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The year 2005 will be remembered as the year of storms. The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season had been plagued with ten tropical storms. The 11would leave a mark like no other. On August 25, Katrina, the first category 5 hurricane of the season, struck the Gulf Coast of the U.S. with devastating results.

Its devastation resulted in Federal disaster declarations blanketing 90,000 square miles, an area almost as large as the United Kingdom. Its storm surge breached the levees that protected the city of New Orleans leaving the city flooded. Katrina left more than 1.5 million people displaced, creating a humanitarian crisis on a scale unseen in the United States since the Great Depression. An estimated three million were left without electricity. The death toll stood at 1,383, and as of December 20, 2005, more than 4,000 people remained unaccounted for. The destruction Katrina brought made it the most costly and deadliest natural disaster in United States history since the 1928 Okeechobee Hurricane.

As devastating as Katrina was, it pales in size, strength, and destruction to the storm recorded in Genesis. We shall call it Noah’s storm, a storm that completely covered and destroyed the entire earth. The whole population of the earth died with the exception of “eight souls” (cp. 1 Pet 3:20); Noah and his immediate family.

To save Noah and his family from the deadliest and most destructive storm in history, God said to him, “Make thee an ark” (Gen 6:14). From the materials to the measurements, Noah was directed by God in the building of the ark.

In the ark there were to be “rooms.” It was to consist of three decks or “stories” with only one door “set in the side thereof.” The ark would measure in length 300 cubits (450 ft), fifty cubits (70 ft) in width, and 30 cubits (45 ft) in height (cp. Gen 6:14-16).

The purpose of the ark was to provide Noah and his family a place of refuge from the storm. Hebrews 11:7 says, “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house.” When the storm came, Noah and his family found themselves safe and secure in the ark. In a storm of unprecedented devastation all in the ark were spared.

Peter said, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you” (1 Pet 4:12). The trials of which Peter spoke refer to the calamities and difficult experiences that are often encountered in life. So often we refer to the trials of life as storms.

The storms of life are those times when we find our life being bombarded by the howling winds and the rising waters of the circumstances we face. These storms can come leaving our own private worlds in chaos. Both inward and outward we can find ourselves being tossed about by the storms of life. As Peter said, we should not be surprised by the storms of life. They are unavoidable and certain to come.

Oh yes, there is one more feature of the ark that I want to mention. God said to Noah, “A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit thou shalt finish it above” (Gen 6:16). I want us to look at the storms of life through the window that was in the ark. I believe it will help us to see that although the storms of life may come with devastating force, there is safety and security in the storm.

First, let’s step inside the ark with Noah and look through this window. As we do so we see that:

LOOKING OUT CAN SHAKE OUR FAITH

When you look out the window you see the storm. You see the rain falling, the wind blowing, and the waters rising. You see a storm that reminds us of:

What We Often Face

The Bible says, “And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth. And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters. And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered. Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered” (Gen 7:17-20).

It was a storm of gigantic proportions and one of unprecedented measure. History has recorded many devastating storms, but this one stands in a class all of its own. There has never been a storm like it, and thankfully God promised there would never be another. The Bible says that “all the fountains of the great deep” were “broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened” (Gen 7:11).

Actually it was a storm of God’s judgment upon a world and society that grieved God within His heart (cp. Gen 6:6). The wickedness of man was so great that God said, “And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them” (Gen 6:7).

But there was Noah, a man who was just, perfect in his generations, and walked with God (cp. Gen 6:9). This great and godly man found himself in a storm. Noah in the storm reminds us that God’s people are not immune from the storms of life. A life of faith and faithfulness does not erect a protective wall that keeps us untouched by storms. Even the levees of the godly are often breeched by life’s storms.

The storm in which Noah found himself reminds us of how extended our storms can be. The Bible says, God caused it to “rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights” (Gen 7:4) and that “the flood was forty days upon the earth” (Gen 7:17) resulting in the flood waters lasting “an hundred and fifty days” (Gen 7:24). Our storms can last for a few days; others can last for months and even in some cases for years.

Noah’s storm also reminds us of how extensive our storms can be. The Bible says the “waters increased” and “increased greatly” (Gen 7:17 & 18). The lowlands flooded first and as the waters began to rise the hills were swallowed beneath the raging waters. Ultimately the highest mountains were submerged. Our storms can come leaving us totally submersed in difficulty and distress.

As well, Noah’s storm reminds us of how expansive our storms can be. There was not one single inch of land that was visible. The whole earth was under water. Our storms can come in many forms affecting our life in many areas. The storm can be financial, physical, marital, material or a combination of these things.

Noah’s storm not only reminds us of what we often face, but also:

How We Often Feel

Even though Noah faced the storm with faith and the assurance that God would see him and his family safely through, I can imagine that as the rain pounded the ark and the winds rocked it back and forth, there were moments of distress and anxiety for all aboard.

