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THE WORLD THAT PERISHED-3

GENESIS 7:1-22

“THE ARK OF SAFETY: IT IS CHRIST!”

Are you absolutely sure that you are headed to Heaven when you die?

Is it presumptuous to think that you can know for certain that you are saved securely forever? I think not. The reason for such a conviction is rooted solidly in God’s Word. One of the clearest places is in our text this morning. Open you’re your Bible, get your pens and study Christ our Ark of Safety with me this morning!

Please open with me to Genesis 7. The chapters we will look at this morning contain some of the greatest portions of the Bible that speak of the Security we have in the perfect sacrifice of Jesus. This morning, are you safely in His Ark of Salvation?

The longest week in history started with the loud thud of the massive entrance to the ark slamming shut. With no other means of exit other than a 45-foot plus drop from the deck Noah and family were trapped.  Day one the crowds yelled, jeered and called out for the flood.  Day two and growing animal smells and sounds, passed slowly, more yells and jeers as the crowd grew larger. Many people along the roads had followed the incredible river of animals walking quickly and orderly two by two. Crossing Noah’s field they went up the ramp into that huge building Noah had built over the past 120 years.  Day three was really hard, nothing happened except it was getting warm in here. The animals seemed to be all quieting down almost like they were going to sleep.  Days four through six passed with constant heckling drifting up the walls to the family quarters atop the Ark. Then on  Day seven a loud thud was heard on the roof, and then another as massive drops of rain began to pelt the earth. . . the flood God promised Noah, and the Flood Noah had warned the world about had come.

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A massive drop of water hit Mr. & Mrs. Scoffer sitting in their lawn chairs in their back yard. They have sat here on and off over the last century drinking and jeering that old neighbor and his kids that had gone off the deep end. This guy who lived next door was crazy. He was ruining the neighborhood. His farm was now a construction site. A massive 450 foot long building, 75 feet deep and nearly five stories high was out in his pasture. When he wasn’t out there dragging wood around he would loudly preach to all of the spectators that gathered to watch about some crazy disaster coming. Water was going to fall on us and cover all of us up? He claimed some deity somewhere was offended by our demon worship, drunkenness and murder. Splat, another wet object jarred Mrs. Scoffer awake. She had been dozing after the effects of last night’s revelry.
ON THE GROUND IN THE FLOOD
In fact most of the hundreds of milling towns people were still red eyed. It was almost exactly seven days since Noah and all his family went up that ramp into their wooded building. Some say that the ramp had lifted itself up and sealed the entrance. All we out here know is that the building had no visible entrance left. And now it was getting had to see, as the sky had grown darker and darker. Animal sounds were the only sign of life coming from the small windows at the top. All of them were starting to get their mocking banter going when the huge clear missiles started arriving from the sky. It was fun at first. The water was cool and drenched our seats and us. Then as the tempo increased it became uncomfortable to stand under them so we began to retreat out of old Noah’s yard and back across the field to our homes. As we walked by the piles of lumber, saws and scaffolding the water raining down on us was like a thick curtain. We could hardly see to walk.

At almost the same instant they stopped and with ashen faces shouted to one another, “Is this the FLOOD old Noah was talking about so long?” Then a blinding flash of fire from the sky lit up the countryside like noonday. A deafening boom followed and with terror filled steps they all turned and ran to the huge building Noah had built. Climbing up the scaffolding they pounded frantically on the place the door used to be. The thick sawed gopher wood absorbed the blows and the gooey black pitch stuck to their hands. In the alternating blackness and blinding flashes and booming explosions they crawled home. Soon the ground began to be covered with water and all their deepest fears were confirmed the FLOOD arrived and they were wrong.

Lets listen to the only flawless, eye witness account of this amazing moment in history. Please stand with me as we listen to God in Genesis 7:1-22

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Last time we started a series on the World that Perished in the Genesis Flood. This series will investigate the six fundamental truths about the World that Perished in the Genesis Flood. What are those truths? 1. In the 1st message of this World that Perished in the Genesis Flood Series we found they had NO TIME FOR GOD. And that is what we studied last time. 2. Next, the World that Perished in the Genesis Flood had NO REGARD FOR THEIR AMAZING CREATOR. We will see the planet earth flourishing with life. We will see this globe teeming with plant, animal and human population explosions. And all the time Evil was INTENSIFYING. Simply stated, a life with no time for God soon loses all respect, regard and acknowledgment of their Creator. 3. Thirdly, the World that Perished in the Genesis Flood Series we find they had NO MAN LIKE NOAH. This biographical study of the life of Noah will be an amazing time of analyzing what is was that made this hero of the faith tick. Why he saved his family and how he served the Lord. 4. Number four in our messages of this World that Perished in the Genesis Flood Series we find they had NO TESTIMONY MORE VIVID THAN THE ARK. That huge box, sitting in the back of Naoh’s home with rivers of animals marching two-by-two from every corner of the globe was hard to miss. Yet, in their hardness the whole world missed the message, refusing to even listen! No scene so powerful as ark. FIRST, GOD HAD A VIVID PURPOSE FOR THE FLOOD

