Today we are going to learn the truth about about “2 by 2”, and how to trust God with the details.
We will be covering verses 1-10 in Genesis chapter 7.
“Adonai said to Noach, “Come into the ark, you and all your household; for I have seen that you alone in this generation are righteous before me. Of every clean animal you are to take seven couples, and of the animals that are not clean, one couple; also of the birds in the air take seven couples—in order to preserve their species throughout the earth. For in seven more days I will cause it to rain on the earth forty days and forty nights; I will wipe out every living thing that I have made from the face of the earth.” Noach did all that Adonai ordered him to do. Noach was 600 years old when the water flooded the earth. Noach went into the ark with his sons, his wife and his sons’ wives, because of the floodwaters. Of clean animals, of animals that are not clean, of birds, and of everything that creeps on the ground, couples, male and female, went in to Noach in the ark, as God had ordered Noach. After seven days the water flooded the earth.” Genesis 7:1-9
As we enter chapter 7, we find God pairing up the animals for the ark.
There have been discussions from scholars about how Noah got them on the ark in pairs. It is believed that the animals, like Noah, did just as God commanded. God told them to go to the ark and they went with their mates. Adonai talks to all His creation.
God didn’t have to train the animals to do tricks, they just obeyed his command like Noah. Then, as Adonai clearly stated, after seven days of loading animals, the flood came. He wasn’t kidding. He is a God of order and has a plan.
A great take-away here is that God tells us His plan. His entire Bible is teaching us about what happened and what’s going to happen all the way to eternity with Him. If we study it and pay attention, we know exactly what to expect.
Another interesting note on the 2 by 2, we were taught since we were kids, that they went 2 by 2, period. Meaning, 2 of each kind of animal, male and female. Right?
As with everything else, we have to read the Bible ourselves to get the whole story.
What’s the truth?
“Take with you seven pairs of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate, and one pair of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate, and also seven pairs of every kind of bird, male and female, to keep their various kinds alive throughout the earth.” Genesis 7:2-3
How about that? The truth was there the whole time, we just never read it for ourselves to find it. I spent my life growing up in church and was never taught this truth. Not until my 50s did I learn the whole story studying the Bible firsthand for the first time in my life!
So it was never just two by two!
There were also seven by two of the clean animals.
And what were clean animals for? If you said, for eating, and for sacrifices, you are correct!
Scholars estimated that almost 45,000 animals could have fit into the ark based on the measurements God gave Noah to build the ark. That’s a lot of animals to be stuck with on an ark to take care of for such a long time.
You would be amazed at how fun it really is to study the Bible alone with the Holy Spirit to get the whole story and truth of God’s word. I highly recommend you try it, it will change your life if you are willing to allow the Holy Spirit to take you step by step and dip deep. The revelations He will share with you are mind-blowing to say the least. This story is just one of countless stories that we were never taught. Every word in the Bible has meaning and a purpose for us to know. The Holy Spirit is happy to teach us if we are interested and commit to a relationship with Him.
Trusting God with the details
Verse 5 says that Noah obeyed God and did exactly as He commanded. God handled the rest. He took care of the details. How many times do you worry over the details of something you need to do? You worry about something in your life that is happening to you or out of your control. Worrying over the details stresses you out and prevents you from doing the job well, or at all. Worrying over details that we can’t control while neglecting areas that are under our control, is not part of God’s plan. And it’s not what He wants for you. Like Noah – trust in Adonai. His plans may seem impossible, or crazy, or against the flow of what you are used to; and it may not make sense. Trusting in Him may be out of your comfort zone- but He loves you and He’s working a plan you can’t see. Believe.
So Noah was building the ark, and His Word indicates that God took care of the rest. We could take a lesson from Noah here, do what God tells you to do, and let Him handle the rest of the details. There is peace in the trusting.
Adonai says in Isaiah 46, “I have cared for you since you were born. Yes, I carried you before you were born. I made you and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.”
How comforting to hear how much He loves us. Turn to Him today and trust Him to care for you.
Time to ask “WHY?”
Allow this story to ignite a fire in you to question: “Why do I know what I know? Who taught me? Who taught them? Where is the truth?” Then allow the Holy Spirit to take you on a journey down the narrow path to finding the truth, God’s truth, firsthand for the first time in your life. On this journey with Him you will not only find truth, but His Shalom peace, His everlasting love, joy, and hope. He will show you His purpose and His plan for you as you walk this path hand in hand at His pace
God bless you.