Behind The Scenes – The Ark

Behind the scenes – The Ark Genesis 7:1-5 (HCSB)

Then the Lord said to Noah, “Enter the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you alone are righteous before Me in this generation. 2 You are to take with you seven pairs, a male and its female, of all the clean animals, and two of the animals that are not clean, a male and its female, 3 and seven pairs, male and female, of the birds of the sky—in order to keep offspring alive on the face of the whole earth. 4 Seven days from now I will make it rain on the earth 40 days and 40 nights, and I will wipe off from the face of the earth every living thing I have made.” 5 And Noah did everything that the Lord commanded him

• On Wednesday Pastor Matt preached about how we should be like Noah – not the worldly people 
• He spoke on how God had been watching Noah for a while; it wasn’t just a few interviews/good deeds and Noah was named the time magazine guy of the year
• God had commanded Noah to build an Ark, which he did for an estimated 120 years 
• Yet, God still tested him continually – Even before he enters the Ark, God says to him “I have seen that you alone are righteous – I have tested you, I have watched you, I have compared you to the rest of mankind, and you are indeed – righteous before me! 
•  Noah is commanded to have all his household, and some of the animals enter the Ark
• God is getting ready to destroy the earth with rain for 40 days and 40 nights
• The Bible confirms that Noah, yet again does everything that was commanded of him!

I titled my message “Behind the scenes- The Ark” because we often only see the final product of a movie, an event, a success, a challenging time, a victory e.t.c but rarely do we slow down enough to think or look at the details that made this happen 

• Tonight, I want to turn the camera (If I may) to three scenes and hopefully we can maybe see a few things that might bless us and speak into our lives 

Camera #1 Noah’s perspective 

• • Noah is very close to 600 years – Can we all agree that he has seen a lot of stuff 
  • I wonder at what point in the building process did Noah realize that he was going to do this whole building thing alone
  • The state of the world is not good at all 

• The Bible says: Genesis 6:11-12 (HCSB)- Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with wickedness.[a] 12 God saw how corrupt the earth was, for every creature had corrupted its way on the earth.

• • Noah had warned them of the coming  judgement 

•  2 Peter 2:5 (NLT) And God did not spare the ancient world—except for Noah and the seven others in his family. Noah warned the world of God’s righteous judgment. So God protected Noah when he destroyed the world of ungodly people with a vast flood

• • Now fast forward, Noah has completed building the Ark, and God is in the Ark 

• Genesis 7:1 (Nkjv)- Then the Lord said to Noah, “Come into the ark, you and all your household…

• • (Spurgeon) “Notice that the Lord did not say to Noah, ‘Go into the ark,’ but ‘Come,’ plainly implying that God was himself in the ark, waiting to receive Noah and his family into the big ship that was to be their place of refuge while all the other people on the face of the earth were drowned.” 
  • What a blessing for Noah! He built what the Lord called him to build, and God received it and invited him to be part of it
  • This is so important, because what a tragedy it would be to receive instruction, power, authority, gifts, and anointing for the work of the Lord—only to hear the words, “Sorry, I never knew you.” 

• Matthew 7:22–23 (Nkjv) Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

• • I pray that we don’t build things in the name of God, only to find ourselves not invited into the Ark
  • Noah rejoiced that he and his family were saved, there are blessings that come from obeying the Lord and remaining faithful
  • Yet he also grieved for the people, the rest of the world who ignored his warning. So many mixed emotions
  • He is amazed by the power of God, how He led specific animals to the ark and at the same time – heartbroken because of all the other animals that would perish because of man’s sin 

• Everything we do affect everything around us – remember, in Genesis 1:26 – 28 Man was put in charge of everything 

• Romans 8:19-21 (Nlt) For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. 20 Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, 21 the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay

• So, your devotion to the Lord or lack there for doesn’t just affect you!!

• Noah doesn’t put his guard down when he was Invited inside the Ark- Vs 5: And Noah did everything that the Lord commanded him

• He was a righteous man- That’s who he was, not what he did!

Camera #2 – God’s perspective

• The Bible says that man was exceedingly evil looking for new ways to sin –everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil – Genesis 6:5

• • I want you to take a minute – Turn that camera and just like the movies, – and do back about 1600+ years back to the fall of man in the garden of Eden 
  • Perfect place, man breaks Gods heart, Cain – kill his brother – breaking God’s heart- man continues to do evil- Yet God continues to cover him 
  • Over and over, God continues to provide a way to save man 
  • Come back to Genesis 7, God looked across the whole earth and couldn’t find anyone who loved Him, desired Him, or wanted to do His will except Noah
  • The magnitude of heart break is enormous 
  • This man, whom He loves so dearly, continually undermined his God-given purpose -There was no other recourse but to destroy him and everything he represented
  • He must start all over again – with Noah and his family 
  • The Bible tells us in 2 Peter 3:9 (NLT) that He is not slow in acting – He doesn’t want anyone to perish, He want everyone to repent 
  • He cries over us – weeps over our sins – want to rescue us – He is the same yesterday, today and forever -yet most of us don’t change either, we are not moved by this love!
  • He knows what He must do, because He is holy, and He will not condone sin
  • He looks over and yes, He knows that He must destroy mankind because of his own sin 
  • But He also had to destroy the animals and the plants, the very creation that, in the beginning of Genesis, He declared to be good
  • He has already chosen which animals will make it and which ones get destroyed 
  • In His wisdom He painfully calculated that it would take 40 days and 40 nights to Kill that which the enemy has tainted 
  • Take a minute and look at His Face, hear the silent cry of His heart – this was not the plan 

• Psalm 145:8–9 (NLT) The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.9 The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation

• • He doesn’t check out, but He see and hears the cry of each man, each plan, each animal as sin robs it of its future 
  • If you read Genesis 7:1-5 with God in mind – we see 
    • An excitement as He welcomes at least one person – there is at least one – I have seen that you alone are righteous before Me in this generation.
    • Intentionally thinking of every animal that will be saved —to keep offspring alive on the face of the whole earth.  

• And finally with a sorrowful broken heart he declares – vs 4: Seven days from now I will make it rain on the earth 40 days and 40 nights, and I will wipe off from the face of the earth every living thing I have made

• The Ark is a powerful story, one we paint pictures of, teach to children, and recognize as a symbol of salvation and yes, we should!
• However, let’s not forget that this was not God’s initial plan – this was a result of sin 
• And today the same is true – Man continues to find new ways to sin 
• God continues to provide an Ark for the people to save them 

Camera #3 -Human Perspective

• • It’s 2025 – and the Camera looks behind the scenes – over 2000 years ago 
  • Yes again, God full of mercy and love, finds a way to redeem man from sin 
  • This time round – the stakes are higher 

• Philippians 2:6–8 (NLT) – Though he was God,[a] he did not think of equality with God
  as something to cling to.7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges[b]; He took the humble position of a slave[c] and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form,[d]
  8 He humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross

• • He is very consistent in His love for us:

• But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us – Romans 5:8 (NKJV)

• • Current time: October 22, 2025- God still the same, Man still the same – The Ark looks different (CHURCH) – He is coming for the church
  • The blood of Jesus has secured a ticket for everyone who is willing – but only few choose Him 
  • God’s heart still broken by the people rebelliousness 
  • But there is hope, this time round – He is hoping for more than one family to be saved 
  • His word is true – he reminds us in: 

• Ezekiel 33:11 (NKJV) Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’

• Matthew 11:28 (NKJV) Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest

• The Camera is turned to your heart this evening – Tonight God is looking for anyone righteous – anyone who loves Him, obeys His commandment and awaits His return 

• What does the camera record?