A Lamp Unto My Feet Bible Study Website
GENESIS 6:9-22
Lesson #17
THE MIRACLE OF SALVATION IN THE ARK
- Memory work: Old Testament book names from Obadiah to Malachi
- Read Gen 6:9-13
- The character of Noah:
- We discover 3 things about Noah (9)
- =1= He was a just an ordinary man.
- =2= He was a believer by faith in the promised redeemer.
- Read Heb 11:6-7 Noah’s faith:
- His faith was based in God’s Word, “being warned of God“.
- He walked by faith not by sight. (2Cor 5:7)
- He was moved with fear.
- The evidence of faith was obedience. (Jam 2:17)
- By faith he built the ark before the rain started to fall.
- In fact, he didn’t know what rain was. (Heb 11:7)
- Read Heb 11:6-7 Noah’s faith:
- =3= He was perfect in his generations.
- The word “perfect” means = without blemish, mature.
- He walked with God.
- He had the same relationship with God as Enoch, though God did not snatch Noah up from the earth before death.
Noah is a prefigure of Christ
| Noah | Christ |
| Noah’s name means. “rest”
Gen 5:28-29 |
We have “rest” in Christ.
Mat 11:28 Isa 11:10 |
| Noah found grace in God’s eyes.
Gen 6:8 |
Jesus found grace in God’s eyes.
Mat 3:17 |
| Noah was a just (righteous) man.
Gen 6:9 |
Jesus was a righteous man.
Luk 23:47 |
| Noah was perfect in his generations. Gen 6:9 | Jesus was perfect, and
without sin. Luk 1:35 Heb 7:26 |
| Noah walked with God.
Gen 6:9 |
Jesus grew up in God’s favor.
Luk 2:52 |
| God gave Noah work to do.
Gen 6:14 |
God gave Jesus work to do.
Joh 17:4 |
| Noah, alone, did the work. | Jesus alone completed God’s work. 1Pet 2:24 |
| Noah’s household was saved. | Christ is a son over his own house. Heb 3:6 |
| Animal creation was subject to Noah. Gen 6:19 | All creation will be subject to
Jesus Christ at the 2nd coming. Psa 8 Heb 1:2 Heb 2:8 |
| Noah was the great provider.
of food Gen 6:21 |
Christ is our provider, the bread of life. Joh 6:35 |
| Noah was obedient. Gen 6:22 | Christ was obedient unto death.
Phi 2:8 |
| Everyone who went in the ark was saved. Gen 8:18-19 | All who accept Christ are saved. Joh 18:9 |
| Noah built an altar and offered sacrifice to God. Gen 8:20 | Jesus Christ offered himself as our sacrifice to God.
Eph 5:2 |
| God blessed Noah and his sons.
Gen 9:1 |
We are blessed through Christ.
Eph 1:3 |
| God would make a new covenant with Noah. Gen 9:8-9 | We have a new covenant
through Christ. Heb 8:10-13 |
- Read Gen 6:14-22
- The ark
- The Hebrew word translated “ark” is used only one other place in the Old Testament where it is translated “basket”. (Exo 2:3,5 in the story of the baby Moses.) Both the ark and the basket were coated with pitch.
- (Note: the Ark of the Covenant in the Old Testament tabernacle is not the same word in Hebrew.)
- The size and dimensions of Noah’s ark:
- The ark was about 450 ft. long x 75 ft. wide x 45 ft. high.
- (These figures are based on an 18 inch cubit.)
- The size is approximate because there is much disagreement as to how long a cubit was.
- Estimates state that the commonly accepted range was anywhere from 17.5 inches to 22 inches.
- This is the size of 1½ football fields.
- This is the largest possible construction of wood that could go to sea. Any larger and it would be unable to bridge the waves, and it would break apart.
- The proportions (length to width to height) are actual proportions to make it sea worthy.
