Take with you . . . two of every kind of unclean animal (NIV
1984, Genesis 7:2).
When my boys were small, we had a beautiful Noah’s ark print
framed in their bedroom. Of the many artists’ renderings of Noah’s Ark I’ve
seen, I think every single one had the animals assembled two-by-two. Even a
casual reading of the story reveals that whereas chapter six calls for two of
every animal, chapter seven calls for seven (or maybe seven pairs) of every kind
of bird and every kind of clean animal.
Never mind this is pre-Moses and pre-law, and that animals
have not yet been catalogued as clean and unclean; or for that matter that it
would seem humanity is still vegetarian – it is not until chapter nine that God
gives man permission to eat meat – so what would an unclean designation even
mean? It is nonetheless interesting that God specifies the rescue of unclean
animals.
If God cares enough to orchestrate the preservation of the
human race, of whom the writer of Genesis states: Every inclination of the
thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time (6:5), and even went the
extra mile to rescue not only clean but also unclean animals, should it come as
any surprise that God hears our prayers when we find ourselves in deep waters?
Maybe this isn’t just a kids’ story. How often has God
preserved you through difficult times?
TODAY’S MEDITATION
What’s that say for
approaching storms on your radar?
I had to check out the 365 blog today because I was hoping for clarification regarding clean and unclean animals. I didn't rememember the differentiation before. I was glAd to see you talked about it here today. Thanks!
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