Genesis 7:11-16 — Then the LORD shut him in.

Noahs_Ark

In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, on the seventeenth day of the second month—on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened. And rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights.

On that very day Noah and his sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth, together with his wife and the wives of his three sons, entered the ark. They had with them every wild animal according to its kind, all livestock according to their kinds, every creature that moves along the ground according to its kind and every bird according to its kind, everything with wings. Pairs of all creatures that have the breath of life in them came to Noah and entered the ark. The animals going in were male and female of every living thing, as God had commanded Noah. Then the LORD shut him in.

Genesis 7:11-16

In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, on the seventeenth day of the second month… (v.11) Even for Noah’s day, Noah was an old man when the flood waters came. The longer we live, the more likely we are to see tragedy. Those who die young are blessed in that they’re often spared the trial of observing tragedy, or at least the experience of tragedy in this world is mercifully reduced. (2 Kings 22:20) It seems that God sometimes reserves trials of great magnitude for his saints that have walked with Him faithfully and are on toward the end of their time on earth. The lesson here is for you old saints to never give up but to persevere in doing God’s work right up until that glorious day you leave your worn flesh and join Him on the other side.

Never give up.

Artesian Well

…on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened. (v.11) The great deep burst forth speaks of a water source in addition to the great rains that fell. Today we see water pressure and volume from underground aquifers so great that in some instances it can be used to pump water to upper floors in multi-story buildings. These are called artesian aquifers. The artesian well in the photo is from a USGS article on artesian water sources. (USGS) The same God who separated water from water (Genesis 1:6), the same God who let the water under the sky be gathered unto one place (Genesis 1:9), allowed the water to cover the earth.

Precisely how he did that we don’t know but from Genesis 7:11, it appears that God used a great underground reservoir of water, in addition to the rains, to create the great flood.

And rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights. (v.12) Forty is a number in the Bible that signifies trial and chastisement. The rain fell for forty days. The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for forty years. (Deuteronomy 8:2-5) Jesus was tempted by the devil in the wilderness for forty days. (Mathew 4:2)

On that very day Noah and his sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth, together with his wife and the wives of his three sons, entered the ark. (v.13) Dr. John D. Morris and others make the case that before any of his children were ever born, Noah began to work on the ark. Noah is also mentioned first in verse 13, indicating that he was first on board before his family. That’s how it is with you and with me. If we desire to see our family members come on board with Jesus Christ, the first and most important step toward that end is for you and for me to commit. To commit to daily prayer. To commit to reading God’s word, daily. To commit to showing up at God’s house regularly. To commit to Him. The example of you, living out your faith before your family, is one of the most powerful influences you can have on them. It may take time but fruit will be born of it.

For good or for bad your example is extremely powerful. And when your good example doesn’t produce results don’t give up. Remember that bearing fruit takes time. Even Jesus faced setbacks when it came to His followers following His example. Set a great example for those you lead because you are their future.

Traveler and the Chaplain

In everything set them an example by doing what is good. (Titus 2:7)

Then the LORD shut him in. (v.16) In the last post we saw that in verse one of Genesis chapter 7 God directed Noah to “come” into the ark with his family, indicating that God was already in the ark. And we saw that Jesus Christ, the ark of our salvation, asks us to come unto Him. In verse 16 we see that the LORD shut him in. God Himself shut the door. God shut them in. No one could make them more secure. That’s how it is with our salvation. By God’s hand Jesus conquered death on the cross. By God’s hand Jesus rose again. By God’s hand Jesus’ work on the cross seals our salvation. Jesus said,