The purpose of the flood is stated in Genesis 6:5-13. Man had become corrupt, the earth was filled with violence, and God had to destroy mankind. There must always be judgment and death before there can be a new beginning. Perhaps the reason that there are not millions of human fossils, like there are of animals is that there was a target of annihilation of the human race by God. And he did it nearly completely. Almost no trace of the Lost world exists on the face of the Earth!

SECOND, GOD HAD A VIVID METHOD FOR THE FLOOD.

The ark was not a boat, but was rather a “floating box” made of cypress wood and pitched with bitumen. If we use a 24 inch cubit, its size would be 600′ long, wide, and 60′ high. With an 18-inch cubit the size becomes 450 x 75 x 45. In either case, the ark was large enough to hold the collection of animals, the food, and Noah’s family. We do not know how many species of animals there were in that day. Note that 6:20 indicates that God brought the animals to Noah. There-were three levels to the ark, with a window either in the roof of the top level or running all around the top level (6:16); and there was one door.

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The flood itself was caused by the falling rain and the erupting of water from under the earth (7:11). One can well imagine the tremendous effects these would have on the surface of the earth, as well as on the climate. Gigantic tidal waves followed these eruptions. Gen. 2:5-6 suggests that the falling of rain was a new thing on the earth, which makes the faith of Noah even more wonderful.

Thirdly, God had a vivid servant for the Flood. Noah presents an interesting picture of Christ in His work of redemption. A. Noah’s name means “rest” (see 5:29), and Christ brings us rest (Mt. 11:28-30), and redeems us from the curse (Gal. 3:13). B. God called one man, Noah, to make salvation possible, and Christ is the only Saviour of the world. C. Noah was faithful to obey all that God commanded; Jesus said, “I do always those things that please Him.,’ D. Noah was brought safely through the floods; Christ went through the flood of suffering (Ps. 42:7) and came out in victory. E. Noah went out of the ark, the head of a new creation with his family; and Christ came out of the tomb, the Head of the New Creation, and the Father of a new family. F. Noah and Enoch together represent Israel and the Church. G. Noah went through the judgment and was kept safe, just as the 144,000 and the Jewish remnant will go through the tribulation to establish the Kingdom on the earth. H. Enoch was raptured before the judgment came (5-21-24, Heb. 11:5), just as the Church will be raptured before the wrath of God is poured out upon the world.

Finally, God had vivid lessons for us in the ARK. The richness of the imagery and typology of the Ark1 show that like Jesus, the Ark was a place of Divine: 1. TRUE SALVATION IS DIVINE and THE ARK PICTURES THE PROVISION OF SALVATION IN JESUS Genesis 6:13-14a: The Ark like Salvation, was planned by God, not invented by man.  John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and [that] your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. (KJV);  Ephesians 1:4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, (NKJV); The ark not only saved mankind, but also the creatures within it; just as Christ’s death will one day deliver creation from the bondage of sin. Notice further the faith of the occupants of the Ark. Evidently the Ark had no sails, no
1 Pink, Gleanings in Genesis, pp. 103-109.

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oars, no motor or engine, no rudder, and no pilot house. God Himself directed the course of the great ship;

2. THE ARK PICTURES THE PROVISION OF A PERFECT REST IN JESUS Genesis 6:14b “Make yourself an ark of gopher wood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch.  God’s plan said to construct many resting places in the ark, so Jesus calls all who come to Him in their weariness to find rest for their souls. Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.30 “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”  Also in His Father’s House are many resting places! John 14:1-2 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.2 “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

3. THE ARK PICTURES THE PROVISION OF REFUGE WITH JESUS because TRUE SALVATION DEALS WITH SIN Genesis 6:14c The word for “pitch” is the same as the word “atonement” used later in the Old Testament. That word pitch was kaphar this is the 1st of 70 times this word is in the Old Testament and each time it is translated atonement. So there is no other place in all the Universe to hide from the penetrating wrath of God than under the covering of Christ’s blood.  Matthew 1:21 “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” (NKJV);  John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (NKJV);

The pitch was to cover and protect the ark, as bulrushes sheltered Moses and the ark of the tab the stone tablets; put together Jesus Christ is the ark that shelters us from  God’s Wrath (like Noah),  Satan’ attack (like Moses), and the  Law’s Condemnation (like the tab).

