“Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation. Take with you seven pairs of all clean animals ...” (v1-2). The all-pervasive evil on the earth had reached a breaking point, and the consequences were catastrophic. Yet, the Lord preserved life, and He told Noah to protect an abundance of “clean animals” used for holy sacrifice. This was a sign that God’s desire was for men and women to one day worship Him again.

“And the Lord shut him in” (v16). God’s desire is to rescue, not condemn us, so that we can know Him. “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).