This is the story of Noah and his family. Noah was a good man. He was a very good friend of God.Now the earth was filled people who were doing bad things. This made God very angry so he told Noah he was going to send a flood to destroy the world.God told Noah, “Build a large boat”So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him. Genesis 6:1-22

Children love the story of Noah and the big boat. I remember the days of the flannel boards where you added the characters as you told the story. My teacher would let each of us add something to the flannel.  One of my children had a boat play set with the characters and animals in it. There was Mr. Noah and Moma Noah and pairs of animals with a plank door that let down so all could go in. They had so much fun playing and learning the simple stories about God and His people.

Today I want us to look at the deeper insights about this story. “Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” Genesis 6:8 (NASB)   He found favor because, “Noah did according to all that God had commanded him.” (Genesis 6:22)   Throughout the entire story there is not one word recorded that Noah ever spoke. Noah believed God was going to send a flood.    Hmmmmm.. No rain had ever fallen! I am sure Noah must have had questions. What’s an ark going to do in the middle of this place?   What is rain..flood?????     How am I going to get these animals, two by two, to come to the ark?  Still Noah remains still, quiet and not a word.

Hebrews 11:7 tells us, “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.” (NKJV)

Digging deeper

1.  Noah was moved by godly fear, reverential fear. Noah prepared an ark to save his family and by doing so he condemned the world. It was God’s command he obeyed and by obeying that command he saved his family and the world was condemned. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Proverbs 9:10 (NIV)

2.  Sometimes,God expects us to obey whether or not we understand fully.

Genesis 7:1 “Then the LORD said to Noah, ‘Enter the ark, you and all your household, for you alone I have seen to be righteous before Me in this time.’”
Because you are obedient, the people who are in your household may be saved or covered.

3.  We are looking at the coverings of God. God established the family and fathers were to be the head of the family. God covered Noah and his family because of Noah’s obedience. We cover our families when we obey God’s commands. When we step outside the covering and disobey it brings consequences.

When Noah was given instructions about building the ark, God told him to “make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; you shall make the ark with rooms, and you shall pitch it (cover) inside and out with pitch.” Genesis 6:14 (KJV)

4.  Two different words were used for pitch in the original Hebrew text. The first word is to cover, atone or reconcile. This is a foreshadow or picture Christ’s atoning sacrifice for our sin. Christ’s death on the cross was the only way to satisfy a holy God’s judgement of sin. (Hebrews 2:17)  The second time pitch is used the word is a financial term meaning to cover the price of a ransom or to redeem.  The ark represents salvation for Noah’s family. The hidden treasure here for us is the picture of our salvation. How are we saved? There is only one way. Jesus provides for us the covering of our sin; he is the only satisfaction acceptable to God. His blood covers or atones for mankind’s sin. Likewise, Jesus paid the ransom to redeem mankind after the fall. He was the perfect sacrifice, without spot or blemish.

In this story is hidden the entire story of the wickedness of man’s flesh to the salvation of the human race.

Jesus told the people, “Unless you come as a little child, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:1-3 NIV

I Peter 2:2 tells us, “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.”

5.  God wants us to come as little children; He wants us to grow up and mature in our faith also.  The challenge is to remain as innocent as children while maturing as believers.

Meditation thought for today

We are covered by the blood of Jesus. He satisfied the debt for the sin of mankind. My sin and your sin has been atoned meaning we are at-one or reconciled with God if we agree with Him that we have sinned and ask for His forgiveness . Secondly, the price was paid. Jesus was the kinsmen Redeemer. (Which is another lesson in itself) He is the one person who was able to buy back what was lost in the Garden of Eden.

Question? What is your favorite children’s bible story. In the comment section, tell us your favorite Bible story. Let’s dig out the truths together. Your comments encourage us to continue. We want to know people are being encouraged by these devotions. Thank you for those of you who faithfully follow and comment.

Next week Moses’ story !!
Enjoy one of the children’s bible songs.