May 31: An Inexpressible Certainty

Take with you seven pairs of all clean animals, the male and his mate, and a pair of the animals that are not clean, the male and his mate. Genesis 7:2 (ESV)

The slow-motion, orderly procession of animals from all directions, lining up in pairs and entering the ark, provided a powerful ‘punctuation mark’— specifically, an exclamation mark! — to Noah’s preaching. As he built, he also fervently shared the gospel message of salvation. Although the three-story structure was built after a pattern of divine origin, Noah meticulously followed the pattern, using excellent craftsmanship. Noah’s skill, a gift from God, was further developed and improved because he put it into service for God’s glory. Noah’s use of gifts, abilities, and energies in the service of the Lord out of love for Him stands firmly as a testament against laziness and against wasting precious time by misusing talents for godless purposes.

Another lesson here is that Yahweh does not place impossible demands upon His people. In essence, He says, “You do the possible, and I will do the impossible!” Building the ark was a daunting assignment, but Noah’s willingness to obey showed that God supplies all that is needed to carry out His commandments: detailed instructions, skill and understanding, materials, time, counsel and oversight. After the building was completed, the ark was generously stocked with food for all the living things, people included, who would enter the ark (6:21).

Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did. 6:22

The multitudes who had rejected Noah’s message were presented with a final, glorious display: animals obediently entering the ark. This magnificent parade was proof of Yahweh’s supernatural power over nature. In fact, it was a powerful, yet gentle rebuke to all of those who answered Noah with the argument that God was bound by the laws of nature. To be proven wrong in such a winsome, delightful way should have led the people to joyfully cross over onto the side of right.

And seven pairs of the birds of the air, male and female . . . (7:3). How thrilling it must have been to hear the sound of fluttering wings as they approached the ark and calmly entered in. The arrival of flying creatures was just as orderly as that of the land animals.

Noah was not commanded to go out and collect the animals, or to even determine if representatives from every kind had been obtained. This “impossible job” was Yahweh’s part, and this aspect of the scene was clearly miraculous. Too often we venerate our common sense above the promises found in Scripture. If Noah had done that, he would never have built the ark.

But if we are truly yielded to God, there is an inexpressible certainty that His plan is perfect, and that obedience to Him doesn’t require us to explain exactly how every detail of His plan will be fulfilled—only that it will!

You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. The LORD is righteous in all His ways, Gracious in all His works. Psalm 145:16-17