God gives Noah further instructions for the ark. Two of every kind (a male and female) shall come to the ark to be saved. Birds, animals, and creeping things were to be kept alive. Then God told Noah to store food for both his family and the livestock. Noah did all that God commanded.
God intended for the earth to be populated with people and animals after the flood. Recent studies estimate that the total number of animals and flying creatures at that time to be around 1,500. This means that Noah had over 7,000 animals on the ark.
Noah did not have to travel to get the animals to come to the ark. The animals arrived at the ark when summoned by God. God brought two of every kind, male and female, to be saved on the ark. God also told Noah to gather enough food for himself, his family, and all of the animals.
The key theme of Genesis chapter six is that “Noah obeyed God.” Building the ark was a huge undertaking and took many years to complete, but Noah did not give up. He persevered. Noah was obedient and trusted God. Noah’s great example of faith is even mentioned in the New Testament (Hebrews 11).
Biblical Text
19 “And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every kind into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female. 20 “Of the birds after their kind, and of the animals after their kind, of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, two of every kind will come to you to keep them alive. 21 “As for you, take for yourself some of all food which is edible, and gather it to yourself; and it shall be for food for you and for them.” 22 Thus Noah did; according to all that God had commanded him, so he did.
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