Genesis chapters 6-8 tell the incredible story of Noah and the ark. God saw that the earth was corrupt and full of violence and he said the Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people… I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth.”

For the next chapter and a half or so, God lays out the details regarding how to build the ark, what animals to put into it and the impact of the coming rains and flood.

Regarding that ark, I recently saw an article on social media that I believe was written by Jess Brownsberger. He commented that “the most terrifying detail about Noah’s Ark isn’t the size of the flood, it is the design of the boat.”

We can read and see the details regarding the length, width and height of the craft. We can read the specifics of the wood and how to pitch it properly. But there is one crucial component left out of the Genesis story.

Brownsberger went on to remark, “There was no steering wheel, no sail and worse still, there was no engine. Think how scary that is. Noah was building a massive vessel to survive a global storm, but he had zero control over it, or over where it went.”

“He couldn’t steer it away from rocks. He couldn’t turn it into the waves. He couldn’t aim for dry land. He was completely at the mercy of the water. The Ark was not designed for navigation, just for floating. Noah’s job was to be the passenger, not the captain. God was the Captain.”

As I thought through those words, I couldn’t help but think of my own life and maybe yours. Way too often I am trying to put a steering wheel in the “boat” that I find myself in. Frequently I try to establish some kind of control over my circumstances. I don’t enjoy the trashing about, so I look to hoist a sail, install a rudder or do something to direct the ship.

But that’s just not my (our your) job.

Our job is to build our lives according to His directions. We are to move through the seasons and circumstances with a trusting heart. The Captain is in control. It is our job to trust Him.

So this week, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your ways” (Prov. 3:5-6).

Ahoy fellow sailors!