Noah Builds an Ark

June 8, 2025 Background Scripture: Genesis 6:1 - 9:17 Lesson Passage: Genesis 8:13 - 22; 9:11 - 13 Building the ark is one of the greatest acts of faith recorded in the bible. Even with the availability of hardware stores and lumber yards today, this would be a monumental task for an individual, or group, to undertake. Of course, there were no hardware stores to buy tools or materials available for Noah. Furthermore, there is no record of anyone building seaworthy vessels prior to the time in the Background Scripture. That does not mean that people had no ingenuity at that point in human hist01'Y. Cain's descendants were noted as teachers in metallurgy in Genesis 4. The bible reveals that technology was more advanced than recorded human history outside the bible would suggest. God instructed Noah to build a very large boat called an ark, which means box. God gave Noah the dimensions for the ark and the materials to use to construct it. The dimensions of the ark are truly awe inspiring. It was roughly 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet tall. It was constructed with three decks: lower, middle, and upper. Altogether, that's about 100,000 square feet of living and storage space. It was large enough to accommodate a family of eight adults, a multitude of animals, and enough food to sustain all for up to one year. That would be a huge undertaking if it were a house, or hotel. It is nothing less than a miracle that one family could build a seaworthy vessel that size regardless of how much time was used to build it! It is only through faith that one would dare to undertake such a monumental task. Noah did something that was impossible for a person to do at that time. He is an example of how we should respond to receiving instructions from God: "Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did." Noah followed God's instructions and did as he was told to do. The true test of the results of Noah's obedience to God came when the rain started, and the ark floated. One year later the water had dried up and the ark rested on land. When Noah saw that the ground was dry, he, his family, and the animals remained on the ark until the Lord spoke and told him to go out along with all that were on the ark with him. The first thing recorded about Noah after he left the ark is that he built an altar to the Lord and offered burnt offerings on it. After one year of quarantine on the ark, Noah worshiped the God who had kept him and his family safe. God was pleased with Noah before the great flood, and God was still pleased with Noah after the great flood. Noah's worship was a sweet aroma to God. The bible records that Noah was chosen because God extended His grace to him. Noah was a just person among his wicked peer group, or generation. He was not sinless, but he chose to have fellowship with God. God warned Noah that He was sending a great flood to destroy all land- dwelling life in the world. God gave Noah the assignment of building a boat to preserve a remnant of mankind through his family. The boat would prevent his family from experiencing the devastation of the worldwide flood. If Noah had not obediently followed the Lord's instructions, we would not exist today, Every single person born after the great flood descended from the family of Noah. All other families perished in the flood. Noah's family of eight survived because he found grace in God's eyes. Noah walked with God, i.e., had an ongoing fellowship with Him. Noah's relationship with God was genuine compared to the others of his time. By faith Noah obeyed God and built the ark. As descendants of Noah, today we celebrate Noah's faith and God's faithfulness. Robert C. Hudson May 24, 2025