In the Noah’s Ark story, there is a time when God closes the door. The day it started raining, Noah, his family, and all the animals had entered the ark. Genesis 7:16b Then the Lord closed the door behind them. [1] God had commanded Noah to build the door on the side of the ark. He also told him to coat the whole ark, inside and out, to waterproof it.
Now, when all were present in the ark, God shut the door. Scripture doesn’t tell us what this looked like or if God somehow waterproofed the door’s seal. We simply know that Noah didn’t have to figure this out. I think this shows God’s fatherly, protective touch at the brink of judgment.
Entering Through the Door
God gave Noah and his family a week’s notice before the rain came. Genesis 7: 4 Seven days from now I will make the rains pour down on the earth… 10 After seven days, the waters of the flood came and covered the earth. [2] This warning allowed Noah and his family to finish last-minute preparations. It also demonstrated their faith in God. They didn’t fearfully rush into the ark ahead of time, nor did they disrespectfully delay past the announced time.
God didn’t supernaturally put Noah, his family, or the animals onto the ark. They all had to enter in through the door. The Hebrew word bowʾ, meaning enter, is used five times in our text.[3] English translators use several words to describe this. Genesis 7:1 Go into the boat with all your family… 7 He went on board the boat to escape the flood… 13 That very day Noah had gone into the boat…15 Two by two they came into the boat… 16 A male and female of each kind entered.[4]
Jesus calls Himself the door. John 10: 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved. [5] Scripture also uses the image of a door as Jesus pursues us. Revelation 3: 20 Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.[6] We are to enter the door to welcome our Savior. But Jesus doesn’t force us.
Timing of the Closing of the Door
The door to the ark closed at God’s timing. Once it was closed, no one else could be saved. It was not Noah’s decision to prevent others from being saved from the flood. In the same way, it is not our job to disqualify people from salvation. We let God shut the door. God kept the door open until the last possible minute, but there came a time when the door had to be shut.
Isaiah foretold that the Messiah would control the door. Isaiah 22: 22 I will give him the key to the house of David—the highest position in the royal court. When he opens doors, no one will be able to close them; when he closes doors, no one will be able to open them.[7] Jesus is our door to salvation and desires that we enter into the gift He won for us. But some will refuse, and there will be a time when the door will be closed. Don’t miss your opportunity for salvation; enter through the door today.
To learn more about when God closes the door, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/a-divine-reset
[1,2,4,6,7] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Ge 7:15–16). Tyndale House Publishers.
[3] Strong, J. (1995). In Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.
[5] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Jn 10:9). (2016). Crossway Bibles.