Alvin and the Chipmunks and Genesis 8 - 11

Genesis 8 – 11:

Did you ever spend any time imagining what it must have been like to spend more than a year on the ark? For example, think about the smells:

• Animals and birds produce a tremendous amount of waste;
• The ark was waterproofed with tar – an unpleasant smell all by itself;
• There were eight adults who probably did not spend a lot of time bathing
• There was one window in the ark and an 18-inch tall opening that went all around the ark below the roof, but what would have circulated the air throughout the ark?

Granted, the boat was 450 feet long (about the size of length of 4 ½ football fields), 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. Still, I don’t think it was probably the most pleasant-smelling place to spend. And, I don’t know about you, but imagine being confined the same seven other people day after day after day.

Of course, being in the ark was better than drowning. Think how you have felt going into the boat having to leave friends and family outside. Oh yes, there had to be some close family members that were left, but by their choice. Noah preached to these people – do you suppose he felt like a failure some times?

Do you suppose any of the ark’s occupants suffered from sea sickness? There was no rudder to direct the boat and no modern equipment to lessen the effects of what must have been some rough seas – after all, the windows of heaven were opened and the fountains of the deep spewed forth water. It was 150 days from when they entered the ark until it came to rest on Mt. Ararat. It is apparent that these folks didn’t have any idea how long their boat ride would take.

Did you notice what Noah waited until the Lord told him to leave the ark, even though he could tell the ground was drying up?

What was the first thing Noah did after leaving the ark? (I would probably have kissed the ground.) He built an altar and offered sacrifices to the Lord of the animals approved for that purpose, i.e., the clean animals. Then God, pleased by the sacrifice, promised He would never again destroy all living things. God gave a sign of that covenant – the rainbow. Did you ever wonder if everything seemed black and white before that?

The animals and birds saved by the ark were released to multiply and replenish the earth. Noah and his family were also admonished to be fruitful and multiply, to fill the earth.

Until Noah and his family left the ark, every animal and human were vegetarians. After they got off the ark, they were told by God that they could eat meat, provided the lifeblood was not still in it.

I must admit to being a little puzzled by the curse God placed on Canaan. We are so bombarded by nakedness, even on TV, that we could not understand the problem. Of course, that is if we take the words “saw his father’s nakedness” in the simplest sense of the words. However, there is some speculation that it may mean Ham had sexual relations with his mother and Canaan was the result, or Ham may have been had sexual relations with Noah. I kind of lean toward the literal meaning because of what Ham’s two brothers did – took a robe and backed into his father’s tent so they did not see their father’s nakedness.

Capital punishment was established here – if any person or animal takes a human life, it shall be killed.

Do you know anyone who is a genealogist? Obviously, genealogy was important in the Biblical account. While Genesis does name the descendants of Shem, Ham and Japheth, it doesn’t name all of the sons and daughters of everyone. Most of the genealogy in the Bible is directly concerned with the line of Christ. Just check Matthew 1, where Jesus’ genealogy is traced back to Abraham. Or, check Luke 3, where His genealogy is traced back to Adam. So important!

Did you ever wonder why God confused the people with different languages at Babel? God says it is because nothing they set out to do will be impossible for them. Unsaid, but still important, (at least I think so) is that the people were not following God’s instructions to “fill the earth.”

A very important person is introduced in Genesis 11: Abram (known later as Abraham).

Tomorrow, we move to Job 1 – 5.

Are you finding it difficult to read the daily chapters?

Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked

What a great movie for kids (and I am just a big kid)! I enjoyed it thoroughly and know you will too.

Until next time…