Did noah have a manual to build the ark?

By Joyce Pelletier

Genesis 6:14-16 -  God told Noah, “So make yourself an Ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out. This is how you are to build it: The Ark is to be three hundred cubits long (about 437.5 ft long); fifty cubits wide (about 72.7 ft) and thirty cubits wide in parts of the width (about 45.5 ft). Make a roof for it, leaving below the roof of 1 cubit high all around. Put a door in the side of the Ark and make lower, middle and upper decks. 

Have you ever decided to build something? I’ve watched Maurice build many things that filled our home. His first piece was a pine hutch. He didn’t have a manual and it didn’t come in a box with all the pieces of wood, screws, nails, hardware and plastic for the doors. He sat down and designed his piece and drew it, figured out the measurements, then built it. It’s been treasured by me for 49 years. We never refinished it and the only thing I do for it is dust it and rearrange the items in it. It’s my favorite piece. 

I analyze myself as a non-manual reader. When Maurice gets new equipment for things, he reads the manual cover to cover. I failed that course in school. Recently we had to replace our dishwasher and decided to install it ourselves to save a big chunk of change to hire someone. It took us about 8 hours to do it. But we read the manual and with clear directions, pictures and his experience to rely on those directions, it was proof positive. It’s good to have a dishwasher that works.  

We have a friend staying with us for a short while. We were talking one evening about a Bible study I chose to use for our Zoom group on Tuesdays. I was somewhat confused and overwhelmed by the  book I chose. Not wanting to give up on it, I asked for his advice. He looked over it and after he made some suggestions, he made the conclusion that I need to read the manual. 

When I have questions about God, I turn to the best Manual ever, the Bible. I find truth there that keeps me focused. Now in preparing for the Bible study it’s pretty obvious that I need to not only read the manual (the study book) but more so, God’s Word. 

I decided to look in the true Manual and found the story about Noah and him building the Ark. He didn’t have the tools we have today. Didn’t even have electricity. God gave him in His “personal” Manual (the Word) directions, blueprints and whatever else he needed to be obedient in the Lord’s call to build the Ark that would make so much history for God’s creation. 

God gave Noah a manual on how to build the Ark. Noah followed directions, even though he lived in the barren land. We know how that turned out.

God shares and inspires that manual just for us, too. His Manual has directions for how to live. His Holy Spirit is the guiding source for us to live in the blueprints of that intention. God is so Good! His plan is best, purposeful, and alive. Even though there are times we question things, His way is perfect!

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