As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man (Matthew 24:37)
What if God asked you to build an ark? Maybe not a huge boat like Noah, but something that requires you to obey God and step out in faith?
A World in Darkness
When we read about Noah and the Flood, we tend to focus on all the questions surrounding this event – building the boat, gathering the animals, the flood. What we miss is the story of obedience by a man whom Jesus and other Bible writers commended as a real person with extraordinary faith in a faithless world.
Genesis tells us that in Noah’s day the earth was filled with sin, violence, and corruption. Genesis 6:5 says, “…every inclination of the human heart was only evil all the time.” Man’s sin had become so pervasive that God was so deeply grieved that He determined to wipe the world clean with a worldwide flood.
Yet, amid this moral chaos, Noah’s faith stood out. Genesis 6:9 describes Noah as “…a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, who walked faithfully with God.” This means Noah’s life aligned with God’s heart, not the world's, and it challenges us to examine our own faith today.
A Faith That Builds
When God told Noah to build the ark, it was a huge task, both physically and spiritually. The ark was massive – over four football fields long – and God’s instructions were precise. It likely took Noah decades to gather the materials, organize the labor, and work through all the engineering to build it according to God’s instructions.
But beyond the building process, imagine the endless ridicule and questions Noah endured from those around him. “What’s an ark?” “What’s a flood?” “Who is God?” “How can you follow someone you can’t see?” “You’re a crazy old man.” But Noah’s obedience was firmly rooted in trust that God’s plan and timing were perfect.
Noah reminds us that faith often requires action long before we see any results. Sometimes God will call us to prepare for something that has not yet appeared on the horizon. It could be a ministry, or a relationship, or a life change. Like Noah, we may have to build in silence, trusting God’s Word before we see the outcome.
A Picture of Dependence
The ark was designed as a rescue capsule, not a pleasure boat. God gave Noah very specific dimensions for the ark. Scientists have studied these dimensions and found them to be the perfect combination for maximum stability, strength, and safety in the most violent waters. Today, most large cargo containers use these same dimensions.
God told Noah to cover the ark inside and out with pitch to seal out the floodwaters. The Hebrew word for pitch is “kaphar”, which also means covering or atonement. Just as the sealing pitch covered the ark and spared Noah and his family from the judgment of the flood, Jesus' atoning work on the cross spares us from judgment.
The ark had only one door and no steering system. Genesis 7:16 tells us that God Himself shut them in. So, Noah and his family were completely at God's mercy. This picture shows the kind of life of faith God calls us to. His Word acts as our ark-building instruction manual. But we must keep trusting Him throughout our journey.
Noah’s life reaffirms that walking with God often means standing apart from the crowd. It means trusting God even when our path forward feels uncertain and full of questions. It even means waiting on God when we want answers now.
What “ark” is God asking you to trust Him with today? And what’s the first step you can take to start building?
Joy For Your Journey,
Andy