You may have heard the story of Noah’s Ark when you were growing up. My grandmother used to tell me Bible stories when I was little, and Noah’s Ark was always one of my favorites. It’s one of those stories I thought I knew pretty well, but when I read through it again this week, I noticed something I had never really thought about before.
In Genesis 6 and 7, God gives Noah very specific instructions for building the ark. He tells him what kind of wood to use, how big to make it, how many decks it should have, and even what food to bring on board. God covers so many details, but there is one thing He never tells Noah to add.
There was no rudder.
A rudder is what helps a boat steer. It gives you some control over where you’re going, and I would think Noah might have wanted one once the waters started rising and the ark began floating. But Noah was never asked to steer. The Bible says he simply did everything God commanded him to do.
God gave Noah what he needed to be saved, but He did not give Noah control over the direction.
That feels familiar to me, because I like having a rudder. I like knowing where things are headed. I like having some control over the timing, the direction, and the outcome. But there are times when God is not asking me to steer. He is asking me to obey what He has said, trust Him with what I cannot see, and stay with Him while He carries me where I need to go.
Noah didn’t need a rudder because God was guiding the ark.
And maybe I don’t need as much control as I think I do either.