God Shut Him In

THE QUESTION

Noah, his family and the animals had all gone into the ark, just as God had commanded. Then what happened?

A) Noah sealed the door

B) God shut him in ✓

C) Shem barred the door

D) Noah built an altar

A closer look

God had told Noah to put one door in the side of the ark (Genesis 6:16). When the day came, Noah’s family and the animals went in, just as God had commanded. Then the Bible adds one short sentence: “Then the Lord shut him in” (Genesis 7:16). Noah did the building. God did the closing.

They were inside for more than a year (Genesis 7:11; 8:13-14). And even after Noah saw that the ground was dry, he stayed where he was until God said, “Come out of the ark” (Genesis 8:16). The same Lord who shut him in was the One who called him out.

If you chose Noah sealing the door, there’s good reason: God had told him to coat the ark with pitch, inside and out (Genesis 6:14). But this door was God’s to close.

God watched over Noah’s going in and his coming out. As today’s verse says, “The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore” (Psalm 121:8).

We hope this helped you grow in God’s Word today. Now head back to your email and tell us how you liked today’s devotional. 🙏