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"

Christ-Centered Suffering

READ: Colossians 1:24-29

Everyone suffers. We fail ourselves and suffer internally. Then come the attacks of the world. We work hard, but our bosses don’t appreciate us. Friends and family return our affection with negligence, betrayal, and animosity. Even God torments us with disease or the premature deaths of people we dearly love.

Yet, bound up by all this suffering, we’re expected to proclaim Christ to the world by embodying the fruits of his Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). How is this even possible?

If we are focused on ourselves, it’s not, but if we, like the apostle Paul, are focused on Christ it’s actually quite easy.

Paul writes his letter to the Colossians from a prison cell where he is awaiting execution. For him, this is a natural consequence of the purpose God gave him: to proclaim the Gospel. His life’s suffering is probably far greater than what you and I have endured, yet he rejoices because he’s focused not on himself, but on Christ, whose mission is being fulfilled in him.

I can be incredibly self-centered at times, which causes me to wallow in sufferings when they come and lose sight of the purpose God gave me, namely to proclaim his love and grace to the world through my words and actions. I pray that soon the words Paul spoke in Acts 20:24 will echo in my heart as well: “I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”

The Suffering Servant

READ: Isaiah 53:3-6

Isaiah 53 paints the sad picture of one who took upon himself rejection, suffering, and the punishment that brought peace. The temptation is to look upon Calvary; say, “Thanks, Jesus;” and then settle into a quiet life of comfort and complacency. 

Jesus instructs us otherwise. “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24)

And be rejected?

“Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven.” (Luke 6:22-23)

And suffer?

For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him but also to suffer for him. (Philippians 1:29)

And take upon ourselves the punishments that bring peace?

If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back. (Philemon 18-19)

Really, Paul?

I speak the truth in Christ -- I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit … For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people … (Romans 9:1,3)

More than a scapegoat, Christ is a prototype. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. (Romans 8:29)

You Are My Sunshine

Philippians 1:3-11

What is the worst thing that has ever happened to you? Was it the unexpected loss of a loved one? The loss of your job or maybe even your career? The breakup of a relationship? For me, it was our first child who was still born.

We were young and excited to become parents. In preparation, we wallpapered the nursery; refinished the high chair that I had used as a baby; my wife’s sister gave us the crib her son had used; and we got lots of gifts at a baby shower. One of the gifts was from my Mom. It was a little stuffed wind-up sun that when you wound it up it played, “You Are My Sunshine”.

That night my wife stayed in the hospital and I came home to an empty house. It wasn’t a house filled with the joy of a newborn, but a house filled with emptiness. The high chair was in the kitchen never to hold our daughter. The nursery would never hear her cry or see her sleep. She would never hear “You Are My Sunshine”.

Paul knew what it was like to experience loss. In fact, he wrote to the Philippians while in prison; so he had lost his freedom to come and go as he pleased. One of the ramifications of that is he lost relationships because he couldn’t travel freely.

 Paul also wrote about being a “slave to Christ” which means that he willingly gave up

certain rights and relationships that he might have enjoyed otherwise. For instance, he might have gotten married had he not been so driven in his commitment of following Christ. All this to say that Paul knew the pain of loss.

Most of us will never experience the pain and suffering that Paul did due to persecution. But in this world you either already have experienced loss, pain and suffering, or you will at some time. When that happens Paul’s words to the Philippian believers should encourage you.

⁶ And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.    NLT

 It is Paul’s concern, goal and prayer for the Philippian church, as well as for you and me, that God’s good work is completed in us; that we keep our focus on our Lord. Maybe the writer of Hebrews said it best.

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.           Hebrews 12:1b-2a NIV

Nothing Can Separate Us...

Life is overwhelming somedays. We feel such pain for the things that take place in our homes and in the lives of those we love, that we wonder how we will ever survive. During those moments, we are at a loss for words, for tears, and for hope. What does a person do, where do they turn?

I imagine everyone reading today has felt this despair at one time or another. Perhaps you are in the midst of it right now. Where do you turn? Who comforts you during your lowest and most helpless season?

Romans 8:26 (MSG)
Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. 

When brokenness enters our life and when death or illness causes unbearable pain and heartache, we can know that God does care. The care goes deep and spreads over our entire lifetime.  Remember that crush of first love which went unrequited? Remember the pain which accompanied the breaking heart? Sure, looking back we acknowledge how young we were and how unrealistic our feelings of our life being over were. But the pain was real.

In fact, that pain prepared us for the 'grown-up' pain we experienced years later. And with that comes another realization; God was there early on and God is here now. During those seasons we don't know how to even ask God for what we need, we don't have to. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. 

Romans 8:26-39

Trials and Temptations/Ask for Wisdom Without Doubt

James 1: 2-8

How often God removes our shackles in the furnace of affliction.  (Streams in the Desert-April 2)

A few days ago, Judy sited this line from a daily devotional. As we travel through this week’s reading on doubt and trials I believe it’s worth repeating and internalizing.

James, the brother of Jesus began the book of James by asking us to consider it pure joy to face trials and that the testing of our faith develops perseverance.

James wasn’t suggesting we should be glad we are in pain, but because of the benefit coming our way as a result of the pain.

I know a couple that suffered a tremendous loss when their teenage daughter took her own life about seven years ago. Before this event, the entire family was connected and involved in their church. After all the formalities were taken care of and the funeral was behind them, the mother of the teen developed intense bitterness and refused to attend church. She was angry with God for taking her child and to this day she bears the burden only the Lord can remove. Her husband, on the other hand chose to use the pain to persevere and become mature and complete in the Lord. I see him regularly worshiping, maturing, sharing, and glorifying God with no doubt what so ever. He is a true man of God despite his experience in the furnace of affliction. He has allowed God to remove his shackles.

