Genesis 7:15 -16 (ESV) – They went into the ark with Noah, two and two of all flesh in which there was the breath of life. And those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him. And the Lord shut him in.

Have you ever been stuck in a situation where you couldn’t go anywhere? My late son, Kaleb, and I were stuck at the top of a giant Ferris wheel once. We were on vacation and rode the double Ferris wheel. The thing broke while we were at the highest level you can be. Neither of us were scared, but we were trapped. We couldn’t go anywhere.

This idea is the subject of our passage today. Rather than seeing being stuck or trapped as a bad thing, we need to understand situations where it is a great thing. Noah and his family are “stuck” and “trapped” on the ark. But this is the greatest place they can be on earth. We read, “They went into the ark with Noah, two and two of all flesh in which there was the breath of life. 16 And those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him. And the Lord shut him in.”

The rains came and Noah's family and the creatures of the earth were in the ark. But notice the ending statement: And the Lord shut him in. The Lord closed the ark's door, saving and protecting those in it. 

This image of the ark being the instrument of God's salvation and shutting them in as judgment rained down is a picture of the gospel. The ark is a picture of Jesus. For those found in Christ are rescued from the wrath and judgment of God against sin. Though we are not innocent; we are protected within His care. We are shut in, protected by God's keeping grace. What a story! What a picture of grace to the undeserved. If you are in Christ today, you are counted among those on the ark of God's salvation, rescued from the flood of wrath coming against sinners. 

The great news available to sinners this morning is this: though the judgment of God is coming for sinners, an ark of God's grace has been provided for you in Christ. Come to Him. Call upon Him. Step onto the ark by putting your faith in Jesus.

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Reflection & Journal:
- Why is the story of Noah and the Flood so jarring for many people in the world today?
- What is significant about Noah and his family being “shut in” to the ark? How is this connected to salvation in Christ?
- How should we view God’s keeping and saving power in light of this story?

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