Noah's Ark

We often reduce the story of Noah's Ark to children's books and Hollywood movies. However, the details of the ark are amazing, and show God's mercy in preserving Noah's family to sustain humankind. Genesis 6:14 says that God told Noah to "make the boat 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high." The ratio of 450 x 75, or 6 to 1, "is the most stable known and is used for the design of modern tankers and freight-hauling ships" (NLT insert). The ark was built for survival, and the Hebrew word for the ark, "tebah, is used again only of the basket in which the baby Moses was floated on the Nile" (NLT insert). It's also amazing to me that God brought to Noah "pairs of every kind of bird, and every kind of animal, and every kind of small animal that scurries along the ground" (v. 20) to preserve his creation. I just find these little nuggets about the ark fascinating.

After the flood was over, "Noah built an altar to the Lord, and there he sacrificed as burnt offerings the animals and birds that had been approved for that purpose. And the Lord was pleased with the aroma of the sacrifice" (8:20,21) What is so incredible about this sacrifice is that we can do the same thing today, not by offering animals and birds, but by offering prayers, praise, and thanksgiving to God. "What's more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God" (1 Peter 2:5). Let us follow Noah's example and daily offer these spiritual sacrifices to God.

The Blind Beggar and the Rich Tax Collector

In Luke 18:35 - 19:9, Jesus shows that his mercy is freely given to all people, despite their economic or social status. On one end of the spectrum, "a blind beggar was sitting beside the road" (v. 36). This beggar was desperate. He shouted for Jesus to have mercy on him, and as the crowds tried to hush him, he only shouted louder. I love Jesus' response. "What do you want me to do for you?" (v. 41). I probably would have asked the beggar how I could pray for him, or just simply ignored him and moved on. That question Jesus asked needs to happen more in my life. The beggar says "Lord, I want to see!" You can sense the desperation mixed with excitement, knowing that he is finally in front of the One who can change his sight and, therefore, change his life. Jesus grants his request, and the man who finally had sight "followed Jesus, praising God. And all who saw it praised God, too" v. 43.

On the other end of the spectrum, "there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich" (19:2). He, too, was desperate. So desperate, that he climbed a fig tree just to see Jesus passing by. When Jesus joined Zacchaeus in his home later that day, Zacchaeus showed true repentance. Instead of asking for something that he didn't have, he wanted to give away the wealth that tax collectors coveted. "I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!" (v. 8).

I think it is neat the way Luke describes these two encounters back to back. Two men in two totally different situations, at least on the outside. On the inside, both were lost, and "the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost" (v. 10). So many times, I view the needy and the wealthy in different lights, when in reality I need to view them in the same light. When it comes down to it, we are all in need of a Savior.