Read: Genesis 7:11-24

Noah spent a long time building the ark. During this time, he preached to the people around him, warning them that God was going to judge all of their disobedience and wickedness. But the people didn’t listen to the warning that Noah gave them and instead just kept on doing evil and wicked things.

We know what happened to all these people. Everybody who was on the earth, apart from Noah and his family, were destroyed by that flood. The flood was God’s punishment and judgement against all their wickedness. Since the fall into sin, people were just becoming more and more wicked and it got to a point that God decided that all this wickedness needed to be destroyed.

And so, God’s anger and punishment were poured out in this destructive flood. Not only did rain pour down from the skies, but God also opened up the earth so that water gushed forth from the ground as well. God’s punishment was great.

During the flood that destroyed everything on earth, Noah and his family were not destroyed. Noah didn’t think of this plan to build the ark and save himself. It was God’s plan and he is the one who closed the door so that Noah and his family were safely in the ark.

Why did God choose Noah? Was he such a good person? We know that Noah was sinful as well. But God in grace chose to save Noah. God spoke to Noah, and Noah listened to the Lord. In faith he obeyed God. And so, God used the waters that destroyed everyone else to save Noah and his family.

The ark was the only way that Noah could be saved. Nowhere else would he have been safe from the flood waters. This ark is a picture of our salvation from sin as well. When Christ returns, God will again destroy all the wickedness on the earth. And there is only one way that we can be saved: by God’s grace alone. We are saved because of Jesus’ work for us.

Reflection with your child:

How is the ark a picture of our salvation?

Source: Sermon by Rev. J. de Gelder