Finding Noah's Ark

Gale Brown, Biblical Archaeology, July 4, 2013. How important is it if Noah’s Ark is discovered and reasonably verified? From time to time we hear about those who have searched for Noah’s Ark, and some say they are reasonably certain it is there. Many of those searches had to cease because of local laws and restrictions. I don’t know if anyone is currently active in their search. Noah’s Ark, for the most part, is said possibly to be in modern Turkey, within the mountain ranges of Mt. Ararat, according to some relatively recent archaeological expeditions. Even back when Josephus lived (37-100 A.D.) he said in his writings that some Armenians in that locale claimed to know where it was and were showing it to people! “…the Armenians call this place…The Place of Descent: for the Ark being saved in that place, its remains are shewed by the inhabitants to this day.” Flavius Josephus, “Antiquities of the Jews, Book 1, Ch. 3:5b. How important is it to us? Well, of course it would be great if God allowed that to happen, and there was an actual verifiable find. It would be awesome! However, it doesn’t really mean much in relation to our faith in Christ. Real faith is based on belief in the Scripture, relationship with Christ through the Holy Spirit, being born of the Spirit. Jesus told Thomas, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.” (John 20:29). By the way, Jesus is The Ark to us, or better yet, the Ark is a type of Christ. He is our safety and protection from eternal destruction. Jesus told the story of the rich man and Lazarus. I should point out here that Jesus told a story, being God in the flesh, it was from real experiences. Whether it was what He saw and learned growing up, or given to Him by revelation of the Spirit, or a combination of both, He told real stories! Anyway, Lazarus had died, and also the rich man died and went to hell. (You can read the entire discourse on your own if you want) Towards the end of the rich man’s talk with Abraham, he said this: “…I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him (Lazarus) to my father’s house, (which Abraham could not do anyway!) 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’” (Luke 16: 19-31 NKJV). Basically, Jesus quoted Abraham as saying, “they have the Law and the prophets, let them believe the Scriptures.” Many times God allows us to see things that will cause us or others to believe. But that is not the basis of faith. It is believing Jesus Christ is who He says He is, the Savior of the world, “especially to those who believe.” Will you believe? You would never be sorry. God bless!