Genesis 8v2-5
The fountains of the deep and the windows of the heavens were closed, the rain from the heavens was restrained, and the waters receded from the earth continually. At the end of 150 days the waters had abated, and in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat. And the waters continued to abate until the tenth month; in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains were seen. (ESV)
We see two important aspects in this text:
- The Majesty of God (v2-3):
The fountains of the great deep and the windows of heaven were closed!
a) His Deep and His Heaven: These are God’s deep and God’s windows which are under His control – every raindrop! This is the majesty of our great God who is in control (Ps. 135v6, Job 37v13, Jer. 10v13 & 51v16, Job 27v7, Mat. 10v29, Acts 14:17, Ps. 104v13, Is. 45v7, Ps. 147v8). This is the God who people blaspheme and disrespect, whereas He requires worship, obedience and reverence!
b) His Divine Help: The waters receded because of God’s help (Ps. 55v22, Ps. 46v1, Is. 41:10, Ps. 121v7-8, Heb. 13:6, Zeph. 3v17). Imagine this majestic God singing over you! - The Mountain of God (v4-5):
The ark came to rest on God’s mountain – a place of rest (for Noah and his family) and refuge (the waters abated and they were safe there until the water receded). Mountains serve as the stage for pivotal events and divine encounters with God and revelation of His power and presence (e.g. Mount Sinai where God gave the Ten Commandments and Mount Moriah foreshadowing God’s sacrifice of His Son). Mountains are powerful backdrops for divine encounters.
Mount Ararat was a place of rest, refuge and restoration and new beginnings and a fresh start for God’s people. It shows God’s faithfulness to His covenant. God provides us a place of rest and refuge in Christ – in His body, the Church, the Bride of Christ. Outside of the Church there is no salvation!
We ultimately return to Mount Calvary were Jesus was crucified, His body being the ark. The crucifixion was the central event of salvation history, representing the ultimate act of love and redemption.