Noah and the Father’s Love

Genesis 6:5-7:24


The reading for today is about Noah and the great flood --- a familiar story for many of us.  As I read this story I kept coming back to Genesis 6:5-8.  These verses describe mankind’s “wickedness on the earth” and God’s response.  Verse 6 especially got my attention, stating “The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.”  This is from the NIV translation.  Other translations say God was sorry or regretted that he had made man and that his heart was grieved and even broken.  My study bible has a note that says “Man’s sin is God’s sorrow” and directs you to Ephesians 4:30 where Paul directs us not to “grieve the Holy Spirit of God”.  


It is amazing to me that Almighty God can be pained or sorrowful because of our sinful behavior and disobedience.  But that seems to be the case in this story.  And yet, when I consider God as a loving Father who sacrificed His Son for our redemption, why am I surprised?  Just as obedience shows our love for God, disobedience (sin) grieves his heart. 


Over the past several weeks we have been singing a song at church that seems to give a good summary to these thoughts.  I have included a link below.  Please take a moment to listen closely to the lyrics, especially the second verse, and give thanks that we have a Father that loves us “beyond all measure”.


“How Deep the Father’s Love for Us"

Noah endures forty days of rain

       March   7

Read Genesis 7:17-24; 9:8-15 and reflect on the passages.

The story of Noah's ark is one of the Most familiar Bible stories. Depictions of it grace everything from baby nursery bedding to decorative accents. And yet, if we focus only on the flood, it could be one of the most discouraging stories of the Bible.

However, within the narrative of Noah’s Ark, we have not only the story of the flood, but the rainbow as a promise to never flood the earth again. Also within this account, we have a display of one of the great tensions about our Lord: He is both a God of justice, sovereignty, and righteousness as well as a God of compassion, mercy, and love.

If we focus solely on the sinfulness that lead to the destruction of the flood, we can miss the rainbow and God’s covenant of hope.

And so it is with our own personal narrative and with this Lenten journey that we have a choice: we can fix our eyes on the catastrophe of sin or fix our eyes on the great promises of a risen King who has overcome and given us power and authority as we trust in Him.

Questions

1. How can you remember to fix your eyes on the Lord today?

2. What aspect of God’s creation reminds you of God’s faithfulness to us?

Prayer

Gracious God, thank You for giving us the choice of where to fix our eyes, hearts, and minds. Help us to choose wisely! Amen.

—Jessica Efird

That was then...this is now

Genesis 6:7-8 (NIV)
   So the LORD said, "I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth--men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air--for I am grieved that I have made them."
  But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. 

"The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain." (Genesis 6:6) It is difficult to imagine how bad things must have been to bring God to the point of regretting His creation of man. "...for I am grieved that I have made them."  (Genesis 6:7b)

If ever there was a testimony to the wisdom of not doing something because everyone else does, this story is it.  God was disappointed with His people.

This begins the account of Noah, the one good thing God saw. "But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord." (Genesis 6:8) God saved Noah and his family; he did not allow them to become collateral damage once He decided to put an end to all the people.

In fact, while Noah and his family were obeying God and building that Ark, their future home, God still provided ample time for His people to change. Instead of ridiculing Noah, had they helped him on this project, and listened to Noah tell of his God, surely more could have been saved. But it didn't happen that way, and everyone outside Noah's family was destroyed.

Doesn't this make you wonder about the times we live in now? Wickedness and evil are at every turn. Christians are ridiculed and persecuted for their beliefs. The religious freedom once enjoyed by all is disappearing. Family values are put into question, even the definition of 'family' is changing.

We need to remember that God is good...all the time.  He wants us to embrace our faith and turn to Him...all the time.

Genesis 6:1-13

Matthew 24: 36-44

                                                The Day and Hour Unknown

This passage refers to what it was like in the days of Noah and the Ark. The picture I envision is Noah and his family diligently working on the ark and planning for an incredible trying experience, while the rest of mankind is going about their daily activities, indulging and entertaining themselves. Perhaps they had a good laugh as they passed by Noah’s monumental project, oblivious to what was to come. An incredible wave abruptly invades their world, and everyone is in an intense panic, terrified for themselves and their loved ones. It’s too late! The damage has been done. They haven’t got a prayer of surviving. They are staring death in the face, and it’s going to be ugly.

Matthew 24: 39-41 “…and they knew nothing of what would happen until the flood came and took them away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. Therefore keep watch, because you do know on what day your Lord will come,…..so you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.”

Be ready. The bible is saturated with verses about the coming of the Lord. Be ready.

It is not like preparing for a special dinner or dressing up for an evening out. It is a life long journey of commitment to the God of the universe to love Him, love others, and obey his commands as we lead others to Him. It is about true faith and faithfulness that radiates from deep within our hearts.

