Stories from the Bible often have several different angles of interpretation. The story of Noah, for example, is a story that we learned as children and that we continue to reflect upon as adults.
Theologically speaking, the saga of Noah addresses the dual themes of God’s divine judgment and God’s gracious deliverance.
Practically speaking, the story may have multiple applications. Too often, we mistakenly think of the story as a children’s story, but it holds many valuable lessons for all ages.
Someone shared with me these insightful lessons gleaned from the biblical story of Noah and the Ark:
1. Don’t miss the boat.
2. Remember that we are all in the same boat.
3. Plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.
4. Stay fit. When you’re 600 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.
5. Don’t listen to critics. Just get on with the job that needs to be done.
6. Build your future on higher ground.
7. For safety’s sake, travel in pairs.
8. Speed isn’t always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.
9. When you’re stressed, float a while.
10. Remember, the ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.
11. No matter the storm, when you are with God, there’s always a rainbow waiting.
Barry Howard is senior minister of First Baptist Church in Corbin, Ky.
Pastor at the Wieuca Road Baptist Church in Atlanta. He also serves as a leadership coach and columnist for the Center for Healthy Churches. He and his wife, Amanda, live in Brookhaven, Georgia.