The Seventh Sacrifice | Jentezen Franklin

Sunday, March 10

Introduction

Noah’s story involves not one, but two great and tragic floods. The world in Noah’s day was flooded with evil. 

Let’s begin by taking a few minutes to discuss Noah’s life and the example he set.

About Noah

Noah is the first person in the Bible to be called “righteous” (see Genesis 6:9). To say that Noah was righteous and blameless does not mean that he never sinned. Rather, it means that he wholeheartedly loved and obeyed God. For a lifetime, Noah walked step-by-step in faith as a living example to future generations. Noah, requiring no physical evidence of what was coming, simply trusted God and obeyed in the face of scorn and ridicule.

Noah’s obedience was characterized by unwavering commitment to a long-term project, and courageously proclaiming an unpopular message, one of impending judgment.

In our own lives, we often struggle to maintain dedication to any endeavor, whether divinely directed or not. Noah’s obedience spanned a lifetime longer than what most people experience today. Perhaps Noah’s legacy challenges us to embrace God’s grace and live out a lifetime marked by both obedience and gratitude. 

• What are some of your specific tasks or commitments that you have on a weekly basis, and how serious do you take those commitments?

• Considering Noah's life and actions, how can we apply his example of obedience and faithfulness to God in our modern-day challenges and callings?

Building the Ark | Focus on Your Part

During the construction of the ark, Genesis 6:20 illustrates that creation, like Noah, followed God’s instructions precisely.

Genesis 6:20 NIV

Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive.

God meticulously handled that gathering the animals while Noah faithfully focused on constructing the ark.

Interestingly, we often find ourselves doing the opposite of Noah. We worry about details beyond our control, all the while neglecting areas—such as our attitudes, relationships, and responsibilities—that are within our grasp.

• Reflecting on Genesis 6:20, how can we better focus on the responsibilities and tasks God has given us, rather than worrying about factors beyond our control? Share an example from your life.

• In what areas of your life do you need to practice more obedience or focus more on the tasks God has set before you? Share your thoughts and any steps you plan to take moving forward.

Taking a cue from Noah, let’s concentrate on the tasks God has entrusted to us and entrust the rest to Him. 

Boarding the Ark | God’s Specific Instructions

After faithfully constructing the ark according to God’s precise instructions, Noah receives the command to set sail. His task now involves gathering seven pairs of all clean animals and a single pair of the unclean ones. By distinguishing certain animals as “clean,” Noah acknowledges God’s supreme authority in determining how His creatures should be utilized. 

Genesis 7:1-9 NIV

1 “The Lord then said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation. 2 Take with you seven pairs of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate, and one pair of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate, 3 and also seven pairs of every kind of bird, male and female, to keep their various kinds alive throughout the earth. 4 Seven days from now I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and I will wipe from the face of the earth every living creature I have made.”

5 And Noah did all that the Lord commanded him.

6 Noah was six hundred years old when the floodwaters came on the earth. 7 And Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives entered the ark to escape the waters of the flood. 8 Pairs of clean and unclean animals, of birds and of all creatures that move along the ground, 9 male and female, came to Noah and entered the ark, as God had commanded Noah.”

• Obeying the dietary laws observed in the Old Testament were a sign of devotion to God. Are there modern equivalents that serve to distinguish God's people?

• With the distinctions between clean and unclean no longer defining God's people, what does this say about the universal offer of salvation and the breaking down of barriers between different groups of people?

Just as the seventh animal was set apart for sacrifice, Jesus was set apart to be the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of the world.

Leaving the Ark | The Patience Test

At times, Noah would release a bird as a test to gauge whether the earth had dried up. However, Noah remained steadfast inside the ark until God specifically instructed him to leave. His patience was remarkable, considering he had spent an entire year confined within the vessel.

Genesis 8:11-12 NIV

“When the dove returned to him in the evening, there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf! Then Noah knew that the water had receded from the earth. He waited seven more days and sent the dove out again, but this time it did not return to him.” 

On the dove’s second flight, it brought back an olive leaf—a sign of new life and a hopeful indication that the land was becoming habitable again. When the dove didn’t return, it signaled that the earth had dried up. 

•  Noah’s decision to wait for God’s command before leaving the ark demonstrates a deep trust in God’s timing. Can you share a time when you had to trust in God's timing, even when you felt it was time to move ahead?

• The olive leaf brought back by the dove symbolizes new beginnings and hope. Discuss a moment in your life when you received a "sign of hope" during a difficult period. How did it affect your outlook on the situation?

We can learn from Noah’s example and trust God to give us patience during challenging seasons when waiting becomes necessary. 

Jesus | A Symbol of the Ark

The Ark itself serves as a metaphor for salvation and divine protection. Just as Noah and his family were saved through the Ark, humanity is offered salvation through Jesus Christ. 

Nowadays, we look to something far greater than the Ark—Jesus Christ Himself! He declared, "I am the door. Whoever comes in through me will be rescued" (John 10:9).

• In what ways have you experienced Jesus as your 'Ark' or safe haven in times of trouble?

• Expanding the Metaphor: In addition to being a door, what are other metaphors used in the Bible to describe Jesus, and how do they each contribute to our understanding of His role in our lives? (Examples: light in the darkness)

Jesus is not only our ultimate refuge, but he had a pivotal role in connecting and fulfilling the Old and New Covenant rites of purification and sacrifice.

Back in the Old Testament days, if you were getting over a skin disease, you had to go through a whole ritual with a priest at the Tabernacle, including some sacrifices, to be declared ceremonially clean. 

Leviticus 14:7 NIV

Seven times he shall sprinkle the one to be cleansed of the defiling disease, and then pronounce them clean. After that, he is to release the live bird in the open fields.

In the New Testament, and we see Jesus healing a guy with leprosy. Then, sticking with tradition, he tells the guy to go show himself to the priest and make the required offering. This act underscores Jesus's role as a bridge between the Old and New Covenants, observing Old Covenant laws as a rabbi, while also demonstrating his divine authority to heal as the Son of God. Furthermore, it highlights Jesus's position as the new High Priest, offering a way to cleanse us from sin and its deadly touch, which goes way beyond the skin-deep fixes of the past.

Jesus, being without sin, is the perfect sacrifice, fulfilling and transcending the Old Testament sacrificial system!

Application

Finally, recognizing Jesus as our Ark invites us to find refuge and salvation in Him. He is our safe haven in times of trouble and the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises for redemption and salvation.

Closing

Through each phase, Noah's life exemplifies a deep commitment to God's commands and an unshakeable trust in His promises. Noah's legacy is a powerful testament to the importance of faithfulness, patience, and obedience in our walk with God. His story not only serves as a historical account but also as a metaphor for salvation, symbolizing the refuge and deliverance that is found in Jesus Christ. The salvation of Noah’s family through the Ark mirrors the spiritual salvation offered to humanity through Jesus, the ultimate Ark and sacrifice for our sins.

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