After forty days Noah opened the window he had made in the ark After forty daysThe phrase "after forty days" signifies a period of testing, trial, and preparation in the Bible. The number forty is often associated with significant events, such as the forty days and nights of rain during the flood, the forty years the Israelites wandered in the desert, and the forty days Jesus fasted in the wilderness. In Hebrew, the number forty (ארבעים, "arba'im") symbolizes a period of probation or trial. Here, it marks the completion of the flood's initial phase and the beginning of a new chapter for Noah and his family. It is a time of anticipation and hope, as Noah prepares to see the results of God's promise to preserve life. Noah opened
The act of Noah opening the window is symbolic of faith and obedience. Noah, whose name means "rest" or "comfort" in Hebrew (נֹחַ, "Noach"), demonstrates his trust in God's timing and provision. By opening the window, Noah is actively participating in God's plan, showing readiness to receive further instructions. This action reflects a heart attuned to God's will, waiting patiently for the right moment to act. the window
The window (חַלּוֹן, "challon" in Hebrew) represents a portal to the outside world, a means of perceiving God's creation anew. In the context of the ark, the window is not just a physical opening but a spiritual one, symbolizing enlightenment and revelation. It is through this window that Noah will send out the raven and the dove, seeking signs of the earth's renewal. The window serves as a reminder of God's light and guidance, illuminating the path forward after a period of darkness and confinement. he had made
This phrase emphasizes Noah's role as a co-laborer with God. The window "he had made" indicates Noah's active participation in the construction of the ark, following God's detailed instructions. It highlights the importance of human agency in fulfilling divine purposes. Noah's craftsmanship and obedience are integral to the ark's function and the survival of its inhabitants. This collaboration between divine command and human action is a recurring theme in Scripture, underscoring the partnership between God and His people. in the ark
The ark (תֵּבָה, "tebah" in Hebrew) is a vessel of salvation, a sanctuary amidst the chaos of the floodwaters. It represents God's provision and protection for Noah, his family, and the animals. The ark is a type of Christ, offering refuge and deliverance from judgment. Within its confines, Noah and his family experience God's faithfulness and mercy. The ark's construction, guided by divine instruction, serves as a testament to God's sovereignty and the fulfillment of His promises. As Noah opens the window, it signifies the transition from judgment to restoration, from confinement to freedom, and from survival to renewal. Persons / Places / Events 1. NoahA righteous man chosen by God to survive the flood and preserve life on earth. He is obedient and faithful, following God's instructions to build the ark. 2. The ArkA large vessel constructed by Noah under God's guidance to save his family and pairs of every living creature from the floodwaters. 3. The FloodA divine judgment sent by God to cleanse the earth of its widespread wickedness, sparing only Noah, his family, and the animals on the ark. 4. The WindowAn opening in the ark that Noah uses to observe the receding floodwaters and eventually release birds to check for dry land. 5. Forty DaysA significant period in biblical accounts, often associated with testing, judgment, and renewal. Teaching Points Obedience and FaithfulnessNoah's actions demonstrate the importance of obedience to God's commands, even when the outcome is uncertain. Believers are encouraged to trust in God's plan and timing. Patience in WaitingThe forty days Noah waited before opening the window teaches us about patience and the importance of waiting on God's timing for deliverance and new beginnings. Hope and RenewalThe act of opening the window symbolizes hope and the anticipation of renewal. In our lives, we should look for signs of God's renewal and be ready to embrace new opportunities. Divine TimingGod's timing is perfect, and His plans unfold according to His divine schedule. We are reminded to align our expectations with His timing. Stewardship and ResponsibilityNoah's care for the ark and its inhabitants highlights the responsibility we have to steward God's creation and care for those entrusted to us. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Noah's obedience in building and managing the ark inspire you in your walk with God? 2. What can we learn from the significance of the forty-day period in various biblical accounts, and how does it apply to times of waiting in our lives? 3. In what ways can you practice patience and trust in God's timing in your current circumstances? 4. How does the concept of hope and renewal in Genesis 8:6 encourage you to look for God's work in your life today? 5. Reflect on a time when you had to be a steward of something important. How did you see God's guidance in that responsibility, and how can you apply those lessons now? Connections to Other Scriptures Genesis 7:4This verse provides context for the forty days and nights of rain, emphasizing the period of judgment and cleansing. Exodus 24:18Moses spends forty days and nights on Mount Sinai, paralleling the period of waiting and divine revelation. Matthew 4:2Jesus fasts for forty days and nights in the wilderness, a time of testing and preparation for His ministry. People NoahPlaces Mount AraratTopics Ark, Forty, Noah, Open, Opened, Openeth, Pass, Ship, WindowDictionary of Bible Themes Genesis 8:6 1654 numbers, 11-99 Genesis 8:1-11 4819 dryness Genesis 8:1-19 7203 ark, Noah's Library December 27. "He Sent Forth the Dove which Returned not Again unto Him" (Gen. viii. 12).
