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The Ark was one of our early designs and the original was very simple and made it’s appearance before any of our “Not a pair of Holy Socks” designs.
“the ark came to rest upon the mountains of Ararat.” Genesis 8, 4
A Story from the Ark.
I think a lot. Well, there's not much else to do here in the mountains of Ararat. I've been here for a long time. Do you know what I think about?
I'll tell you. A lot of the time, I think about when I was built.
Now, Noah built me, but Noah built me, not to his own plan, but to God's plan. Noah built me on specific instructions from God. Being built is quite an experience. I was a heap of wood before Noah began constructing and shaping me. There is great potential in a heap of wood, but I would have remained just a heap of wood if Noah hadn't set to work. Who set Noah to work? God.
Well to be built is one thing, but to be built on the instructions, and under the guidance of God, that is quite another.
“And Noah did all that God commanded him.”
There aren't many that can be said about, but Noah did it perfectly, following the instructions to the letter. Now, that's not easy – well, at least I wouldn't think so. I mean, to start with, how did Noah know it was God speaking to him and how did he ignore all those people around him who told him that he was stupid, even mad to built me? There was no rain, not even a storm cloud in the sky when he began. What would have happened if Noah had paid attention to them and ignored God? There are plenty of people who do. I think Noah trusted God very much.
And what did Noah learn while he was building me? He certainly learned about carpentry and
boat building, but I expect he learned a lot about God too and a lot about himself, which can be painful – almost as painful as it was for me to be built.
Oh the finished product – me, The Ark - is beautiful and I was perfect for the purpose I was made, but being shaped and moulded was painful at times and I couldn't cry out like you can. I'm not complaining you understand, just telling you the way it was.
Don’t let that put you off allowing God to build you - or rebuild you in your case. It’s also exciting, revealing, adventurous, funny and involves some moments of utter peace.
Now I rest. My job is done and the animals and humans have all gone. Such a precious cargo I carried and protected from the rain. No wonder God gave such amazing instructions to Noah. The animals weren't so bad, but the humans could be a bit grumpy at times. Yet God went to such a lot of trouble to take care of them.
People talk a lot about me. Wonder about me. Some even think I don't, and never did exist. Others spend a great part of their lives trying to find me and prove I was real and not just a story. Children sing about me – grown ups too. I'm shown on jigsaws and am built all over again – and again. Oh, the fun of it all. I find it rather satisfying.
Of course I was at the start of a long line of rescue missions. That's even more satisfying. There was Moses who rescued the Israelites from Egypt, and the whale who rescued Jonah, and of course, the greatest rescue mission of all – Jesus, who came to rescue every single one of us – not just a few. Well, the God I know would WANT to rescue ALL people.
Now that I think about it, wood was involved in that rescue mission too.