The ark saved them from judgment; Christ saves us from the wrath to come.  First Peter 3:18-22 connects the ark with the resurrection of Christ; the waters buried the old world but raised Noah to a new life.  1 Thessalonians 1:10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, [even] Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come;

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 I Thess. 5:9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, (NKJV)

So Jesus Christ is our only place of safety, as death threatened all in Noah’s day, so we are all guilty. The Ark was the only place of safety from the coming wrath, so Jesus is the only Savior. 4. THE ARK PICTURES THE PROVISION OF A NEW PERSPECTIVE OF LIFE THROUGH JESUS Genesis 6:16 “You shall make a window for the ark, and you shall finish it to a cubit from above; and set the door of the ark in its side. You shall make it with lower, second, and third decks.  A window above! They were to look toward their deliverer and not at the wrath and judgment! As the pillar and cloud in the Wilderness drew their gaze above so we are to Colossians 3:1-2 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

5. THE ARK PICTURES THE INVITATION OF JESUS, because GOD SAVES BY INVITATION: God invited Noah and his family into the ark (Genesis 7:1). 1st time “come” is in God’s Word and it appears over 500x rest of Word. It was come and invitation, not go a command. Also it implies coming to be where the Lord was! The Ark2 was a place of security because the designer and architect Himself was present in the Ark with its occupants.  John 6:37 “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.  John 6:44 “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. (NKJV).

Remember the pitiful words of the disciples? “Lord, save us: we perish” (Matthew 8:25). They had not yet learned the lesson that when Jesus is in the ship, it cannot sink. When God invited Noah and his family into the ark they were safe; and once they were in, God shut them in so that they were secure as we will see soon in v.16. 6. TRUE SALVATION IS EXCLUSIVE [7:13-15] THE ARK PICTURES THE PROVISION SALVATION ONLY THROUGH JESUS. There was one door not many. The animals and Noah’s family did not have multiple entry points. There was only one pathway to safety. As the Old Testament Tabernacle in Exodus would later be constructed at God’s direction with only one door, so the Ark shows there is but one way to God. So, there was only one way of salvation; there was only one ark and only one door in the ark.
2 M.R. DeHaan M.D., Portraits of Christ in Genesis, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1966, pp. 92 – 95.

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 John 10:9 Jesus said, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved…  John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (NKJV);  Acts 4:12 “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (NKJV).

Could it even be that the door in the side of the ark points to the pierced side of Jesus by which we boldly come to the very heart of God no matter how guilty and ruined we are by sin. There was only one Ark. God did not provide a fleet of ships and say, “You may have your choice, but it was the only ship available. There are religions without number, but here is only one way of salvation. There was only one way of salvation; there was only one door in the ark.

7. GOD SAVES ETERNALLY [7:16] because the Lord shut them in. THE ARK PICTURES THE PROVISION OF SECURITY IN JESUS. Remember the inner and outer covering Genesis 6.14b?  As they were hidden in the watertight walls of the ark so are we in Christ. Colossians 3:3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God..  Noah didn’t have to protect himself, he rested in the Protector as 1 Peter 1:5 says, “who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”  Finally all who went in came out safely. G 8.18-19 none were lost!

So all who entered survived; none were lost, none perished. God preserved them all and perfectly portrays our Lord Jesus. While the door was open, anyone and all who believed God’s word could come in. but once the door was shut, no one else could come in. However, there is one little phrase in the account which is often overlooked. It is the record that when the door was shut, no one could get out again; and once they were in, God shut them in so that they were secure  Jude 24-25 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present [you] faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, 25 To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, [Be] glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen. (NKJV);  Hebrews 7:24-25 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. (NKJV)

