focus for meditation on the reconciling work of God in Christ, drawing on the understanding of the ark as God’s mercy seat. Again, it is the point of encounter. Typically, the history of interpretation comes late to recognizing the satirical bent of the tales. Theologically, these stories, which have a strong resemblance to folktales, remind the modern reader that these texts are well aware of the uncanniness and the unpredictability of the God they bear witness