Two Arks: What Do Moses and Noah Have in Common?

Kids Sayeth the Cutest Things — Moses in the Basket

Read Exodus 2:1-10.

With the Israelite population getting out of control, the Egyptians decided to exercise post-birth population control by drowning the baby boys in the Nile but allowing the little girls to live. Horrible, right? God didn’t like it either. So when Moses’ mom could not hide him any longer, she put him in a papyrus basket and sent him down the Nile. The word for this basket in Hebrew is tebah, and it’s the same word used for “ark,” as in Noah’s ark.

These two arks are very different. Moses’ ark was maybe a yard long. Noah’s ark was 150 times longer. Moses’ ark was made of reeds from the Nile. Noah’s ark was made from cypress wood. One thing they both had in common — they were both covered in pitch or tar to keep them from sinking. And both arks represent the same thing — God’s means of saving humanity.

Noah’s ark saved a righteous family from God’s judgment on humanity.

Moses’ ark saved the man who would lead a nation to safety after God’s judgment on Egypt.

Both arks are about salvation, saving those God loves. They were life preservers for everyone on board, leading the world to the ultimate ark, the cross.

The cross is for those today who are sinking in a sea of sin. Hold on — it’ll get you through to the other side, where life everlasting awaits you.

God always sends an ark to save you from drowning. You just have to climb aboard.

Bible Challenge

1. How long did Moses’ mom hide him after he was born?
2. What member of Moses’ family watched baby Moses float down the Nile?
3. Whom did the attendant of Pharaoh’s daughter get to nurse baby Moses?
4. Who named Moses?
5. Why did Pharaoh’s daughter say she named her son Moses?

What Do You Noah About the Ark?

Read Genesis 6:9–7:13.

If God came to you and asked you to do something, what excuse would you give Him?

• “I’ve never done that before.”
• “I’m too old (or too young).”
• “But I’m going to face opposition.”
• “Oh no, the forecast looks rainy.”

When God asks us to do something it’s never at a good time. Why? Because it’s his time, not ours. He sees the big picture. We see only our pictures. God knows the forecasts for centuries to come. We see only the clouds today.

When God asked Noah to build an ark, Noah had plenty of reasons to say no:

• “I’ve never built an ark before.”
• “I’m six hundred years old.”
• “The people around me are evil.”
• “How am I going to manage a floating zoo?”

Despite the excuses,

Noah did everything just as God commanded him. — Genesis 6:22

If Noah hadn’t obeyed, he’d have sunk — literally — and so would we. All of humanity would be drowned in that sea. Thankfully Noah said yes to God’s impossible request, and mankind survived.

So what’s your reason for saying no to God? Whatever it is, it won’t hold water for very long.

Bible Challenge

1. What kind of wood was the ark made of?
2. How many decks did the ark have?
3. How many kinds of clean animals did God tell Noah to take?
4. How old was Noah when the floodwaters came on the earth?
5. How many humans were on the ark?

Excerpted with permission from The American Bible Challenge by Troy Schmidt & Jeff Foxworthy, copyright Troy Schmidt.

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Your Turn

Aren’t you glad Noah obeyed God? And that Jochebed obeyed God? Imagine how different our world would be had they not? What is God asking you to do today that you maybe don’t want to do or have a bunch of excuses for? Are those excuses holding water? Come join the conversation on our blog! We want to hear from you! ~ Devotionals Daily