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Grounded-In-Biblical-Truth |
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Almost everyone knows about Noah's ark described in Genesis chapters 6-8. But so very few are aware that it was a type of Christ. What Noah's ark was for him and his family, Christ is for believers. Noah's ark therefore foreshadowed Christ in many ways. We here continue where we paused in the previous message (#254).
X. Noah's ark was covered with pitch (Genesis 6:14): "cover it inside and outside with pitch." This pitch was evidently bitumen or asphalt, which seeps from the ground. In ancient times it was found in abundance in the Middle East (Genesis 14:10). It was so abundant in the locale of the Dead Sea that this body of water was called Lake Asphaltitis (as by Josephus). (The chief modern source is the asphalt lake of Trinidad, West Indies, which is over a mile in width.) The ark was made watertight by covering it both inside and outside with pitch (as also in Exodus 2:3).
The covering of the ark with pitch points to the propitiation which is found in Jesus Christ (1 John 2:2; 4:10): "And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins"; "God ... sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." This connection may not be evident at first glance. But in the Greek language in which the New Testament was first written, the word in 1 John 2:2 and 4:10 translated "propitiation" is hilasmos (pronounced hil-as-'mos), which signifies a means by which sin is covered and remitted. In the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament, the Greek word hilasmos is the translation of the Hebrew word kapporeth (pronounced kap-'poe-reth) with reference to the mercy seat (Exodus 25:17-22). The mercy seat was the covering for the ark of the covenant, where the blood was sprinkled in the tabernacle in order to appease the wrath of God because of the sins of his people. The Hebrew word kapporeth derives from kaphar (pronounced kaw-'far), from which also derives kopher (pronounced 'ko-fer) -- the Hebrew word translated "pitch" in Genesis 6:14!
Therefore, as the pitch covered the ark and thereby spared it from the deluge of God's wrath, even so is Jesus Christ the covering for the sins of His people, thereby appeasing God and sparing them from His wrath.
XI. Noah's ark had no means for him to propel or steer it. God was in complete control of every movement of the ark, and Noah was at His mercy. The ark moved according to the sovereign will of God, not the will of Noah.
Likewise, all who are in Christ are moved by the sovereign will of God, not according to their own dictates (Philippians 2:13): "for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." "God is my co-pilot" is a heathenish concept completely foreign to those who are in Christ.
XII. Noah's ark was entered upon hearing God's gracious invitation to "Come" (Genesis 7:1): "Then the LORD said to Noah, 'Come into the ark, you and all your household.'" How truly does God denote His own presence in the ark! And how sweetly does God invite Noah to be with Him therein!
Likewise, salvation in Jesus Christ is found in obeying His gracious invitation to "Come" (Matthew 11:28): "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
XIII. Noah's ark was a place of unfailing security (Genesis 7:16): "Then those that entered ... went in as God had commanded him; and the LORD shut him in." God having shut the door of the ark, nothing could enter to harm those therein, and those within could not fall out. Every living creature which entered the ark was preserved by God until the deluge was over, none suffering His wrath (Genesis 8:15-19).
Likewise, all who are in Jesus Christ are eternally secure (1 Peter 1:5): "kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (cp. John 10:28f; Romans 8:35-39). "Saved today but lost tomorrow" is a heathenish concept completely foreign to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Your servant for Jesus' sake.
Address all questions to pastor
Daniel E. Parks (2 Corinthians 4:5) e-mail RedeemerBC@aol.com
Pastor, Redeemer Baptist Church
2801 Cleveland Boulevard, Louisville, KY 40206 / 502.899-9205
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