GO FORTH
Genesis 8:15 ¶ And God spake unto Noah, saying, 16 Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons’ wives with thee. 17 Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth. 18 And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him: 19 Every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl, and whatsoever creepeth upon the earth, after their kinds, went forth out of the ark.
Genesis 8:20 ¶ And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. 22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.
The Lord has had his way with his servant Noah even in the great surges of the waters. Psalm 77:19 Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known. Now it is time for his call to come forth out of the vessel of previous safety and reestablish life on earth as he had originally intended. And that same Psalm also states, Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God? Psalm 77:13. Therefore whether in the depths of many waters, or in the security of the sanctuary of worship, the Lord is always in sovereign control. For he IS The Way! John 14:4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
For the God of eternal election and of sovereign redemption shall always preserve and guide his people. Isaiah 43:1 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. 2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. And we would do well to notice that this verse does not say, “IF thou passeth through the waters,” but ‘When!” Acts 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. For it is as we sing, “The way of the cross leads home.”
Noah now pictures the elect sinner coming from a world of death and judgment. Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
He was directed by God to enter into the ark of safety just as the redeemed sinner is placed into his refuge in Christ, in order to go through his spiritual baptism of regeneration, (Colossians 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.), and proceed through the dark waters of judgment, (Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.), landing safely into a new world! 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Now he is instructed by the God in whose eyes he found grace (Genesis 6:8), and who has communed with him from the very beginning, (Genesis 6:13ff), to exit that vessel of safety and venture out into the new world! For the believer is not to live a cloistered life, secluded from the world, but to be both salt and light to a tasteless world of darkness. John 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. The believer is to be IN the world, but not OF the world.
Noah and his family are then to Go Forth into a world of greater liberty! Like the little unborn child being issued forth by the contractions of birth pains, he is issued forth into an entirely new realm of experience, never to return to his former place again. Nicodemus’ questions makes this all to certain! John 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
For Noah would never need that ark again as the Lord promised, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. It is now the time to grow up and mature. It is now the time to conquer the new realm for the glory of God. Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Ephesians 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
There is glorious liberty being in Christ, having been freed from the bondage of sin’s corruptions! John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
He was delivered from the judgment that had destroyed the old world! Romans 5:17 For if by one man’s offence (that is, Adam), death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
He is also delivered from the tossing of the troubled seas. The believer is delivered from the base passions that led him captive at their will. And he is more and more sanctified as he ventures out into his new world in Christ. Romans 7:5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Noah also now begins to see the tops of the high points of his new world. Genesis 8:5 And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen. The new believer is not immediate given to walk into the valley of the shadow of death. His development is described as growth, as we clearly see in that last listed verse. (Eph. 4:15). And no believer is tried above that which he is able. 1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
He now begins to see and realize to some degree the blessedness of living in the mountain of his holiness – the spiritual church of God! Psalm 48:1 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. 2 Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. 3 God is known in her palaces for a refuge.
Psalm 121:1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. Psalm 95:3 For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. 4 In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.
And then Noah receives the dove’s token. Genesis 8:11 And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.
The dove is a picture of the Holy Spirit as he brings the settled peace from the knowledge that the troubled waters have been conquered by Christ. And he brings to every true believer that peace which passes all understanding. Matthew 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
For it is only by the birth and life of the Holy Spirit that one comes to be in Christ, and in his settled peace! John 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
But while the dove comes to Noah in the ark, like the Holy Spirit comes to the believer in Christ, the raven (Genesis 8:7), never returns to the ark again! He is an unclean fowl and called an abomination in Leviticus 11:13,15. The flesh and it’s remaining corruptions has no place in the realm of Christ! Romans 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 1 Corinthians 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
Both the carnal forces of his flesh and that of the spiritual dwell together within the believer throughout his life. And their warfare is irreconcilable. John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
But now Noah is brought into a higher degree of worship. Genesis 8:20 And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
And the believer is brought into a higher and deeper awareness of the Eternal God through the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ! His world has changed. His experience of spiritual birth is never to be repeated. And now, even his previous concepts of God have changed! For now he hears from the very heart of God that which he has the experience to effectually perceive. His condition now is best stated by his fellow believer Job. Job 42:1 Then Job answered the LORD, and said, 2 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. 5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. 6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
And now the prayer of Christ for his Father to make the believers to be one with them in their glory is complied with. Now the believer begins to see and enter into the glory! John 17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; 24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
Now he is changed by every degree of that glory as it is revealed to him! At the outset belief is given by the revelation of his glory! John 2:11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
Then every degree of maturing in sanctifying grace is provided by farther glimpses of that same glory! 2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. Even in every trial and affliction that glory comes to rest upon the believer. 1 Peter 4:14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
And none shall be finally glorified without the His visible, glorious appearance! Matthew 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory,.. 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Pastor Gene Breed
October 10, 2015
