When God Seems Silent: Lessons from the Ark and the Mountain of Ararat

 


Have you ever felt forgotten? Have you ever felt like God has left you on your own, drifting in a sea of uncertainty?

If so, you are in good company. King David cried out, "How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?" (Psalm 13:1). Asaph, the chief musician, questioned if God’s unfailing love had vanished forever (Psalm 77:7-9). Even Jesus, in His darkest hour on the cross, cried, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46).

Feeling forgotten is a human experience, but the story of Noah reminds us that God’s silence is not the same as God’s absence.

The Long Silence in the Ark

Last week, we saw the flood begin. Noah and his family entered the Ark—a massive vessel 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and three stories tall. To put that in perspective, the Ark was longer than a football field. Modern scientists have even noted that its proportions were perfect for stability in rough seas.

But imagine the reality inside:

  • The Time: They had been floating for five months.

  • The Environment: Every animal known to man was on board.

  • The Silence: The last time God had spoken to Noah was when He told him to enter the Ark.

For 150 days, there was no new word from heaven. Just the sound of rain, waves, and the animals. Have you ever been in a situation where you feel "locked in"? You’re doing what God asked, but the "rain" won't stop, and the door is shut.

"But God Remembered..."

Genesis 8:1 changes everything: "But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark..."

When the Bible says God "remembered," it doesn't mean He had a lapse in memory. God wasn't preoccupied with other galaxies and suddenly realized He left Noah behind. In Scripture, when God remembers, He takes action.

God remembered his plan. He sent a wind to recede the waters. He remembered the livestock and the sparrows, proving what Jesus said in Matthew 10: not one sparrow falls to the ground apart from the Father’s will. You are worth more than many sparrows.

Obedience in the Wait

Noah was in that Ark for a total of 365 days—an entire year. He went in when God said "Go," and he stayed until God said "Come out."

It’s easy to be obedient when the task is big and exciting (like building the Ark). It’s much harder to be obedient when you’re just "cleaning out the stalls" for the 300th day in a row, waiting for the mountain peaks to appear.

Where did they land? The Bible tells us the Ark rested on the Mountains of Ararat (modern-day Armenia). Even today, you can look at Google Maps and see the majestic peaks of Greater and Lesser Ararat. It serves as a physical reminder that God brings us to solid ground eventually.

The Fragrant Offering

The first thing Noah did upon exiting was build an altar. He offered a sacrifice that the Lord smelled as a "pleasing aroma."

This points us directly to the New Testament. In Ephesians 5:2, Paul tells us to live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up as a "fragrant offering." Noah’s sacrifice was a shadow of the ultimate sacrifice Jesus would make to bridge the gap between a holy God and the "evil inclinations" of the human heart.

The Promise of the Seasons

God promised never again to destroy all living creatures by a flood. He established a rhythm that we still enjoy today:

"As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease." (Genesis 8:22)

If you feel forgotten today, look at the sunrise. Look at the changing seasons. These are God’s "receipts"—proof that He keeps His word.

What is Your "Last Command"?

If your prayers feel unanswered and the Bible feels like "just another book" right now, remember Noah. When God finally spoke to him, He found Noah exactly where He had placed him, doing exactly what he was told to do.

What has God asked you to do?

  • To love Him with all your heart?

  • To forgive someone who hurt you?

  • To stay in community with other believers?

We often wait for a "big project," but God looks for faithfulness in the little things. Keep cleaning the stalls. Keep loving your neighbor. God has not forgotten you; He is simply executing the next part of the plan.


Originally delivered 2022.02.13

Location: Caldwell, KS 67022, USA

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