As we face the storms of life there are times when we can be gripped with a feeling of helplessness. Our storms can come with such intensity and adversity that is beyond our ability to stop or slow what is happening.

We can also be filled with feelings of hopelessness. The length of our storm can leave us wondering if there will ever be an end to our storm. The strength of the storm can be so overwhelming that we feel that the raging waves are about to take us under.

We can find ourselves feeling like the crew of an S-4 submarine that was rammed by another ship and quickly sank. The entire crew was trapped in their prison house of death. Ships rushed to the scene to rescue the crew. When a diver finally reached the sub, he placed his ear to the side of the vessel and listened. He heard a tapping noise. Someone was tapping out a question in the dots and dashes of the Morse code. The question came slowly: “Is there any hope?”

The storms of life can leave us feeling helpless and hopeless. The storms of life can be very unsettling. If not solidly and properly founded, our faith can be shaken, leaving us filled with doubt and despair.

Let’s take another look through the window of the ark, and in this look, let’s step outside the ark and look through the window into the ark. As we do so we see that:

LOOKING IN CAN SETTLE OUR FAITH

When we look at our storms it only brings discouragement. If we are only looking at our storm our focus is riveted on the raging and rising waters and we only hear the howling winds and the crash of the thunder. The secret to peace and confidence in our storms is looking at the Lord instead of the storm. If our eyes are upon Him we see the One who is the Master of the wind, sea, and storm.

When you look in the ark through its window you see:

The Lord’s Preservation

We read in Genesis 6:17-18, “And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die. But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy son’s wives with thee.”

Every living thing upon the face of the earth would be destroyed by the flood, but Noah and his family would be preserved. It didn’t matter how dark the clouds got, how loud the thunder crashed and rolled, how heavy the rain fell, or how deep the waters were. Noah and his family had a promise from God that they would be safe in the storm.

I remind you that Noah and his family was not spared from going through the storm. God never promised that a Christian would never go through a storm. Just because you are saved and living for God does not give you immunity from the storm. However, there is the promise that God will keep you in the storm.

A Sunday School teacher asked her class, “Who can tell me what a yoke is?” One little girl said, “A yoke is something they put on the necks of animals.” The teacher asked, “What is the meaning of God’s yoke?” The little girl thought for a moment, and then said, “That’s when God puts His arms around our necks!”

When we are going through the storm, we are in God’s yoke. He has His arms around us. He has not promised us that we will not go through the storm, but He has promised us that He will take care of us and keep us while we are in the storm.

We read in Genesis 6:14 that the ark was to be pitched within and without. The word “pitch” literally means “to coat or cover.” The word describes a substance that was used for water-proofing sailing vessels. It was a substance very similar to tar that was used to caulk seams to ensure the vessel was waterproof. Noah never had to worry about patching holes or fixing leaks. He was in a ship that was leak proof. The Titanic was referred to as the unsinkable ship, yet sank on her maiden voyage. If there ever was an unsinkable ship, it was Noah’s. He was safe in the storm.

Be not dismayed what e’er betide,

God will take care of you;

Beneath His wings of love abide,

God will take care of you.

Thru days of toil when heart doth fail,

God will take care of you;

When dangers fierce your path assail,

God will take care of you.

When you look through the window into the ark, you not only see the Lord’s preservation, but also:

The Lord’s Presence

I want you to notice very carefully what God said to Noah in Genesis 7:1, “And the Lord said unto Noah, come thou and all thy house into the ark.” When the hour came for Noah and his family to board the ark, God did not say, “Go into the ark.” Instead, He said, “Come thou into the ark.”

If God had said, “Go into the ark,” it would have placed Him outside the ark. The words “come thou” indicate that God was inside the ark. During the storm Noah was not alone. The Lord was in the ark with him.

When we are going through the storms of life, the Lord is with us. We have His great promise, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Heb 13:5). I love Isaiah 41:10, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

One Sunday morning, a professor in a Seminary was sharing a seat with a small boy on a shuttle train. He noticed that the boy was holding a Sunday School Quarterly. He asked, “Do you go to Sunday School, my boy?” “Yes sir,” was the happy reply. The professor, thinking to have a little fun with the boy asked, “Tell me where God is and I’ll give you an apple.” The boy looked up at the professor and promptly replied, “Mister, I will give you a whole barrel of apples if you will tell me where He is not.”

God is always present! He is always with us in our storms. He will not abandon us when the winds are howling and the waters are rising. In Genesis 8:15 & 16 we read, “And God spake unto Noah, saying, Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy son’s wives with thee.” The time had come for Noah and his family to leave the ark. What does God say to them? He says, “Go forth.” He did not say, “Come out.” He was still in the ark with Noah. He had been with them every moment of the storm.