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." James 1:5-6

God offers to turn the pain we experience into something positive, but without Him the Bible offers no assurance that our pain will serve any good purpose. 

In the hands of our redeemer, Nothing is Wasted; by Jason Gray (listen) 

Read/Listen to James 1:2-8

Finally At Peace

Genesis 50:4-14

Jacob finally found peace and was buried in the very place he had requested, near his wife Leah, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah. Pharaoh’s officials, the dignitaries of his court and all the dignitaries of Egypt accompanied Jacob’s family. Chariots and horsemen also complimented the procession up to the cave in Canaan. What an honorable ceremony. It speaks volumes as to the character of this man.

Most parents can relate to the heart of Jacob and the importance of finding peace before leaving this world. Families are created through the love and dedication of parents. We want the best for our children and all the offspring that follow.

Personally I feel distraught and rather helpless when things within the family are not cohesive. When any in the flock are hurt, distressed, or in conflict my soul is in a state of unrest.

Just as God our Father wishes us to be content and at peace, it’s impossible to imagine how He must feel as he views the pain, confusion, and violence within this world.

After all the years Jacob experienced unrest and mourned for his son Joseph, the moment he laid eyes on his boy, now a man, must have been one of elation and pure joy. All those years of wondering and hurting were finally worth it.

Might that be our view when the Lord finally takes us home as well?  Though we journey through countless hills and valleys in this life and the valleys can be extremely devastating, the moment we lay eyes on our Heavenly Father it will all have been worth the price we paid.

Dear Lord, Thank you for always being there for us, for being a loving God unconditionally. We love the way you celebrate with us during joyous times and allow us to feel you through our pain. We look forward to the day we will be with you. Face to face we will truly understand your love, greater than all other love and we will rest in your peace. Amen

Read/Listen to Genesis 50:4-14

Psalm 22

Prayer is Crying

The amazing Bible is set apart from any other book for many reasons, one of them being fulfilled prophecy. In this psalm alone, hundreds of years before the Romans came to power, David prophesied that the Jewish Messiah would be crucified. The details he included are incredible. Check this out for yourself:

Prophecy                                                                     Fulfillment

Messiah would be forsaken (verse 1)                           Matthew 27:46

Messiah would cry out in darkness (verse 6-8)             Matthew 27:45-46

Messiah would be mocked (verse 6-8)                         Matthew 27:39-40, 43-44

Messiah would be “poured out like water”                    John 19:34

(verse 14)

Messiah would be thirsty (verse 15)                            John 19:28

Messiah would be crucified by non-Jews                     Matthew 27:27-31, 35-36

“dogs” (verse 16)

Messiah’s executioners would gamble for                    Matthew 27:35

His robe (verse 18)

Jesus cried out to the Father, just as we do. His pain was real as ours is. God allowed him to go through intense agony for a far greater cause, as he does with us. The difference is that the pain of Jesus was to save us…......wait, isn’t that the reason for ours as well? Are not the burdens and struggles we face similar to those of our savior? God waits for us to cry out to Him as Jesus did. He longs for us to seek his love and mercy through all our trials, so go ahead and cry out to Jesus! He's "been there, done that." He understands.

Read/Listen to Psalm 22

Listen to Cry Out To Jesus by Third Day

Isaiah 9:1-7

Over the past year or so I have been struck by the many times I have read in various devotionals or studies, of the value of struggles.  Lessons are taught about how rich our faith life becomes after experiencing pain and sorrow.  We are told to "consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you experience trials of many kinds" (James 1:2)  I can open my journal and easily find notes about time of testing.  One entry read, "Real maturity is never the result of a single experience."

"Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan —"(Isaiah 9:1)

I love the book of Isaiah and am almost always assured of great words of wisdom when I dive into a chapter and this one is no exception.  When we are in the midst of a cloud, when life is overwhelming us and we can't seem to catch our breath, Isaiah is telling us the Lord may not spare us from troubles, but if we follow Him wholeheartedly, He will see us through them.

Personally, I know this to be true.  I feel my faith is stronger now, more real, not just something I feel, but something I live.  Having witnessed some of the miracles in the season of my husband's illness and death, I know that Jesus is real and that He is love.  The Lord did not spare me that pain, but He did see me through those dark days and even blessed me with memories I will hold forever.

Read the Isaiah 9:1-7 text here.  Listen to an audio version of the Isaiah 9:1-7 text here.

Colossians 4:2-6

PRAY!

Pray alone with your God! Pray with a congregation of other believers! Pray with a small group! Pray with one other Christ follower! Pray with and for non-believers!......and when you have finished, Pray some more!

Once again Paul reminds us of his suffering for the Lord, and how he was in chains for proclaiming the mystery of Christ. Then he says, "Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should." He doesn't ask for prayer to be freed of those chains, but that within his bondage God's message is made clear.

Our lives on this earth are filled with great suffering and bondage as well. God was up front about this with us right from the get go. He did not promise us that following His Word would bring us a wonderful life here. He clearly offered an honest view of what it would be, using words like persecution, suffering, and pain. Though there are many happy moments in our lives, the older we become the more we realize the reality of his claim. Through our trials however, the importance of maintaining a relationship with Him becomes even greater. Prayer is key. We have been directed many times in the Bible to pray, because prayer is powerful!
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