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APPENDIX
TRUE SALVATION ALWAYS POINTS TO CHRIST: If you will check the Flood schedule, you will see that the ark rested on Ararat on the 17th day of the 7th month. The first month in the Hebrew calendar is October, so the 7th month would be April; and April 17th (three days after Passover, Exodus 12:1-3) is the day our Lord arose from the dead! April was made the first month of the religious year at the Passover, but October remains the first month of the civil year. Luke 24:44-45 Then He said to them, “These [are] the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and [the] Prophets and [the] Psalms concerning Me.” 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. (NKJV) RESURRECTION G 8.4 The ark saved them from judgment; Christ saves us from the wrath to come. First Peter 3:18-22 connects the ark with the resurrection of Christ; the waters buried the old world but raised Noah to a new life. Again, every detail was breathed out by God and written down by Moses. Why does the date occur? Look at it carefully. We are told the Ark rested on the 17th day of the 7th month. At the time God instituted the Passover He said change the 7th month into the 1st of all the months of the year. And to celebrate the Passover slaying of the lambs on the 14th day. Now, Jesus was slain on Passover afternoon. He was in the grave 3 days. What is 14 + 3? That’s right, the 17th day of the 1st month is the exact day that Jesus stepped out of the Tomb on Resurrection Day! So we are not following as Peter said, any cleverly devised fables. No, at every point this book points to the Divine Author who designed it down to every letter to reflect the Majesty and Glory of His name!

How Could All the Animals be Housed on Board the Ark? A. Noah told to take 2 (or 7) of each “kind” B. Biblical “kind” uncertain – probably limited by genetic variation. Example: dog kind, includes dogs, wolves, foxes “Kind” certainly not more restrictive than biologic “species”. worst case

Classification # of Species number on ark Mammals 3,700 <3,700 Birds 8,600 <8,600 Reptiles 6,300 <6,300 Amphibians 2,500 <<2,500 Fishes 20,600 0 Tunicates , Etc 1,325 0 Echinoderms 6,000 0 Arthropods 838,000 0 Mollusks 107,250 0

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Worms, etc 39,450 0 Coelenterates , etc. 5,380 0 Sponges 4,800 0 Protozoans 28,400 0 Total Species 1,072,300 21,100

Outside maximum 50,000 animals on board. Probably much less. Could the Ark Have Housed 50,000 Animals? 1. Most animals quite small – very few are large, average size no greater than a sheep 2. Largest individual need not be present, probably took young, virile ones , perhaps eggs of some

What were the Dimensions of Ark 450 x 75 x 45 = 1,518,750 cubic feet or the equivalent to 569 railroad stock cars (one stock car handles 240 sheep). Therefore – all animals on board could have been housed in 208 stock cars 36.5 %. of the Ark’ s capacity. Remember – this is the worst case! The ark was certainly big enough!

How Could Noah Build the Ark? Reasonable assumptions: Pre-flood civilization highly advanced Noah was highly intelligent, educated by patriarchs in Godly line of Seth At lest 480 years old at the start Brain probably more usable Able to hire other workers. Noah was wealthy enough to abandon livelihood Also had 3 sons, father & grandfather to help Had up to 120 years warning Let’ s assume the worst case! Only Noah and his sons doing construction Ark volume includes 25% lumber The four workers could install 15 ft.3 lumber/day, so 81 years – max. construction time 4680 ft cubed / yr . There was plenty of time to build the ark even in the worst possibl e case!

How Could Noah Gather all the Animals? Before the flood: Due to canopy, climate similar worldwide Seasons less pronounced Animals lived in all regions No barriers – continents together God sent animals to Noah in all likelihood (Gen. 7:15) Authorities have noticed tendencies in animals: Ability to sense imminent danger

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Ability to migrate to escape danger God may have instilled migratory instincts in chosen pair Their descendants still possess ability

How Could Noah have Cared for the Animals? Other tendencies noted in face of danger Personality changes – predators and prey have common foe mingle together State of hibernation or relative dormancy – care would be minimal Survivors passed on these abilities to descendants.

How Could the Ark Survive the Flood? Factors to Consider “Pitch,” for waterproofing & preservation Ratio of length to width – 6/1, common in modern ships, this design is known for stability. Long length kept ark perpendicular to wave fronts, would seldon be hit broadside by a wave. The buoyancy force and the weight form a “righting couple” such that the ark could tilt up to 90′ and still tend to right itself. Model stability tests show that design is stable for a 200′ wave, greater than would ever occur in open sea.

How Did All the Animals Get to Their Present Locations Passengers on ark were the only survivors Animals commanded to: Breed abundantly in the earth Be fruitful Multiply upon the earth Mankind cormnanded to: Be fruitful Multipy Replenish the earth Mt. Ararat provides optimum starting place: No impassable barriers Near “center” of the earth Other observations: Vegetation quickly reappeared No competition for new space Weaker kinds “pushed” by stronger kinds Ice Age provided land bridges

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There are only about 12-15 different varieties of dinosaurs, so thee would not be a lot of difficulty getting them on the Ark. Also, Job says Leviathan breathed fire?