In Genesis, Chapter 6, we find the story of Noah and the flood.
At this time, God was bumming hard. People were wicked, and God was sad he'd even created them in the first place. So, he was going to un-create them. He planned to flood the earth, wipe it out, and then...well I'm not sure what he planned to do after that.
But God saw Noah. Noah was a man still living by God's standards, and God was not only going to save his family because of it...he was essentially giving humanity another chance. (Thanks, Noah, we owe you one!)
So with flood warnings in effect, Noah built the ark. I'm sure he was afraid. He'd never had a flood warning before. No one had. And we can imagine the looks he got from the neighbors as he built his land-locked ship. But Noah had taken Flood Survival 101. And it's summed up in Genesis 6:22 : "Noah did everything just as God commanded him."
Not to spoil the end of the story, but it all worked out! And Noah, who was not a professional ship builder, built a boat that did not sink.
There's much we can take away from this one verse survival course. (Well, two verses actually, because the same point is reiterated in verse 7:5...and I don't think God has a bad memory...I'm pretty sure he repeated this for our benefit.)
In life, there are floods. Literal of course, but also figurative. There are going to be storms that come our way. Problems in relationships, in our health, with our jobs and the economy. But we can survive it all. By walking with the Lord, and doing all that he commands us to do!
I know that personally, I'm very good at calling out to the Lord when a problem arises. When things look bleak, I know the Lord has the answers. What I'm not so good at, is doing ALL that he commands me to do. I do maybe 40% of what he wants me to. I do the things that are easy for me to do.
At this time, God was bumming hard. People were wicked, and God was sad he'd even created them in the first place. So, he was going to un-create them. He planned to flood the earth, wipe it out, and then...well I'm not sure what he planned to do after that.
But God saw Noah. Noah was a man still living by God's standards, and God was not only going to save his family because of it...he was essentially giving humanity another chance. (Thanks, Noah, we owe you one!)
So with flood warnings in effect, Noah built the ark. I'm sure he was afraid. He'd never had a flood warning before. No one had. And we can imagine the looks he got from the neighbors as he built his land-locked ship. But Noah had taken Flood Survival 101. And it's summed up in Genesis 6:22 : "Noah did everything just as God commanded him."
Not to spoil the end of the story, but it all worked out! And Noah, who was not a professional ship builder, built a boat that did not sink.
There's much we can take away from this one verse survival course. (Well, two verses actually, because the same point is reiterated in verse 7:5...and I don't think God has a bad memory...I'm pretty sure he repeated this for our benefit.)
In life, there are floods. Literal of course, but also figurative. There are going to be storms that come our way. Problems in relationships, in our health, with our jobs and the economy. But we can survive it all. By walking with the Lord, and doing all that he commands us to do!
I know that personally, I'm very good at calling out to the Lord when a problem arises. When things look bleak, I know the Lord has the answers. What I'm not so good at, is doing ALL that he commands me to do. I do maybe 40% of what he wants me to. I do the things that are easy for me to do.
And so, after doing 40% of what God commands me to do, I turn to God again. Because I'm still in a stormy situation, and my boat has sprung a leak. And now I know why that happens. God commands me to do something for a reason! His commands are laid out in His Word, and he gives me counsel through my fellow believers, and by speaking directly to my heart. All I need to do is all that I am asked by Him.
Today it is my prayer that I will be more like Noah. Someone that God can count on to be completely obedient. Hopefully the fate of humanity will never rest on my shoulders, on my obedience...but the lives and souls of those around me may very well be hanging in the balance.
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