Genesis 7

Sometimes it’s good to close off the outside world.

Welcome to the Daily Bible Chapter. My name is James Leroy Wilson and I invite you to join me as we discover new insights and new perspectives from a very old book.

In Genesis 7 I remind myself once again that the “earth” probably doesn’t mean the planet, but just the dry ground of the known world at the time it was written. And, Jehovah seems concerned with the animals that breathe, as if Jehovah (or the LORD) is responsible for the earth and sky (or air), creatures that breathe, but are not concerned about the seas or its creatures. In contrast, God in Genesis 1 made the sea creatures as well. They don’t seem to be a concern. Perhaps the seas can be in some sense considered another world.

I’ve never heard “ark” used as a synonym for a boat or a ship except in the context of Noah’s ark. And the only other reference to an ark is the Ark of the Covenant which shows up later in the Bible.

There might be a time in one’s life where things just aren’t working out, perhaps due to the corruption and schemes of other people. To engage with them any longer is to be corrupted by them. The transition to a new environment, however, may be stormy, and one must “close off” the outside world and stay in one’s personal “ark” until the storms subside, the old is washed away, and a new beginning is prepared.

James Leroy Wilson writes Daily Miracles, The Daily Bible Chapter, JL Cells, and The MVP Chase. Thanks for your subscriptions and support!

(Photo credit: TyshkunVictor)