Again, we are not given the promise that we will not go through the storm. Yet, we are promised that God will take care of us, keep us, and be with us during the storm.

As you look through the window of the ark, you not only see the Lord’s preservation and presence, but you also see:

The Lord’s Promise

God said to Noah in Genesis 6:18, “But with thee will I establish my covenant.” God had made a covenant with Noah. The word “covenant” means “a compact.” God had made a compact with Noah. He had given him a promise that He would save Noah and his family from the flood. All flesh would be destroyed, but Noah and his family would be saved.

We read in Genesis 7:23, “And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark” (emphasis added).

Noah had God’s promise that He would preserve and protect him and his family from the storm. We have God’s “exceeding great and precious promises” (cp. 2 Pet 1:4). During the storms of life we can trust God’s promises. We can rest in them and rely on them.

There was a night when the disciples found themselves in a storm. They were afraid that their little vessel was going to sink and they would all drown. However, before they set sail, the Lord Jesus said to them, “Let us go over unto the other side of the lake” (Luke 8:22). He never warned them about the storm, but He did say they were going to the other side. You can be sure that if the Lord says you are going to the other side, you will make it to the other side. The winds may howl, the waves may dash high, the lightening may flash, and your boat may be flooded with water, but we have God’s promise that we are going to make it through the storm.

Are you going through a storm? If so, are you looking at the storm or the Savior? When you look out at the storm, it can shake your faith. But, when you look in at the Lord, it will settle your faith.

There is one final look that I want you to take with me. Let’s once again step back inside the ark and look through the window again. As we do so we see that:

LOOKING UP CAN STRENGTHEN OUR FAITH

When God gave Noah instructions for building the ark, He said in Genesis 6:16, “A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above.” As we saw earlier, there was only one window in the ark. The window was not placed in the side of the ark, but at the very top. God said “thou shalt finish it above.” In order to look out the window, you had to look up.

Because the window was in the top of the ark, whenever Noah looked out, he was looking up toward heaven. What a fitting place for the window, because looking up:

Promoted Dependence

A. W. Pink described the location of the window the following way, “Noah and his companions were not to be looking down on the scene of destruction beneath and around them, but up toward the living God.”

In other words, they were to keep their eyes on the Lord! They were to look to the Lord, trusting in His promises and protection. As they looked up it reminded them that the God above was watching over them.

A group of deacons were discussing a need that had arisen in the Church. They discussed different ways to meet the need, but none seemed sufficient. Finally one deacon said, “It looks like we will have to pray about it.” Another deacon cried out, “You mean it has come to that.”

May I say it should always come to that! Our eyes must be upon the Lord. We must look to Him in faith, trusting in His Word. Our dependence must not be on our ability to face and survive the storm, but rather on His ability to keep us and bring us through the storm.

Years ago a single lady was leaving for a foreign field to fulfill God’s call in her life. Just before she boarded her ship, a friend walked up to her and handed her a sealed envelope and said, “If you ever get to the place you have nowhere to turn, open this envelope.” More than thirty years later she returned home for a visit and stood to give her testimony. In her hand was that envelope, still sealed. She told the story of what her friend had said to her on the day she departed and then said, “In all these years I never got to the place where I had nowhere to turn. My Lord was always there.”

You will never get to the place where you have nowhere or no one to turn to in time of need. Look up! Look up to the Lord! Rest in His promises and depend on Him to keep those promises.

Furthermore, looking up:

Prevented Distraction

The window was not only in the top of the ark, but it was a very small window. Genesis 6:16 tells us the window was a “cubit” in width and length. A cubit was commonly reckoned to be the length from the point of the elbow to the end of the middle finger, which is normally about 18 inches. I think you would agree with me that was a very small window for a ship the size of the ark.

Because the window was small, Noah and his family had a limited view of what was happening outside of the ark. This was not a large bay window which gave them a panoramic view of all that was going on around them. No, their vision was greatly restricted. Because it was in the top, they could not look around. They could only look up. The focus of Noah was narrowed by the location and size of the window.

The location and size of the window reminds us that when we are in the storm our focus must be narrow. As I have already said, we must not look at the storm. We must keep our eyes on the Lord.

The story is told that when Leonardo da Vinci finished his painting of the Lord’s Supper, he invited a trusted friend to view it and give him his assessment of the work. The friend looked at the painting and commented on the cup sitting in the center of the table. He seemed oblivious to everything else. Leonardo reached for his brush, dipped it into the paint, and with one bold stroke, wiped out the cup. He then said to His friend, “Look at the Master’s face! Look at the Master!”

When you go through the storms of life keep your eyes on the Lord. Looking out at the storm will shake your faith, Looking in will settle your faith, and Looking up will strengthen your faith. In all things and at all times, keep your eyes on the Lord.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full into His wonderful face,

And the things of the earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace.