God saves people using an ‘ark’

In the famous flood narrative from Genesis 6-8, God instructs Noah to build an ‘ark’. Many of us are so used to that word that we don’t realise it is an odd choice to label the giant boat. There are several words for ‘boat’ that God could have used to describe this vessel, but he chose the word ‘ark’. Why?

First of all, we should note that this is not the same Hebrew word used for the ark of the covenant, the golden box at the centre of worship in the temple. It is the same in English, but it is not the same word used for Noah’s boat.

The word itself usually means ‘chest’ or ‘storage container’. The emphasis is on keeping what is inside it safe. Calling this an ark means that the focus is not on the speed the boat can move or its ability to manoeuvre. We are supposed to read the word and realise that the ark was designed to keep its precious cargo safe.

There is one other occasion that this word is used to describe something that floats in the Bible. It is the same word used to describe the basket that Moses’ mother placed him in to keep him safe in Egypt. Moses was drawn out of the water by Pharaoh’s daughter and was rescued.

God works in the world to save his people. The examples of Noah and Moses are dramatic ones, to be sure. Both situations saw God’s people in immediate peril, and the ark in both cases brought them to safety. Yet the same principle is true of Christians. God doesn’t promise to remove us from the perils we face. God will rescue his people in the end. Whatever oppression from governments, struggles with sin, or elements of God’s judgement we might face, those who trust in Jesus are God’s precious cargo that will be saved in the end. And like with Noah’s ark, the way we are saved is entirely God’s work and not our cleverness. We cannot survive God’s judgement if it is up to our wisdom or religion or hard work. God designed the way of salvation; Jesus did what we could not; and we can then be confident that we will make it safely home.