- -The battleship “Oregon” has the same proportions though 1/7th smaller. (built 1898)
- -The ship, “Queen Mary”, is 1020 ft. Long
- The materials used for the ark:
- Gopher wood:
- The exact kind of wood is unknown. It was either cypress, cedar, or a white oak that becomes harder with age.
- The ark
- Pitch within and without:
- Pitch is a luminous material to prevent leakage
- It also preserves it for posterity
- The Hebrew word “pitch” used here is not the usual word for pitch.
- The usual Hebrew word is “zetteth“.
- Instead the word “zapher” is used. The word “zapher” is translated 70 times in the Old Testament as “atonement” which means = “to cover”. (it is usually used in relationship to sin.)
- The physical characteristics of the ark:
- It had one window in the top for light and air.
- It had one door in the side, closed by God.
- It had 3 floors of rooms.
The Ark is an Illustration of our Salvation
Heb 11:7 Exo 2:3 Exo 25:10
| The Ark | Our Salvation |
| A divine provision before the flood came | Christ was slain from before creation
Rev 13:8 |
| God reveals the design | God reveals the plan of salvation
2Cor 4:6 |
| It was made of gopher wood | Christ, the root out of the dry ground Isa 53:2
Wood = humanity of Christ Only by death is the means of Salvation provided |
| A refuge from divine judgment | Believers are sheltered from God’s wrath Act 4:12 |
| Everything living outside perished | All those not in Christ perish
Joh 3:15,16 |
| God invited Noah to come into the ark (He was not commanded) | We are invited to come unto Christ
Mat 11:27 |
| The ark was a place of absolute security | Believers are hid with Christ in God col 3:3 1Pet 1:5 Joh 18:9 |
| The ark had one door | Jesus said “I am the door”
Joh 10:9 |
| The door was in the side of the ark | Jesus’ side was pierced, opening the way to the heart of God
Joh 10:9 Joh 19:34 |
| The ark had 3 floors | Three is the symbolic number for the Trinity
We have a 3-fold salvation in Christ: body, soul, and spirit We are saved from the penalty of sin, from the power of sin, and from the presence of sin Joh 17:11,21 |
| One window was placed “above” | We are to set our affection on
things above Col 3:2 Joh 8:12 |
| Furnished with many rooms | Jesus said he was going to prepare for us many mansions (rooms)
Joh 14:2 |
| Pitch (atonement) covered the inside and the outside | We are covered inside and out by the cleansing blood of Christ (atonement) Rom 5:11 |
| Eight people were saved in the ark. God began with man again. | 8 is the symbolic number of new beginnings. We are new in Christ 2Cor 5:17 |
| The day the ark landed | On the same day, Jesus rose from the dead (more on this later) |
- Some important things to notice:
- In Gen 6:17 it is God who brings the flood waters. This flood is not a usual, natural occurrence. It was a miracle.
- God tells Noah about a new covenant and a new age to come after the flood in order to encourage him that the promised redeemer is still to come.
Homework
Genesis 7:1-24
- Application for gen 6:
- Noah’s ark is a picture of our salvation in Jesus Christ. Like Noah, have you entered into your ark of security, Jesus Christ?
- If your answer is yes, thank God in prayer for your safety, your provision, and God’s mercy and love toward you.
- If your answer is no, and you would like to enter into Christ and be sure that you are saved, contact me or a pastor who can explain what it means to be born again.
- Noah’s ark is a picture of our salvation in Jesus Christ. Like Noah, have you entered into your ark of security, Jesus Christ?
- Preparation for Gen 7:
- Read Gen 7:1-24
- Compare Gen 6:19 with Gen 7:2 and write your impressions.
- Who gathered the animals?
- Who gathered the food?
- Who shut the door?
- Write down references that indicate this is a world-wide flood and not just a local flood.
- Read Mat 24:37-39 What warning does Jesus give to people today that Noah’s day should remind us of?
- Read 1Pet 3:20-21 The flood of Noah’s day is a type or illustration of what in the Christian life? Explain how.
- Read Gen 7:1-24
- Memory verse: John 10:9
