A Dark Ark?

And it came to pass in the six hundred and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, that the waters were dried up from the earth; and Noah removed the covering of the ark and looked, and indeed the surface of the ground was dry. Genesis 8:13

By my count this is the fourth Monday in less than two weeks. At least it surely does feel like it; there may even be a fifth one lurking around the corner this coming week. Garfield must be utterly cranky by now, or maybe he worked yesterday and does not have this problem. 

As we are making our way day by day out of the darkest days of the season, I thought about the ark and that covering that Noah removed. Did this mean that Noah and the animals spent 150 days in a dark ark? And then some more time as the Earth dried up and plants began to grow? They lit some fires or torches of course, we might say. However, fire would be a great danger on a wooden ship sealed with pitch and with nowhere to land. That covering would also prevent any smoke from leaving. Two great reasons for Captain Noah to give what may have been his first standing order of the voyage, "No fires!"

And that 150 days of darkness in the ark? That would be tough. I'm glad God promised no more destroying floods. The days may seem short at this time of the year, but we don't have it so bad.  Like Noah and his family, we too are held in God's almighty hands. 

Rejoice in a new year in Christ Jesus!

Bucky