TWO BY TWO

“Of every clean animal you are to take seven couples, and of the animals that are not clean, one couple.”
Genesis 7:2

In Sunday School growing up it was always taught that the animals went in to ark in pairs. With this idea it always seemed as though only two animals of each kind went in the ark. So there was a male and female lion, male and female kangaroo, and male and female aardvark, and so on and so forth. But having read this passage again, the true story is different. While the animals did go in perhaps two by two, there were not two of every animal. According to Genesis 7:2, some breeds of animals had a total of fourteen that boarded. It was these clean animals that were used in sacrifices while Noach and his family were on the ark.
As I read this portion today I am challenged. For so long, being raised in a standard Christian church, I have found myself believing what was taught to me as opposed to what I read for myself. I recall the flannel board cutouts that showed the ark and the animals in pairs walking to it. I never challenged if I was being taught right. But of how many other lessons have I just taken someone’s word on as opposed to searching it out for myself? And how many other words have I listened to as opposed to listening only to the voice of Adonai? The challenge for all of us today should be in seeking out or hearing Adonai’s Word for ourselves as opposed to letting another’s word dictate our understanding.
I pray that as you and I seek Adonai in the days to come we will find Him. But I pray that you and I seek Him for ourselves.

Genesis 7:1-16