COME...

… INTO THE ARK …

“The Lord said to Noah, ‘Come into the ark, you and all your household,’” –Genesis 7:1a, NET

Most translations use “go” or “enter” in the beginning of this verse, while the NET and the KJV use the invitational “come.” I think this the better reading, not merely because of preferred semantics, but from the profound treasure found in further study.

Consider first that we are indeed commanded to “go,” (Isa 6:9; Mat 28:19; Mark 16:15) (and thus should be willing to be sent, see Isa 6:8; John 20:21). It is also imperative that we make every effort to “enter” the rest for which God reserves for His people (Heb 4:10-11).

But the way to Salvation is TOWARD the very One coming against us. We are not sent out FROM the bringer of judgment, but called TO Him for shelter (Acts 4:12). The bringer of the flood is the ONLY ONE who can deliver us from it (Gen 6:17-18). The same God that sends the storms, is able to calm them (Psa 107:23-32; Mark 4:41). The voice that thunders from the heavens (Job 37:2-4; Psa 18:13) both brings the storm of destruction and bids believers to meet Him in peace and surrender before He arrives (Mat 25:6; 1Th 4:16-17).

See this picture clearly. He is holy (Isa 6:3). We are not (Isa 6:5). Impure men cannot even look upon His divine face and live (Exo 33:20). So when sinful men witness His tremendous power, they draw back in terror (Exo 20:18; Rev 6:16-17).

But God in His compassion keeps His distance so that we will not be destroyed (Exo 19:21; 33:5)—yet. He merely exhibits but a taste of His power to humble our hearts and keep us from sin (i.e. rebelling and making Him our enemy), thus keeping us alive (Pro 14:27).

“Moses said to the people, ‘Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you so that you do not sin.’ The people kept their distance, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was.” –Exodus 20:20-21, NET

Just as it would not do to clamber aboard any old boat and call it an “ark,” we cannot trust upon any god we fashion in the mind. In order to truly be saved, we must know WHO to come to for deliverance.

“Moses said to God, ‘If I go to the Israelites and tell them, “The God of your fathers has sent me to you,” and they ask me, “What is his name?”—what should I say to them?’ God said to Moses, I AM that I AM. You must say this to the Israelites, “I AM has sent me to you.”’” –Exodus 3:13-14, NET

 

… AND TAKE SHELTER …

“I will say to the Lord, My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.
For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.
A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
You will tread on the lion and the adder;
the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.”
–Psalm 91:2-7,13, ESV

At first reading this psalm appears to be saying that God will protect His people from all the powers of darkness. As we see in Crowder’s “Showdown” music video, Jesus is coming to deliver His people from death and Satan. To some degree this is true. But I believe verse 8 completely changes the paradigm and disrupts such assumptions.

“You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.” –Psalm 91:8, ESV

Who ultimately is responsible for the trap (Isa 42:21-25; Jer 50:24)?

“For you, O God, tested us;
you purified us like refined silver.
You led us into a trap;
you caused us to suffer.”
–Psalm 66:11-11

Who is it that brings plague and pestilence (Exo 9:14; Rev 6:7-8)?

“His brightness will be as lightning;
a two-pronged lightning bolt flashing from his hand.
This is the outward display of his power.
Plague will go before him;
pestilence will march right behind him.”
–Habakkuk 3:4-5

Who is it that sends “terrors” to warn (Job 33:16) and “arrows” to judge (2Ch 18:33)?

“If a person does not repent, God will wield his sword.
He has prepared to shoot his bow.
He has prepared deadly weapons to use against him;
he gets ready to shoot flaming arrows.”
–Psalm 7:12-13

And before whom do men fall (Num 14:32; Psa 20:7-8)?

“As for the ones who remain among you, I will bring despair into their hearts in the lands of their enemies. The sound of a blowing leaf will pursue them, and they will flee as one who flees the sword and will fall down even though there is no pursuer.” –Leviticus 26:36

Who sends the lion (1Ki 13:21-24) and who made and dispatched the serpent (Gen 3:1; 2Ch 18:19-21)?

“So the Lord sent venomous snakes among the people, and they bit the people; many people of Israel died.” –Numbers 21:6

It is the LORD. This is about the Day of Judgment. And GOD is the one who is marching out against His corrupt creation.

… FROM THE JUDGMENT OF THE WORLD …

“Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, ‘Come out of her, my people, so you will not take part in her sins and so you will not receive her plagues,’” –Revelation 18:4

Yet how often do we blame the devil for our troubles, as if the adversary is the yin to Jesus’ yang? There is not some ridiculous cosmic arm-wrestling tournament over the world (see internet meme). The Lord needs only a finger to devastate kingdoms (Exo 11:20; Luke 11:20), and needs only to move within the vicinity for a whole army of demons to fall to the ground in terror (Mark 5:6-9). All the powers of darkness tremble before Him (Jam 2:19).

This is not to say that the devil should be ignored, for we must not be ignorant of his strategies (2Co 2:11). Like Balaam, he seeks our destruction for his own profit (2Pe 2:15). Yet also like Balaam, he is powerless to curse those God has blessed (Num 24:13; Job 1:10). His only power is to tempt us to do his will (2Ti 2:26), therefore bringing God’s wrath upon ourselves (Jam 1:14-15; 1Jo 3:8)—just as Balaam did Israel (Rev 2:14).

So Satan may rule for a time (Eph 2:2, 6:12), as God also gives mortal men temporary earthly thrones (Rom 13:1). But the King of kings (1Ti 6:13-15) has ALL authority (Mat 28:18). So notice that the Devil does not reign over hell, as if it were his personal torture chamber. God rules over this destination of torment (Rev 14:10-11) and will throw the Adversary in it in the end (Rev 20:10).

But know that there is no neutral fence. The devil is the ruler of this world (John 16:11), so all those within it are God’s enemies. So to come aboard God’s ark, we must also “come” out from the world and leave it behind (Luke 14:26,33).

 

… IN FULL SURRENDER 

Thus, the Devil is not our problem. God is.

“But I will warn you whom you should fear: Fear the one who, after the killing, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!” –Luke 12:5, NET

Think on that. Fear HIM, for the God in heaven does as He pleases (Psa 115:3). It is the sovereign LORD who is responsible for “both calamity and blessing” (Lam 3:38). He is the one who has designed both times of prosperity AND times of adversity for a purpose (Ecc 7:14). Thus, we must be willing to accept both good and bad from the Lord (Job 2:10).

“See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.” –Deuteronomy 32:39, ESV 

Consider this: if you feel forces coming against you, know that it is not “the devil keeping you down.” It is the LORD who is using the “cords of affliction” to reveal to us that we are “behaving proudly” (Job 36:8-10). For if we submit ourselves to God and resist the devil, not only will our enemy flee, but God draws near in kindness (Jam 4:7-8).

“It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” –Hebrews 10:31, NET

If you do not know God (2Th 1:8), there is no escaping His wrath (Isa 13:6). You are His enemy (Rom 5:10). Yet He is a compassionate and kind God who desires that sinners live (Eze 18:23). So He comes with an outstretched arm of mercy (Eph 2:4-5). As long as you draw breath, the door to His ark remains open. But do not delay, you do not know if He will spare you another day (Jam 4:14).

So let us comply to the call to “come” into the dark hull of God’s ark—the inner sanctuary of His presence (1Ki 8:6)—and take refuge in this great and good God (Psa 34:8). Run to the ark of your enemy in full surrender for salvation (Jer 21:9). There is no other way (John 14:6).

“Please obey the Lord by doing what I have been telling you [and surrender]. Then all will go well with you, and your life will be spared.” –Jeremiah 38:20b, NET