In message 30 of the Life-Study of Genesis, we come to see the spiritual significance of Noah’s ark. First, the ark was 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high (6:15). These dimensions are composed of mainly the numbers 3 and 5, both of which signify the mingling of God and man, implying that God’s building is a mingling of God with us (For a detailed explanation please see Message 30). Second, the ark has three stories, signifying the Triune God and how we must go to the Spirit (1st story) in order to know the Son (2nd story) and through the Son reach the Father (3rd story) (cf. Luke 15, Eph. 2:18, John 14:6). Third, the ark has only one window toward the heaven for light, signifying that in the building of God, there is only one revelation and one vision. Fourth, the ark has one door on the side, signifying Christ as the one door, one way, to enter God’s building (John 14:6). Fifth, the ark was made of gopher wood, signifying the solidness of Christ as the crucified One who can withstand the flood waters of death. Sixth, the ark was covered with pitch, which signifies the redeeming Christ, both within for our sight and without for God’s sight. Seventh, the whole ark is a type of Christ both personally (1 Pet. 3:20-21) and corporately as the church (1 Cor. 12:12) to save us from God’s judgment and from this age. Eighth, the ark not only saved man, but also all living creatures, signifying that Christ died for everything (Heb. 2:9, Col. 1:20).
Message 31 further expounds the significance of Noah’s ark, especially how Noah and his family were saved through water (1 Pet. 3:20). In order to understand this, we first have to see that Noah lived in a crooked and perverse age, which was under God’s judgment and the evil power of darkness. Because of this, God’s salvation to Noah was on the one hand to save him from God’s judgment on that age, and on the other hand to save him from his crooked, perverse and evil generation. According to Matthew 24 and Luke 17, we live in the same kind of age today. Therefore, like Noah, we also need to be saved not only from God’s judgment through the redeeming Christ (Rom. 5:9), but also from this age through the judging cross of Christ (Acts 2:40, Gal. 1:4). Practically, this is accomplished through our baptism with water which signifies the judging death of Christ. In the Bible, this baptism is typified by the flood of the deluge (1 Pet. 3:20-21), the waters of the red sea (1 Cor. 10:1-2), the laver (Exo. 30:18-21), the brass sea (1 Kings 7:23, 38), and the sea of glass (Rev. 4:6). Eventually, in the new heaven and the new earth, there will be no more world and no more judging water (Rev. 21:1).
In message 32 we see that after passing through the flood, the ark rested upon the mountains of Ararat on the seventeenth day of the seventh month (Gen. 8:4). The month and day here are very significant because it corresponds to the exact month and day on which Christ resurrected. This is because at the time of the Passover in Egypt, the seventh month is changed to the first month named Abib (Exo. 12:2, 13:4), meaning sprouting, budding, fresh ears of corn. Since Christ was crucified on the day of the Passover, the fourteenth day of Abib, He was resurrected three days later on the seventeenth. Furthermore, Peter directly connected the resurrection of Christ to the ark in 1 Peter 3:20-21, showing that the ark resting on the mountains of Ararat is a picture of the resurrection of Christ. In addition, Noah’s ark resting upon the mountains of Ararat is also a shadow of the church who resurrected with Christ, composed of the resurrected people who build an altar and offer sacrifices to God (Gen. 8:20-22). This offering satisfies God, keeps the curse away, and brings blessing to the earth. Finally, the church in resurrection fulfills God’s purpose and lives under God’s covenant with no more judgment of death and with the rainbow as the sign of God’s faithfulness in keeping His covenant.
There are many other wonderful points contained in these messages. Please use the comments section below to share your enjoyment of these wonderful truths contained in the Book of Genesis.
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