"He sent forth the dove which returned not again unto him" (Gen. viii. 12). First, we have the dove going forth from the ark, and finding no rest upon the wild and drifting waste of sin and judgment. This represents the Old Testament period, perhaps, when the Holy Ghost visited this sinful world, but could find no resting-place, and went back to the bosom of God. Next, we have the dove going forth and returning with the olive leaf in her mouth, the symbol and the pledge of peace and reconciliation, …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth 'Clear Shining after Rain'
'And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters asswaged; The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained; And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated. And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture The Sermon of the Seasons
"Oh, the long and dreary Winter! Oh, the cold and cruel Winter!" We say to ourselves, Will spring-time never come? In addition to this, trade and commerce continue in a state of stagnation; crowds are out of employment, and where business is carried on, it yields little profit. Our watchmen are asked if they discern any signs of returning day, and they answer, "No." Thus we bow our heads in a common affliction, and ask each man comfort of his fellow; for as yet we see not our signs, neither does …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 32: 1886 The Best of the Best
"I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys."--Song of Solomon 2:1. THE time of flowers has come, and as they are in some faint degree emblems of our Lord, it is well, when God thus calls, that we should seek to learn what he desires to teach us by them. If nature now spreads out her roses and her lilies, or prepares to do so, let us try, not only to see them, but to see Christ as he is shadowed forth in them. "I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys." If these are the words …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 42: 1896 The Unchangeable One
Psalm cxix. 89-96. For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants. Unless thy law had been my delight, I should then have perished in mine affliction. I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me. I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts. The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: …
Charles Kingsley—Town and Country Sermons On Gen. viii. I
On Gen. viii. I Hippolytus, the expositor of the Targum, and my master, Jacobus Rohaviensis, have said: On the twenty-seventh day of the month Jiar, which is the second Hebrew month, the ark rose from the base of the holy mount; and already the waters bore it, and it was carried upon them round about towards the four cardinal points of the world. The ark accordingly held off from the holy mount towards the east, then returned towards the west, then turned to the south, and finally, bearing off eastwards, …
Hippolytus—The Extant Works and Fragments of Hippolytus The Song of the Three Children
DANIEL iii. 16, 17, 18. O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. We read this morning, instead of the Te Deum, the Song of the Three Children, beginning, 'Oh all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise …
Charles Kingsley—The Good News of God Nature of Covenanting.
A covenant is a mutual voluntary compact between two parties on given terms or conditions. It may be made between superiors and inferiors, or between equals. The sentiment that a covenant can be made only between parties respectively independent of one another is inconsistent with the testimony of Scripture. Parties to covenants in a great variety of relative circumstances, are there introduced. There, covenant relations among men are represented as obtaining not merely between nation and nation, …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting That it is Profitable to Communicate Often
The Voice of the Disciple Behold I come unto Thee, O Lord, that I may be blessed through Thy gift, and be made joyful in Thy holy feast which Thou, O God, of Thy goodness hast prepared for the poor.(1) Behold in Thee is all that I can and ought to desire, Thou art my salvation and redemption, my hope and strength, my honour and glory. Therefore rejoice the soul of Thy servant this day, for unto Thee, O Lord Jesus, do I lift up my soul.(2) I long now to receive Thee devoutly and reverently, I desire …
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ Covenanting Enforced by the Grant of Covenant Signs and Seals.
To declare emphatically that the people of God are a covenant people, various signs were in sovereignty vouchsafed. The lights in the firmament of heaven were appointed to be for signs, affording direction to the mariner, the husbandman, and others. Miracles wrought on memorable occasions, were constituted signs or tokens of God's universal government. The gracious grant of covenant signs was made in order to proclaim the truth of the existence of God's covenant with his people, to urge the performance …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting Genesis
The Old Testament opens very impressively. In measured and dignified language it introduces the story of Israel's origin and settlement upon the land of Canaan (Gen.--Josh.) by the story of creation, i.-ii. 4a, and thus suggests, at the very beginning, the far-reaching purpose and the world-wide significance of the people and religion of Israel. The narrative has not travelled far till it becomes apparent that its dominant interests are to be religious and moral; for, after a pictorial sketch of …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Genesis 8:6 NIVGenesis 8:6 NLTGenesis 8:6 ESVGenesis 8:6 NASBGenesis 8:6 KJV
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