Let’s contemplate more lessons from the ark.

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4. TWO HEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE.

Of course we think of the pairs on the ark, but that was mostly for making more pairs to “replenish the earth.” There are other advantages for more than one head. All of us think in unique ways, relate with different methods, and have distinct gifts.

Perhaps one of Noah’s sons was brawny, able to do a lot of heavy lifting. Maybe another son knew how to think in broad terms—how do we get from this stage to the next and what about the final outcome on down the road? The third son may have had detailed skills to figure out how to make holes and pegs to so that the cypress boards would fit together. 

And, of course, Noah’s job may have been to encourage. He was, after all, the one “who found favor with God.” He would be the one to remind them that this task was given by God.

 Jesus used the “pair” idea as well. In the listings of the disciples names, they are usually listed  in the same sets of twos.

…Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. Calling the Twelve to him, he sent them out two by two… Mark 6:6-7

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5. SPEED ISN’T ALWAYS AN ADVANTAGE. THE CHEETAHS WERE ON BOARD, BUT SO WERE THE SNAILS.

Yep, they were tall and small, loud and quiet, demanding and gentle. Sounds like a church, doesn’t it? We are what we are, but there are times when we must get along, whether we’re in a boat or a church or—in a country. Let’s learn from the ark experience that to survive, we must learn to live together.

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.” Matthew 7:12

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6. IF YOU CANT FIGHT OR FLEE — FLOAT!

We can’t assume with Noah, three sons, and all the wives plus a barrage of animals that there weren’t times of discord. However, with all the work to be done taking care of the animals and themselves, there was little time to fight and they certainly couldn’t flee. No, they just had to float and make the best of it.

What about your family? Do you have disagreements? Is someone not doing their part? Is someone stepping out of line, causing upset? Fighting doesn’t solve the problem. Fleeing just takes the problems elsewhere. Sometimes, just like the boat or the church or our country, we just have to float and learn to deal with our problems.

Lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths. Proverbs 3:6

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So from today’s ark experience, we learn to put our heads together and realize that even though we’re all different, we must find ways to get along while floating the boat of life together.

~ Joyce ~