Van Yandell article "Who is Steering the Ship?"

Genesis 8: 3-4 “And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred
and fifty days the waters were abated. And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day
of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat.”
The Biblical description of the ark that Noah built under God’s direction, indicates only the dimensions
(Genesis 6: 15). It was built 300 cubits long (450 feet) by 50 cubits wide (75 feet) by 30 cubits high
(45feet), a three-dimensional box.
There is no scripture that we can reference that in any way describes a pointed bow to make it
dynamically capable of having or requiring a propulsion system.
The water equivalent of aerodynamics is fluid dynamics or hydrodynamics. The ability or inability of a
ship to pass through water is known as drag-coefficient. Neither is suggested or indicated to be of
consideration in the construction of Noah’s ark.
Regardless of their motives we may have been misled by the old time artists and poets in several areas
of Bible study. Even today, the producers of replicas of the ark for tourists and collectors depict he ark
as being seaworthy as ships in today’s maritime use are constructed.
All the ark had to do was float, period. It did not need a propulsion system or a steering system. It wasn’t
going anywhere as far as Noah and his family were concerned because there was nowhere to go.
There is no mention of sails or wind to propel the ark. There is no mention of a steering system such as a
rudder. There is no mention in the Bible of sea paths/currents in the global flood as characterized in
Genesis 6 through 8.
Psalm 8: 8 tells us there are paths/currents in the seas but those are not indicated in any way to have
been during the global cataclysmic flood as the one in Genesis.
So, who determined where the ark’s final resting place was to be? As a believer in our Creator God, I
must promote the belief that God was in control. And why did God select the mountains of Ararat for
that landing place?
Perhaps that is an unanswerable question but nonetheless, we know God had a reason as He has a reason
for everything: every action and every word in the scriptures have meaning. God does nothing foolishly
or without direction; nothing is accidental or coincidental with God.
In today’s geography, Mt Ararat is in the country of Turkey. Since the Bible doesn’t specify the country
or latitude and longitude coordinates of the ark’s resting place, can we be sure it is actually in the
country of Turkey as we know Turkey to be today?
Since 4000 years have passed, I remain skeptical that Turkey’s Mt Ararat is the same as stated in
Genesis 8. Is it possible the explorers and other searchers have been looking in the wrong place for the
ark? We know that several countries have had name changes just in our generation.
Can we take heed from the story of Noah and the ark? Absolutely! God can end all life on earth at any
time He chooses. If God finds just one family with a steadfast anchor to HIM, he will save them
(Genesis 18: 32). God is in control and all our efforts to subvert His will are in vain.

Matthew 24: 38 “   For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying
and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark.” Jesus was issuing a warning and
prophesy.
In so many words He was saying, “Don’t get too comfortable in your sin, this can happen again.” Also
He was offering to be our guiding light in this life.
Along the coastal areas in America, and in much of the rest of the world, often seen are light houses.
Surprisingly enough, the state of Michigan has more light houses than any other state. Michigan is a
peninsula mostly surrounded by Lake Michigan, Lake Huron and Lake Erie.
At one time, Michigan had 140 light houses. Usually tall structures, they provide a beacon of light to
warn sailors of costal dangers. Those dangers are usually large rocks that would cause tremendous
damage to a ship if struck at full speed.
The song, “Jesus Is the Lighthouse” is a powerful message and one we should heed. “And I thank God
for the lighthouse, I owe my life to Him, Jesus is the lighthouse, And from the rocks of sin, He has
shown a light around me, That I might clearly see, If it wasn't for the lighthouse, Where would this ship
be?”
We are that ship and our Glorious Savior is most certainly the Lighthouse. 1 Peter 5: 7 “Casting all your
care upon him; for he cares for you.”
John 8: 12 “Then spoke Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that follows me
shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
Jesus’ words may be taken by some as a warning but in depth, they are actually an invitation.
The Bible teaches there is only one eternal salvation. That is by a faith based belief (Ephesians 2: 8) that
Christ Jesus was crucified (Matthew 27: 35) for the remission of sin (Romans 4: 25) and resurrected
(Matthew 28: 6).
Who or what is steering our ship? Money, power, prestige? It may be time for a reset in life. Think about
the length of a human lifetime then compare it to eternity.
Van Yandell is a retired Industrial Arts teacher, an ordained gospel evangelist and commissioned
missionary. His email: vmy2121@outlook.com