the rainbow. The thicker a cloud is, the brighter the colors of the rainbow shine. In the same way, the deeper our pain, the nearer His presence. This is the beauty of suffering. This week, our pastor said that hope is ‘confident expectation’. Confident expectation that the rains will stop.
Find hope today. Find the mercy and peace of the ark . Find rest. Have confident expectation that the rainbow is there. Remember its promise. Wait for deliverance.
“God usually works deliverance for His people gradually, that the day of small things may not be despised, nor the day of great things despaired of.” – Matthew Henry
