WHY THE ARK?Genesis 6:21; Isaiah 30:21.

Posted bySteven WalesPosted inGod LEADS His childrenTags:,

Why did God tell Noah to build an ark? God could have just miraculously provided an ark. But He enjoys partnering with us! He gave Noah a job—spend decades building the biggest thing anyone has ever built.  Noah was responsible for the most amazing ZOO in history.

I noticed this verse:

“Take with you every kind of food that is eaten: gather it as food for you and for them” Genesis 6:21. 

Noah’s job just doubled in size!  Build an ark AND find food—for EVERY ANIMAL? When you see a plant, how do you know if some animal somewhere eats it?  Some have unique diets: Koalas eat ONLY eucalyptus leaves. How would Noah know—and where would he get the leaves? –God had to provide both knowledge and leaves; there was no other way. 

I’ve never been a zookeeper, but I know how much trouble it is to feed horses, dogs, cats, chickens, rabbits, and goats (and that’s with long-lasting “kibble” already in bags).  What if you had a thousand more species?

Can you imagine giving a single, untrained zookeeper, with no refrigerator, the responsibility to procure and preserve food for every animal on earth—and get all of it into the ark?  The task is all-but impossible. 

Noah must have recognized that: he could only succeed by the power and wisdom of God.  God led him to every plant and berry and thornbush and hayfield. And how will cows, horses, and elephants eat, sleep, and do their business, for a full year onboard ship, and somehow still be clean and dry?  The chores must have never stopped.

The challenges multiply, the more you think about it (what about daily water for the animals?). 

(Good Bible reading means asking yourself every question you can possibly think of.) 

The challenges Noah faced were extraordinary. But God directed the project, start-to-finish.  And “Noah walked with God” Gen. 6:9. When we walk with God, He directs our steps. The greater the challenge, the louder God speaks:

“You will hear a voice behind you saying, ‘this is the way, walk in it’” Isaiah 30:21.

God, thank you for directing us! Help us to slow down and listen to you.

ΑΩ

Published by Steven Wales

Dad's Daily Devotional began as text messages to my family. I wanted my teenagers to know their father was reading the Bible. But they were at school by then. Initially, I sent them a favorite verse or an insight based on what I read each day. That grew into drafting a devotional readng which I would send them via text. I work as an attorney and an adjunct professor, and recently wrote a book called HOW TO MAKE A'S.

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