The story of Noah… and it may be the greatest representation in the Bible besides Jesus’ personal ministry in the N.T.

Noah and his relationship with God garner’s a lot of attention (rightfully so) but I believe we’ll find more than Noah.

If you ask a child to describe/draw out the story of Noah, what’s the one thing you’ll get from them? (Ark)

The Ark is the main subject in the story of Noah, and we’ll that the Ark is a clear picture of Jesus!

And then will close with seeing why Jesus can be disappointed (don’t be discouraged by that, just hold till the end).

Let’s define the only purpose of the Ark… “To save Noah and his family from the wrath of God because of sin!”

That definition alone paints a clear picture right from the start. (Jesus is our Saviour from the wrath of God!)

It’s because of this one act (Jesus’ sacrifice) that allows us access the love of God without the justice of God’s wrath.

The story of Noah gets so much better for us (Gen 6:14).

Gopherwood is (cypress wood) and will not rot… and “pitch” is tar… but this is what is interesting is the word “Pitch.”

This is powerful… the H/W (kā-p̄ar) for “pitch” is only translated ‘TAR” in (Gen 6)!

The H/W (kā-p̄ar), occurs 103 times in 94 verses in the O.T. (Gen – Dan) it’s translated “ATONEMENT”!

The water was God’s judgment/wrath… and not one drop of water could come through the Ark!

Meaning Jesus Christ is the Atonement for our sins, which carried the death penalty for justice to be had!

And because of the (kā-p̄ar) “pitch” no judgement can be placed on us.

(2 Cor 5:21) "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

Ever notice that when God gave Noah the ‘detailed” instructions for the Ark… that God never designed a rudder!

Meaning… God gave Noah “No Control” – man had been living by their own control for 1,600 yrs. to this point…

God said you’re not going to, nor ever will, be able to steer your on way out of your sin!

When we accept Jesus, we’re to hand over complete and total control to the One who saved us from our deserved wrath.

Noah and his family surrendered completely to God’s will and Jesus’ “Atonement” for their situation / sin.

This worked for Noah because he had to be, and was, fully convenience that God’s plan was perfect and that he wasn’t!

The exact same goes for you and me… but are we fully convenience God’s plan is perfect even beyond our atonement?

Or do we spend countless energy/effort in trying to build “RUDDER” for our situations in life!

One last point in Noah’s testimony… consider the “Door” of the Ark – God directed Noah to build only “One” door!

Boldly showing us that by way of God’s mercy & grace and the Atonement given in Jesus… There’s only “ONE” way to enter God’s Atonement and that’s through Jesus Christ… He is the door (Rev 3:20)!

For “40 yrs.” others heard of & saw the Ark yet to their death, physically & spiritually, they refused it.

Not only was there only “One” door, but it was also God who closed it… and that “Door” will close on all 1 of 2 ways!

Noah/man had/has no effort other than testifying and that’s what Noah and his sons did for those “40 yrs.” was build their testimony one piece of gopherwood at a time for others to see!

CLOSE… with Jesus being disappointed in us… FIRST off, He’s NEVER disappointed is us! (2 Tim 2:13)

I don’t know who needs this, but I feel someone does this morning… That Jesus isn’t disappointed in you or with you!

We can find ourselves feeling we’ve messed up too much/many times… feel trapped in a sin that you can’t overcome.

You want to pray; you want fellowship with Jesus… you want fellowship, but you feel so far from Him.

Satan perpetrates thoughts of unworthiness and shame that just adds to your struggle… Jesus isn’t disappointed, never!

He’s discouraged that you’re discouraged and desires fellowship with you more than you do with Him.

You may be saying that all sounds good, but I’ve made promises and appointments with Jesus I never kept!

Consider the fact, that if you’ve missed an appointment or broke a promise with Jesus… is that new to Him?

(Isa 46:10) Does He not know the beginning from the end? - When you realized what you’ve done – Jesus already knew you were going to do it! (Jesus already knows the next appointment/promise you’re going to miss.)

Jesus isn’t mad or disappointed in you… (Rom 8:1) there’s no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus!

If you got on the “ARK” there’s no wrath, death, judgement… only ATONEMENT (your sentence has been commuted. (what you’ve been charged with has been expunged.) – what you’re left with and choose to hold to is:

Arrogance, Pride of Self- (it isn’t about you, it’s about Him who died for you – don’t let pride of self-unforgiveness break your fellowship).

Unlike Noah, you’re making your story about you and instead letting it be HISTORY and making it about HIS-story!

You’re not the main character, you’re a supporting role that points out the main character – JESUS CHRIST our Ark!

God told Joshua over & over don’t be discouraged...

Josh 1:9; 2 Cor 4:8-9:16a

Wed. we talked about (1 Pt 1:3) and having a lively hope - G/W for “hope” is (elpis), means “confident expectation.”

Everything God is doing in you & through you right now is in perfect preparation for the promised future that only He can see!

When our story becomes history, that’s when our story becomes
HIS-story!

(don’t make it about you, Noah didn’t)