Hello everyone. Praise the Lord!
Here is an article about the Ark and its importance from an unknown source.
 |
| Google Commons |
1. The Ark as a Symbol of Salvation
Noah’s Ark represents God’s provision for salvation during a time of judgment. Just as the Ark physically saved Noah and his family from the flood, it symbolically points to the ultimate salvation found in Christ.
• 1 Peter 3:20-21 explicitly connects the Ark to baptism and salvation: “In the days of Noah… eight persons were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you.”
• The Ark was one way of escape, just as Jesus is the only way to the Father (John 14:6). This highlights the exclusivity of God’s salvation plan through Christ.
 |
| Google Commons |
2. The Animals on the Ark Representing Gentiles
The inclusion of animals in the Ark is more than practical—it carries profound symbolic meaning. Let’s break this down:
A. Clean and Unclean Animals: Gentiles Foreshadowed
• Noah was commanded to bring clean animals in pairs of seven and unclean animals in pairs of two (Genesis 7:2-3).
• The distinction between clean and unclean animals (later detailed in Leviticus 11) signifies the separation between Israel (clean) and Gentile nations (unclean).
However, both clean and unclean animals entered the Ark, signifying that God’s plan for salvation was never limited to Israel but included the Gentiles:
• Isaiah 49:6: “I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”
• The unclean animals being preserved alongside the clean foreshadows the Gentiles being grafted into God’s covenant people through Christ (Romans 11:17-19).
B. A Global Picture of Salvation
The animals came “from all flesh” (Genesis 6:19), representing every tribe, tongue, and nation. This points to the global scope of God’s plan:
• Revelation 7:9 describes a multitude “from every nation, tribe, people, and language” standing before God’s throne, made possible through Christ.
The animals’ journey to the Ark mirrors the nations being drawn to Christ, the Ark of salvation.
 |
| Google Commons |
3. The Ark and Christ: A Foreshadowing
The Ark serves as a type of Christ in many ways, each detail pointing to His redemptive work.
A. One Door for Entry
The Ark had a single door (Genesis 6:16), through which all had to enter to be saved. This reflects Jesus’ declaration:
• John 10:9: “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved.”
• Just as there was one door to the Ark, there is only one way to salvation through Christ.
B. Covered with Pitch (Atonement)
The Ark was covered inside and out with pitch (Genesis 6:14). The Hebrew word for “pitch” (כָּפַר, kaphar) is the same word used for “atonement” in the Old Testament.
• This signifies that the Ark was a vessel of atonement, shielding its occupants from judgment, just as Christ’s sacrifice covers and protects believers from God’s wrath (Romans 5:9).
 |
| Google Commons |
4. The Ark as the Gathering of Nations
A. The Animals Represent All Nations
The animals coming from different regions of the earth to enter the Ark reflects the nations coming to Christ for salvation. This echoes the promise to Abraham:
• Genesis 12:3: “In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
B. The New Beginning: Unity in Christ
After the flood, Noah’s family and the animals emerged from the Ark to repopulate the earth. This points to the unity of all people in Christ:
• Ephesians 2:14-16: Christ has broken down the dividing wall, uniting Jews and Gentiles into one new humanity.
 |
| Google Commons |
5. Judgment and Mercy: A Message for All
The Ark reminds us of both God’s judgment and His mercy.
A. The Flood and the Cross
• The flood was a righteous judgment on a corrupt world (Genesis 6:5-7). Similarly, sin demands judgment (Romans 6:23).
• The Ark, like the cross, demonstrates God’s mercy, providing a way of escape for those who believe.
B. Inclusion in Salvation
The Ark’s inclusion of both clean and unclean animals highlights the Gospel’s power to save both Jew and Gentile:
• Romans 1:16: “The Gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Gentile.”
 |
| Google Commons |
6. Connections to the Scapegoat
Returning to the theme of Barabbas and Jesus, the Ark and the Day of Atonement rituals converge in the imagery of salvation:
• Barabbas (humanity’s sin) was set free, just as the unclean animals (Gentiles) were preserved in the Ark despite their unclean status.
• Jesus (the sacrificial Lamb) bore the penalty for sin, just as the clean animals foreshadowed the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
Conclusion: The Ark’s Symbolism Today
Noah’s Ark encapsulates the Gospel message. It reveals God’s heart for all humanity—Jews and Gentiles alike. Just as the Ark preserved life during the flood, Jesus is the ultimate Ark of salvation, drawing people from all nations into eternal life. The clean and unclean animals remind us that God’s plan was always to reconcile the world to Himself, uniting all in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:18-19).
This study deepens our understanding of how God’s redemptive plan is woven through the entirety of Scripture, culminating in the invitation to enter the Ark of Christ, where salvation is found for both Jew and Gentile.
 |
| Google Commons |
William James Roop
