That Tiny Ark (Bulletin Article for February 26)

How often have you looked at a painting or drawing of the ark built by Noah and thought, “that thing was huge”? Compared to most sea-going vessels with which we are familiar, the ark was a very large structure. For its day it was simply colossal! Nothing of its size had ever been seen in the ship-building world and, in fact, nothing its size would be seen again until the 1800s AD.

However, take that huge vessel and place it on the Arctic Ocean, the smallest of the four oceans in our modern world. How big does it look now? Place that same massive “floating zoo” on the Pacific Ocean. How large is it compared to the countless gallons of water?

Now, place that same ark on an entire globe covered with water. No land is showing anywhere and, in fact, nothing else is probably seen. Does that not change the perspective just a bit? Yes, the ark was huge, but compared to the water-covered earth, it was the smallest thing one can imagine.

The ark is rightly described as a picture or “type” of the church. It was God’s place of safety and salvation for Noah and his family. There are dozens of parallels that have been drawn between the ark and the church of the New Testament. Phillip Box lists these, among others, in his chapter, “Are You in the Ark,” in the book, Gems from Genesis:

• There was a design to the ark, and there is a design for the church.
• There is only one door to each.
• Each provided safety.
• Each had a faithful builder (Matthew 16:18).
• Only one family was saved in the ark, and only the family of God will be saved in the church (Ephesians 3:15).
• Man’s every need was met in the ark, and man’s deepest needs are met in the church.
• Sure destruction met those who were outside.
• To be safe, Noah and his family had to stay in the ark, and we must stay in the Church.

Add to these great lessons this thought: The church is grand, great, and important. It has changed the world and continues to do so. However, compared to the world of sin and destruction, it is ever so small. The “place of safety” has plenty of room, but so few are inside. Thanks be to God, the door has not yet been shut, but it will be one day.

To ask a question brother Box asks repeatedly in his chapter: “Are you in the ark?”