Key Verse: Genesis 7:16
"And those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him. And the Lord shut him in."
The flood was not just a natural disaster; it was an act of divine judgment on a world that had completely turned away from God. Humanity had become so corrupt that God had to cleanse the earth and start anew. Noah, however, was different. He obeyed God, built the ark, and entered it with his family and the animals, just as God had commanded.
This verse carries deep significance. It says, “And the Lord shut him in.” This means that God Himself sealed the door of the ark. It was not Noah who closed it, but the Lord. This shows that salvation is ultimately God’s work, not man’s. Once the door was shut, there was no way in or out. The time for repentance had passed. The judgment had begun.
The ark is a powerful symbol of salvation. Just as Noah and his family were saved from the flood inside the ark, believers are saved from judgment through Jesus Christ. The ark had only one door, just as Jesus said, “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved” (John 10:9). Salvation is not found in many ways—it is found only through Christ.
The rain came, and the earth was flooded for forty days and forty nights. Water covered even the highest mountains. Everything outside the ark perished. This is a hard reality to accept, but it shows the seriousness of sin. God is both just and merciful. He had given humanity time to repent. Noah preached righteousness while he built the ark (2 Peter 2:5), but the people refused to listen.
Many imagine what it must have been like when the floodwaters rose. Did people run to the ark, pounding on the door, crying out for another chance? But it was too late. The time for grace had ended. This is a sobering reminder that there is a time limit on God’s invitation to salvation. Today, many live as if they have endless time to turn to God, but no one knows when their time will run out.
Inside the ark, Noah and his family had to trust God completely. They were shut in with no control over what happened outside. They had to rely on God’s timing, God’s provision, and God’s plan. This is what faith looks like—trusting God even when the world is in chaos around us.
The flood foreshadows another judgment that is coming, not by water, but by fire (2 Peter 3:7). Yet just as God provided an ark for Noah, He has provided a way of escape for us through Jesus. The question is—have we entered the ark, or are we still outside, ignoring the warning?
God shut the door, but today, the door of salvation is still open. Jesus is calling us to come to Him while there is still time. One day, that door will close. The flood reminds us that God is patient, but His patience has a limit. Now is the time to step inside the ark of His grace.
Comments