The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl – In Search Of Noah’s Ark

Today’s Passage – Genesis 7 – 9 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Matthew 5 – 6; Proverbs 3 ; Psalms 11 – 15

Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Psalm 18:3 & 46

Read the “0103 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters asswaged; The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained; And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated. And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat.” (Genesis 8:1-4)

Good morning and Happy New Year! 2026 is finally here, and that brings us closer to the Lord’s return for His bride. Our passage, in today’s reading tells of another rescue by the Lord: the story of Noah’s ark. While reading this passage (and being old), I remembered a TV series (In Search Of), and a movie (In Search Of Noah’s Ark). With all the evidence presented in those shows, they determined that the ark of Noah is on Mount Ararat in Turkey. You can still see some of these old shows on YouTube. But we already know that this is where the ark is: God told us…

“And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat.” (Genesis 8:4)

God told us the ark came to rest upon the mountains of Ararat, so the ark is there. What I’m looking for is Noah’s other ark…

“By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” (Hebrews 11:7)

“Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he. And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.” (Genesis 6:22-7:1)

Noah’s other ark was faith…

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

In Genesis 7:1, God invites Noah, his wife, and their family, and their wives into the ark, “…for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.” Noah and his family were the only ones on earth who God saw as righteous in his generation. But what about todays generation? Noah’s ark has already been built, but is broken in pieces, and scattered underneath the snow and ice of Mount Ararat. Today’s generation has an ark too. Our Ark can only be entered in by faith…

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Our Ark was…

“…despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:3-12)

Our Ark is now seated at the right hand of the Father: He is the Lord Jesus Christ.

“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (1Thesselonians 4:13-18)

If you haven’t been invited into the only Ark that can save you from the coming flood of destruction, allow me to. Twice in Ezekiel 18, verses 4 and 20 tell us that “…the soul that sinneth, it shall die.”; we are all sinners…

“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one…” (Romans 3:10)

…And…

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God…” (Romans 3:23)

Romans 6:23 says…

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

But the Good News is in Romans 5:8…

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

And Jesus told us in John3:16-17…

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17)

God’s word makes salvation plain and simple…

“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” (1John 5:12-13)

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” (Romans 3:20)

If you call upon the Lord Jesus Christ to save you, He will. Isn’t it time to climb aboard the Ark by faith?

Peace.


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Sealed in: The Blessing of Eternal Security

Today’s Passage – Genesis 7 – 9 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Matthew 5 – 6; Proverbs 3 ; Psalms 11 – 15

Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Psalm 18:3 & 46

Read the “0103 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“15 And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life. 16 And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in.“ (Gen 7:15-16)

“30 … ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” (Eph 4:30)

The Judgment of the Flood

In our text today, we read that the ark, which took one hundred years to prepare, was finally finished and ready to provide safety for Noah, his family, and all the animals as the great judgment of water that God had promised was imminent. God had warned Noah a century before that He was going to destroy the earth through a worldwide flood because the wickedness of the earth had become so “great,” to the extent that God determined that he would destroy every air-breathing creature.

5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.” (Gen 6:5-7)

The Ark of Grace

God promised, however, to spare Noah and his family because “Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD” (Genesis 6:8), and Noah was “seen righteous” (Gen 7:1) by God, meaning that because he was a man of faith; because he believed God, God saw him as positionally righteous. His sin was removed and the righteousness of Christ was imputed to him. This is what happens to believers when they receive Christ. They become the children of God and receive the righteousness of God:

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” (Jhn 1:12)

“21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:” (Rom 3:21-22)

This same principle of faith-righteousness applied to Abraham centuries later:

“Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” (Gal 3:6)

The Sealed Door Providing Safety

Just as the rain was starting and after everyone had entered the ark, we are told that “the Lord shut [them] in.” It is interesting that the Scripture tells us that God was the one who sealed them within the ark. I am sure the ark was designed with water tight mechanisms that would have allowed Noah to close the door himself and keep the water out. Yet, it clearly states that God was the one who shut them in. Now, to be truthful, I am not sure how God did that, but I am sure that whatever seal God placed upon the door provided the needed protection against the rising water and also from the people who had initially refused Noah’s invitations and pleadings as a preacher of righteousness (2 Pe 2:5). As the water rose, I am sure that people were trying to figure out ways to get on board the ark.

The Pictures Provided of Salvation and Eternal Security

Though on the surface this passage is merely teaching that God provided safety and protection for Noah, his family, and all the animals so that they would one day be able to repopulate the earth, there is also some vivid pictures that we can see from it.

  • The Picture of Salvation

The door of the ark is a picture of salvation through Jesus Christ. Noah and his family had to choose to believe God, build the ark, and enter into it through the door. It was only inside the door that they would find safety. Jesus tells us that He is our door of salvation:

“7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (Jhn 10:7-10)

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (Jhn 14:6)

  • The Picture of Eternal Security

God shutting the door and sealing them in is a picture of eternal security. God sealed them into their place of safety:

“10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” (Pro 18:10)

“27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and my Father are one.” (Jhn 10:27-30)

“13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,“ (Ephesians 1:13)

“6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” (Phil 1:6)

Just as our salvation was a work of God’s Holy Spirit, apart from our own good works, our sanctification and eternal security are also works of God. We are completely secure in Christ. What a blessing it is to know beyond any doubt that there is a home awaiting me in Heaven and that my salvation is completely secure in Christ.

Have you entered through the Door—Jesus Christ? If you’re not yet sealed in Christ, trust Him today. Receive Him as your Savior—He promises eternal life.

Today, if you are trusting in Christ alone, rest in this truth: God has sealed you and nothing can separate you from His love:

“37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.“ (Rom 8:37-39)

Read previous posts from today’s passage:


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