If I were to ask you about one story in the Bible - well-known by children and adults alike - which would it be? I'm guessing that many of you would say Noah's Ark. We find the story of
Noah and the flood in Genesis chapters 6-9 and most of us know it well.
A quick précis: God saw the wickedness of man and wanted to destroy the earth - Genesis 6:6: “The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth and his heart was deeply troubled." But God had seen Noah's faithfulness. He gave Noah instructions to build a boat, to save his family and two of each kind of animal. The rains and the floods came, everything was destroyed. The floods receded and Noah and everyone on the Ark was safe. God blessed Noah and his family and put a rainbow in the sky as a promise to never destroy the earth in a flood again.
So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.” (Genesis 9:17). But let's go back to the beginning of that story for a moment, to Genesis 6, when God gives Noah instructions on how to build the boat. You can imagine Noah sitting over the architectural drawings with a pencil tucked behind his ear and a tape measure round his neck. God gave precise dimensions, the type of wood to use, instructions on how to keep it water-tight, how many levels it should have, how to build the roof and where to put the doors. Noah, in his faithfulness, built it exactly to God's instructions - Genesis 6:22. He got all the animals and his family on board and then God shut them in - Genesis 7:16.
With the rains pouring all around them, with the cacophony of noise that there must have been, in the weariness of all his work, I wonder what Noah thought as God closed that door? Because for all the detail in God's plans for that boat, which Noah followed precisely, one crucial element was missing - how would they steer? There was no steering wheel or rudder, no sail, and certainly no engine. He would have no way to avoid trees, rocks or mountains as the waters rose. He couldn't turn into the waves to stop the boat tipping over. But this boat wasn't designed to be steered by human hands. It was designed to be a vessel of salvation, commanded by holy hands.
When our lives feel like we are in choppy waters, when we are facing the storms that come our way, how often do we feel as though we are out of control? We may be desperately trying to steer our lives in one direction only to feel it all pushed the opposite way. These are the times that we need to follow Noah's lead. Let go of trying to steer your own ship and trust God.
God is our Captain. He knows our route. He knows our destination. He will get us there safely.
As we move through Lent and look towards Easter, we are again reminded of Jesus's trials in the wilderness, his crucifixion and resurrection.
As we reflect on God's salvation plan for each of us I pray that, as you face life's trials, you will put your trust in our Saviour Jesus, and choose to appoint him captain of your life.
Nigel