Origins: The Beginning (Genesis 1–11)Sample

By Danny Saavedra

“Then God said to Noah, ‘Come out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and their wives. Bring out every kind of living creature that is with you—the birds, the animals, and all the creatures that move along the ground—so they can multiply on the earth and be fruitful and increase in number on it.’ So Noah came out, together with his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives. All the animals and all the creatures that move along the ground and all the birds—everything that moves on land—came out of the ark, one kind after another.” Genesis 8:15–19 (NIV)

One of my favorite animated Disney classics is Aladdin. This movie has it all . . . a great villain, the unparalleled, masterful voice acting of Robin Williams, and of course amazing music. Of all the iconic songs in the Disney pantheon, I’d say “A Whole New World” may just take the top prize. 

As I read this passage today, I’m reminded of that song; not because Noah and his family took a magic boat ride, but because when the waters on the earth subsided, the ark opened up to a whole new world. 

After the flood had passed, the doors opened and Noah and his family entered into a completely different world than the one they left behind when they entered the ark. They were the only people left on the planet! Their way of life was gone, their home was gone, their neighbors were gone, their diets had to change. For all intents and purposes, Noah and his family were completely starting over. 

I can’t imagine what it must have been like to step outside of the ark after those many months. What will I be walking out to? What will the world be like now? How will we survive? As crazy as it sounds, I think I would have been more hesitant to step outside than to enter the ark. But here’s the thing; God was in control before the flood and during the flood. He kept them safe, He kept His promises. And if He was able to carry them through the end of the world as they knew it, He’d certainly be with them in this whole new world. 

When we receive Jesus, we enter a whole new world. We’ve left our old life behind and have come out into the other side renewed, refreshed, and cleansed from the curse of sin. In 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV), Paul says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 

God has saved you through Jesus, the ark of our salvation, and now He’s saying “Come out of the ark; multiply on the earth and be fruitful and increase in number on it.” Enter into this whole new world as His child and be consumed by the living water of Christ, so that it may become “a spring of water welling up to eternal life" (John 4:14 NIV), a spring that overflows and floods into the lives of others. Don’t hesitate, don’t be scared, take the step of faith and experience the daily fullness of new life in Christ. 

DIG: How do you think Noah and his family felt stepping out of the ark?

DISCOVER: What awaited them? What was God’s command to them?

DO: Ask the Lord to show you someone you can share the gospel with, someone you can help enter the ark of salvation, and then guide as they step out into the new world of faith.