Genesis 7:16Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

1:14). To spare the righteous man from the pain of seeing the calamity firsthand, God confined him within the ark, akin to a prison, keeping him from being overwhelmed by despair.

It is understandable that witnessing the raging waters would evoke fear of drowning. Hence, in His mercy, God shielded him from the swift destruction and desolation unfolding beyond. As I reflect on the long duration of this righteous man's confinement in the ark, I am left in awe, attributing it all to God's abundant mercy. Had his spirit not been fortified and the hardship alleviated, how could he have endured such an unbearable situation? How could he withstand the relentless battering of the waves? We know that even seasoned sailors can succumb to fear and despair, witnessing an increasing storm around them, but this righteous man was enclosed in the ark, unable to see the heavens or focus on anything else, deprived of any sight that might offer comfort.

Those adrift at sea can at least gaze at the sky, the peaks of distant mountains, or cities on the horizon, finding some respite despite the storms they face. But Noah was in a unique circumstance, compelled to remain within the ark for an entire year without experiencing fresh air. How could he breathe when the ark was sealed tightly? What did he do to endure, to survive? Even if he and the others had been forged of iron, how could they manage without air or light? How did they not succumb to blindness after such protracted confinement? Furthermore, one must wonder how they acquired enough water to sustain themselves during their time in the ark.

Setting those questions aside, how did this righteous man and his family cope with the presence of so many animals? How did he tolerate the overwhelming smell? This experience raises another issue: how could creatures—lions, bears, and other fierce beasts—survive in such close quarters, unable to move or breathe freely, yet remain alive for an extended period? We understand that, like the animals, prolonged confinement can lead to despair. How did Noah and his companions endure such hardship? Only by the grace of Almighty God.

It was not mere chance that allowed the ark to navigate without a helmsman amidst the crashing waves. It was the divine hand that sheltered it, keeping it unharmed while the waters surged around it, maintaining perfect safety for its occupants. Therefore, let us refrain from evaluating God's works through human reasoning; they surpass our understanding, and the human mind cannot truly grasp His deeds. Thus, in responding to God's commandments, we must have faith and adherence to His word. The Creator of all can transform everything according to His purpose.

"So the Lord God shut the ark behind him." This righteous man's remarkable virtue and robust faith enabled him to build the ark and endure the confines of such an unusual habitat alongside the animals. Paul, recalling Noah, praised him: "By faith Noah, having received the revelation of things not yet seen, reverently prepared the ark for the salvation of his house; by it he condemned the world and became heir of righteousness through faith" (Hebrews 11:7). Do you notice how his faith acted as a steadfast anchor, supporting him in constructing the ark and in his life within it? It was through this faith that he found salvation, as the scripture indicates: "by it he condemned the whole world and became an heir of righteousness through faith."

It is essential to note that Noah did not condemn his contemporaries; rather, the Lord rendered the judgment by contrasting them with Noah, who possessed what they had yet chose not to walk along the virtuous path. Noah's faith judged those who remained in unbelief and did not heed the warning of the flood. Reflecting on the righteous man's character and the incredible compassion of the Lord, I marvel at his ability to coexist with such formidable creatures as lions and bears.

Let us remember the exalted authority bestowed upon humanity before the original sin and appreciate God's goodness. The disobedience of the first man diminished that authority, yet God found another who sought to restore that ancient image, demonstrating virtue, obedience, and faithfulness to His commands. In doing so, this worthy man was elevated to his prior station, illustrating the greatness of the authority initially granted to Adam.

The righteous man's virtue, buoyed by divine grace, restored this authority, leading even wild beasts to recognize their subjection. Such animals, when confronted with a righteous man, seemingly abandon their ferocity, revealing a transition from savagery to gentleness. We witnessed this with Daniel, who, surrounded by lions, remained fearless as if in the company of sheep; the courage of the righteous curbed the wild instincts of these creatures, preventing them from manifesting their inherent beastliness.

In a similar way, Noah coexisted harmoniously with the animals; neither confinement nor the passage of time could dishearten him. His faith in God transformed a daunting situation into a bearable one, allowing him to dwell in what many would perceive as a dreadful prison as comfortably as one would in lush pastures or serene groves. By the command of the Lord, all burdens became light for him. This is the hallmark of the righteous: when they endure hardships for God's sake, they look beyond their circumstances to consider the purpose behind them, enabling them to persevere with ease.

The Apostle Paul, a teacher of the faith, regarded trials, persecutions, and tribulations as light because of the grander purpose behind them. "For our brief light affliction produces in measureless excess eternal glory" (2 Cor. 4:17). As he noted, the anticipation of future glory and everlasting joy made it possible for him to endure his tribulations with tranquility, deeming them light. Do you see how love for God mitigates the weight of affliction, enabling believers to see beyond their struggles? Hence, blessed Noah, like Paul, faced every challenge with composure, nourished by faith and hope in God. "And the Lord shut" the door behind him, highlighting the righteous man's journey of faith.

He is constant and free from the limitations of space, which cannot even contain the entirety of creation, for He existed before the foundation of the world. How could He communicate with anyone, be visible to anyone, or manifest in the smallest corner of the earth, when the people were unable to gaze upon Sinai, even in the presence of His glory who was sent by Him? Moses himself could not enter the tabernacle he constructed when it was filled with God's majesty, and the priests could not stand in the temple's presence when Solomon brought the ark into the house he had built in Jerusalem. Therefore, neither Abraham, nor Isaac, nor Jacob, nor any other individual witnessed the Father, the ineffable Lord of all, nor Christ Himself. Instead, they encountered Him who, by His own will, is both the Son of God and His messenger in service—who, in accordance with His predetermined plan, was to be incarnated by a virgin and who once appeared as fire from a bush when He addressed Moses.