Genesis 7:1 (NKJV): Then the Lord said to Noah, "Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation."
The name 'Noah' here in Hebrew is 'Noach' or 'Nowach', meaning 'rest, or quiet', from the word 'nuwach' which means 'to rest, to be still, to settle down, to be quiet, to dwell/stay'.
Here, the Bible also says God saw that Noah was a righteous man before Him. Today, as a believer in the New Covenant, you are made righteous through Christ, because 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, 'For He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him'.
In Genesis 6:8, the Bible says that 'Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord'. The word 'grace' here is 'chen' (pronounced 'khane') in Hebrew, which means 'favor, beauty, kindness'. As a believer, you too have found grace, because you have found Jesus Christ! John 1:17 says, 'For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ'.
"So, what does Noah's ark speaks of here in the context of New Covenant?"
The word 'ark' here is 'tebah' in Hebrew, which simply means 'box'. This 'ark' is a 'picture' of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, the Lord of rest, or 'shabath' in Hebrew. This 'ark' is the 'shadow', and the Lord Jesus Christ is the 'substance'. Today, we don't look to the 'shadow', but we look to the 'substance'. Therefore, to be in the 'ark' is a 'picture' of to be in Christ. As a matter of fact, being in Christ is the safest place you can ever be while on earth, whether you are going through an economic storm, political storm, financial storm, or any other forms of storm on earth!
Genesis 6:13-16 says, 'And God said to Noah, "The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch. And this is how you shall make it: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits (about 135 meters), its width fifty cubits (about 22.5 meters), and its height thirty cubits (about 13.5 meters). 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."
Have you noticed there's only one door for this ark? In John 10:7, Jesus says, "Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep." Indeed, Jesus is that (singular) door, and He is also the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). Acts 4:12 says, 'There is no other name given among men by which one must be saved (rescued), but by the name of Jesus ('Yeshuwah')'.
As you can see here, the 'ark' in Noah's days was God's rescue plan (God's redemption plan), which speaks of Jesus Christ Himself, or 'Yeshuwah' in Hebrew, which means 'Salvation' (i.e. to save, to deliver, to rescue, to aid, to help). He is your only hope in this end-time, similar to Noah's ark when God was about to judge the whole earth!
Points to note on 'Noah's ark':
This ark was merely a rescue device afloat in the flood, with no rudder (steering) and propeller.
The 'length to width ratio' for the ark was 6:1 (i.e. 300 cubits to 50 cubits), which has been proven in modern ship technology to be an ideal 'length to width ratio' for huge vessels/ships today.
Amazingly, God's measurement and design (blueprints) for Noah's ark (built about 5,000 years ago) strikes a perfect balance of comfort, strength, and stability, enabling a safe, drifting voyage during very turbulent, stormy times.
You see, longer vessels may have comfort and stability, but no strength (i.e. it can fracture and break into half easily), and wider vessels may have stability and strength, but no comfort (i.e. passengers are more prone to sea sicknesses and injuries).
The infamous Titanic that sank had a 'length to width ratio' of 10:1, whereas Knock Nevis (one of the largest modern tankers in the world today, and about three times the size of Noah's ark) has a 'length to width ratio' of 6:1, the same ratio as Noah's ark!
Indeed, Jesus is your perfect comfort, strength, and stability. Amen!
Source: Noah's Ark, Hong Kong.
Therefore, people of God, because you are in this perfect 'ark', no matter how stormy or turbulent your situation (or circumstance) around you may be at the moment, He is here saying to you, "Be still, and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10) Yes, let Him be exalted among the nations, and let Him also be exalted over every aspect of your life as well!
Indeed, Jesus is your perfect rest in the midst of the storms.
If you have not received Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, He is here inviting you to 'come into the ark' today. The Bible says He is the Lord of rest, or 'shabath' in Hebrew (Matthew 12:8), and in this perfect 'ark', you are safe and well, and staying in the eye of the storm!
Genesis 6:22 then says, 'Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did'.
In spite of the ridicules, mockery, and despise from others in his days, Noah trusted God, obeyed God, and continued to build the 'ark' as God had instructed and specified. He learned to depend on God's knowledge (or blueprint) even if no one else believed him. This speaks of you hanging on strong in what God has spoken to you, in spite of whatever people may say against you. And it is no wonder Hebrews 11:7 says, 'By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith'.
Therefore, people of God, hang on strong and continue to walk with the Lord, as Noah did, even if others may ridicule you, mock at you, despise you, or even threaten you because of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ!
Now, there's another 'ark' mentioned in the Old Testament which was (also) so important to God that He (also) gave the Israelites very specific instructions on how it was to be constructed (just as He gave very specific instructions to Noah). It is called the ark of the covenant (read Exodus 25:10-22 for the specific measurement and design of this ark).
Points to note on 'the ark of the covenant':
The box was made of acacia wood, known in Israel as an incorruptible wood. This speaks of the humanity of Jesus, yet there's no sin in Him.
The box was overlaid with gold. This speaks of the divinity of Jesus.
The lid that covered the box was made of a solid slab of gold, and called 'kapporeth' in Hebrew, meaning 'mercy seat'. Indeed, His mercy triumphs over judgement. Because of all that He has done for you on the cross, He has also covered all your sins and rebellion against God.
Just as Noah's ark, this 'ark' also points you to the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ! The word 'ark' here is 'arown' in Hebrew, also meaning 'box'. Interestingly, this word 'arown' comes from the word 'arah', meaning 'to gather'. Notice wherever this ark of the covenant (a 'picture' of Jesus Christ Himself) was carried in a procession, there was also a major in-gathering of God's people together with it! You can see that in David's days (see 1 Chronicles 15:1-3, 1 Chronicles 15:25-28, 1 Chronicles 16:1-2), and you see that again during Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem (see Matthew 21:1-11). Indeed, when He is lifted up, He will draw (gather) all peoples (John 12:32). Hallelujah!
Today, He is calling you to be part of this great procession of the ‘ark’
as well. 2 Corinthians 2:14 says, ‘Now
thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph
in Christ (i.e. in a triumphal procession in Christ) and through us
diffuses (spreads) the fragrance of His knowledge in every place’. Amen.
Conclusion on both 'Noah's ark' and 'the ark of the covenant':
'Being in Noah's ark' speaks of 'you in Christ';
'The ark of the covenant entering Jerusalem in David's days (as he prepared a place for the 'ark' to enter in)' speaks of 'Christ in you, the hope of glory' (Colossians 1:27).
You in Christ, and Christ in you! This speaks of the fullness of Christ who dwells (fills) all in all (Ephesians 1:23), and there's really no other safer place to be than this! That's how blessed you are when you have Christ! The Word of God says so, and let not anyone shake you out of it!