If we are one of the men in the field, I hope we take the time to teach the other man about the Lord before the time comes. If we are one of the women grinding, I pray we speak to the heart of the other woman about Jesus in time for her too, to be saved.

James 5:8 “You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 

Listen to/Read Matthew 24: 36-44

Promises, Promises Genesis 9

We live in a world where people go back on their word. Husbands and wives betray each other, children lie to their parents. Co-workers and friends betray one another to get ahead. It’s hard to know who to trust. So often those in authority hurt their subordinates to make an extra buck or cover a mistake they made.

As I read today’s passage I can’t help but compare those around me to people in scripture. We see Noah and his family starting life over again after God destroyed the earth because of its evil ways. All of creation is gone and it’s up to a few people who are given a second chance, to do it right. I don’t know about you, but I would be a bit paranoid. I would feel extreme pressure to not screw up.

God must have known that Noah needed some reassurance too, because he makes a promise to Noah. He promises to never destroy the earth with a flood again. This is a promise Noah can count on. He knows God won’t go back on his word. So the next time is starts to sprinkle Noah can jump in the puddles and in the boat.

God keeps his word. Remember that the next time someone betrays you. We worship a God who will never go back on his promises. Life will have its struggles, but we can count on a faithful God.

Read today entire passage on Biblegateway.com Genesis 9

Flood Abates - Genesis 8:1-22

Is there something specific you think about when reading this chapter in Genesis?  Is there one point that jumps off the page for you?  Verse 20 struck me as curious.  "Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it."

This verse reminded me of a sermon and the preacher was teaching us to thank God for our troubles; to give him praise while going through difficult times.  He went on to explain that it is during our most difficult seasons we grow.  It is through struggle and pain we gain strength and wisdom.  It is during these times in our life when God has our attention; even if we are calling out to him with our fists raised.

At first, this idea made no sense at all.  I tried to process this thought and recognized that God is with us at all times, through the good and the not so good.  Over the days following that message I listed some of my own reasons to give thanks following personal storms.  I was able to thank Him for the experience, the blessing, the knowledge He walked with me, and for making me stronger.

Noah must have been thanking God for all these reasons too.  And God blessed this worship.


Read the entire scripture for today at Biblegateway and Genesis 8:1-22

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Trust and Obey -- Genesis 7

Sometimes I tell my grandson he needs to eat some lunch before we can go outside and play. Caleb knows if he does his part, Grandmom will carry through on the agreement.

God made an agreement with Noah. He and his family and the animals in the ark would be saved if Noah did as God asked.

“And Noah did all that the LORD commanded him.” (v 5) Noah built the ark, gathered his family and the animals into the ark according to God’s instructions. God didn’t do any of the work for Noah. Noah had to be willing to focus on God. He had to choose to do his part in order to save and be saved from the impending flood.

“Then the LORD shut him in.” (v 16b) Noah trusted and obeyed God. God closed the door to the ark to secure the safety of those inside. Only Noah and those with him were saved.

Reading today’s text, I am reminded of God's promise to be with me always. I focus on God and make Him the center of my life. I am far from perfect, but if I do my part, I know God loves me and will walk with me through all sorts of joys and storms. My hope, peace and, comfort is secure in Him when I trust and obey.

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Read today's text on Biblegateway, Genesis 7.

Do we want what's right? Genesis 6:9-22

Do you ever think that our world is just as bad as in the time of Noah? Scripture says, “The earth was corrupt in God's sight and was full of violence.” Some days I feel like we don’t live much different, but every once in awhile I get glimpses of hope. I see through the actions of others, we have not completely gone back to our “only evil, all the time” ways.

I saw a movie the other day that held one of those moments. I am a Twilight follower, for those of you who know what I’m talking about; please don’t hold that against me. I am a hopeless romantic who loves books and movies with a love story.

The most recent Twilight movie, Eclipse, had a scene that touched my heart. The audience is an active participant in Twilight movies, so when the female lead pursued a sexual relation with her male love interest, the theater was thick with anticipation.

What those, who had not read the book were not expecting, was the refusal. Edward, the male heartthrob told his soul mate, Bella, that he would not have sex until they were married. Can you believe it? In the year 2010 the summer’s biggest blockbuster hit does not have sex in it, because he wants to do the right thing. The main character proceeds to get down on one knee, proposing marriage. When she accepts the theater erupted in applause.

People still want what is right, even if they don’t know it. They would never have cheered if the two lovers had given in to their physical desires, but they cheered when they chose to wait. It seems we still have some hope.

Read the entire passage on Biblegateway.com Genesis 6:9-22

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