Our text today is from the story of Noah and the Ark and is a reading from Genesis 7:7-9 and Genesis 8:14-16
The Bible says
Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him entered the ark because of the water of the flood. Of clean animals and animals that are not clean and birds and everything that creeps on the ground, there went into the ark to Noah by twos, male and female, as God had commanded Noah.
Later in the story, we read…
In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dry. Then God spoke to Noah, saying, “Go out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and your sons’ wives with you.
Look at the story. He was in that boat for a long time.
Noah and his family were in the ark, living with the animals for more than a year! That is a long time to be traveling on a boat filled with elephants, snakes, bats, dogs and every other animal you can imagine.
Noah and his family were on the ark for 377 days.
A wise man once said, “No pain is wasted if you learn from it.”
If we could ask Noah what lessons he learned from life on the Ark, what do you think he might say?
I can think of many possible lessons, but let me share 5 of my favorites.
1. Plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark. While the Bible does not specifically say how long it took him to build that boat, we know from Genesis 6 that it took at least 100 years. That is serious planning ahead.
2. Listen to God.
He gave specific instructions on how to build the boat. When God tells you how something should be done, follow his instructions. The Father knows best.
3. Obey God now!
The flood was on the way. Noah didn’t work on the boat someday. Once you know what God wants, then nothing should cause you to delay.
4. If you can’t fight or flee – float!
Modern psychology tell us that we have a fight or flight response to life. When we feel threatened, then we either run or fight. Well sometimes we can’t do either. Some times we just have to float.
5. Don’t forget that we’re all in the same boat.
One bonus lesson.
6. No matter how bad things look, there’s always a rainbow on the other side.
Lonnie Davis