Genesis 6:16

Genesis 6:16

I. When Noah was building his ark, God gave him a command, "A window shalt thou make to the ark," and this window was to be made in the roof. Its purpose was (1) to let in the light and air; (2) that Noah might look out of it, sometimes, to heaven. He could see nothing of earth through it, only heaven. Sometimes he may have felt inclined to doubt during the forty days of rain; but at that window he lifted his face to the light and held communion with God.

II. We have got a voyage over the water-flood also. We have to pass through many storms and troubles. These will swallow us up, unless we systematically keep a window in the roof open, and go to it, to look through it to God. When Daniel was in the land of captivity, he opened his window seven times a day towards Jerusalem, and prayed to God through it. Our Jerusalem is above the heavenly Jerusalem; and we must, like him, turn our faces thither and pray.

S. Baring-Gould, Village Preaching for a Year, 2ndseries, vol. ii., p. 159.

References: Genesis 6:22. M. G. Pearse, Sermons for Children,p. 34; G. Brooks, Outlines of Sermons,p. 383; Clergyman's Magazine,vol. viii., p. 79.