GOD’S WORD OF INSTRUCTION

“MAKE YOURSELF AN ARK of gopherwood; MAKE ROOMS IN the ARK, and cover it inside and outside with pitch…” – Genesis 6:14

In preparing for a New Beginning for the earth, GOD gave Noah the WORD of INSTRUCTION: “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…” (Gen.6: 13-15). Noah obeyed, BUILT an ARK, and took into the ark male and female specimens of all the world's species of animals, from which the stocks might be replenished. Consequently, the surviving human race descended from Noah's three sons.

This text describes the wickedness of the old world, both among the profane and the professors of religion, which was taken notice of and resented by God, upon which He determined to destroy it (vv.5-7). Amid the corruption, one man, Noah, remained faithful to God. He found favour with God, being “perfect in his generations” (vv.8-9). This was relative to the pervading violence and corruption of humanity (vv.10-12). God promised to preserve him, along with his family, so that when the former evil race had been destroyed, he could use Noah and his family to build a new people: “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” (Heb.11:7).

God therefore gave instructions to Noah, to build an ark for himself and his family, as He was determined to destroy the earth with a flood, and all creatures in it (vv.14-17). He would only preserve Noah, his wife, his three sons and their wives, and two of every living creature, for which, and for himself and his family, he was to take food into the ark when built (vv.18-21). 2 Peter 2: 4-5 says: “For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly”.

Noah did as he was commanded (v.22). God’s Instructions and directions are never ambiguous. The materials – structural and finishing, spaces required, and dimensions were specified by the Eternal Architect (vv.14-15). God preserved a pair of each kind of animals in the region, thereby helping to maintain the balance between people and animals. All these were to be housed in a huge box-like structure, which was designed to float on the floodwaters. The ark was about 133 metres long, 22 metres wide and 13 metres high. It had a door in the side, and a light and ventilation opening, almost half a metre deep, running around the top of the wall just below the roof overhang. Horizontally it was divided into three decks and vertically it was divided into a number of rooms, to help separate the animals and brace the whole structure.

That the destiny of humanity hung on one Man’s response to Divine Instruction, shows how vital Instructions are! The Word of Instruction can make the difference between life and death! A life void of instruction is bound for destruction: “He is in the way of life that keeps instructions” (Pro.10:17a). Instructions preserve and secure lives. Absence of Instruction invites destruction: “He shall die without instruction, and…go astray.” (Pro.5:23). At every point in life, we need God to instruct us on what to do next, where to go, where to turn, and what to focus on. He says: “I WILL INSTRUCT YOU and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you” (Psa. 32:8).