Tag: Noah
Thankful for God’s Grace
Scripture reading for January 3rd: Genesis 5-9
Growing in Thanksgiving: Genesis 6:9-14 “This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God. . . Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and full of violence. God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out.”
Although man was created “very good”, sin entered mankind through their disobedience and the creation was corrupted as well. In a few years, the man God created had become so evil that God judged the earth and destroyed all living things except one man, Noah, and his family and a remnant of the animals. God preserved them as they obeyed His instruction to build the ark.
Cause for Thanksgiving: God spared Noah and is true to His Word! Jesus used Noah and his time to speak of His return. “As in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away.” (Matthew 24:37-38)
Maintaining watchfulness!
Scripture reading for February 3rd: Matthew 24
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Matthew 24:42-44 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.”
Fathers and husbands are expected to be protectors of their homes and families. Prudence in protecting in our day is to have security cameras and alarms installed on or around the doors and windows. Some even have cell phones connected that dial their number when suspicious activity is detected from their home. Jesus also was concerned about protection of the precious souls of men and women! He encouraged a watchfulness from each person over their own souls against the intrusions of the ‘thief’, who would come to ‘kill, steal, and destroy.’ (John 10:10)
Jesus also likened His own second coming to that of the ‘thief’, who came at an unexpected hour! Only those who were ready and watching would receive Jesus as He returned. Some of those expecting to be part of Christ’s kingdom would not be ready and would be left out, having missed the window of opportunity. This happened to those warned of the flood in Noah’s time and would again at Christ’s return. (Matthew 24:37-39) This would be the ultimate eternal loss!
Observations for over-comers: It pays to be watchful! No one knows the day or hour of Christ’s return so true believers choose to stay in readiness! “Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to You while You may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach Him.” (Psalm 32:6)
From Noah’s Family came the nations!
January 4th Scripture Reading: Genesis 10-11
In preceding chapters of Genesis we saw that God chose Noah to rebuild the population of the earth again. God blessed Noah and told him and his family to be fruitful and fill the whole earth. (Genesis 9:1) But Noah’s grandson, Nimrod, led a rebellion around 100 years after the flood. He gathered family members together on the plain of Shinar (Ancient Babylon, current Iraq). They decided to build a tower at Babel that would reach to the heavens and to make a name for themselves and resist being scattered over the face of the earth. (Genesis 11:1-4)
But God came down! God realized that with one language and Nimrod’s rebellious leadership that nothing would be impossible for them. He confused their language and scattered them over the earth and stopped their building.
God did one more thing that insured that they would not get back together for rebellion. Genesis 10 is a genealogy of the sons of Noah. One of Shem’s grandsons, Eber, had a son, Peleg. Peleg means “division” and verse 25 states that “in his time the earth was divided. . “. Some creation scientists believe that this is when God could have separated the continents following the judgment at the tower of Babel. Those scattered people groups represented by the 70 family groups of Genesis 10 formed the nations of the world that we see in existence today. (see The Genesis Record by Dr. Henry Morris, pages 260-261) A side note is that “Eber” is probably where the name “Hebrews” was derived.
“From one man He (God) made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.” Acts 17:26-27
God connects with Noah–through faith!
Scripture reading for January 3rd–Genesis 6-9
God saw that the man that He had made in His own image had turned to wickedness instead walking in faith in God’s Word. God’s heart was grieved and filled with pain because of this refusal to connect with Him. Man has a free will to choose his own path instead of God’s, but must accept the consequences. Sin always brings God’s judgment, and ultimately death.
“But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” (Genesis 6:8) God’s eyes are always looking for a way to show favor and mercy! His eyes are looking for any who would be humble and teachable that He might connect with them. God revealed to Noah his plans for judgment of the wicked and a polluted earth. “Noah did everything just as God commanded Him.” (Genesis 6:22)
God did exactly what He said He would do on a specific day in Noah’s life! “In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, on the 17th day of the second month–on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of heaven were opened.” (Genesis 7:11) In the New Testament, Jesus taught that it would be just like the days of Noah when God would again judge the wicked of the earth. (Matthew 24:36-39) But this time it would be by fire! Jesus is waiting patiently for all who will respond to Him, but “a day” is coming!
“By these same waters the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. . . .The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2nd Peter 3:6-7, 9)
Slave to depravity!
Scripture reading for November 28th: 2nd Peter 2:1-22
Peter warned his flock about the false teachers who would come into their midst. These teachers secretly introduced destructive heresies, some that even denied the sovereign Lord who bought them. These teachers were greedy for money and used ear-tickling methods to divide off the weaker sheep and destroy them.
Peter made a case from church history emphasizing God’s dealing with false teaching and rebellion. The first example he used was that of Noah and his family. Noah preached righteousness by faith and built an ark to protect his family. God used a world-wide flood to judge the world of that day that had been corrupted by the false teaching of some wicked beings who were indwelt by fallen angels. These angels were also locked up in hell awaiting the judgment. (2nd Peter 2:4-5)
Next Peter cited the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. God rescued the righteous Lot and his family, but judged the wicked that had rebelled against Him. Peter plainly stated that God would judge the false teachers who promoted immorality and heresy and would rescue those who stood firm in His word! (2nd Peter 2:7-9)
Peter went on to expose these false teachers for who they were. They were arrogant men who blasphemed God and His truth. They were ‘brute beasts’ who operated out of their instincts and fleshly desires. They were immoral and open about it. They were adulterous and greedy for money and sin. They seduced the weak and unstable among the believers. They enticed people who were just escaping from living in sin and took them back into bondage! Peter stated that they were “slaves of depravity”. (2nd Peter 2:13-19)
I think today about ministers and churches who openly embrace the sin of homosexuality as something ordained by God. I think of others who willingly promote “pro-choice’ politics and the murder of the innocent and do that while naming the name of Christ! Often this is done to attract those who so believe and gain monetary support from them. They tell them that God loves them and that they can go on living “as slaves of their depravity’. God’s word plainly states that those who live like this will not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven! (1st Corinthians 6:9-11) God wants to save them, but without repentance He can not!
Commended for Faith!
Scripture reading for November 12th: Hebrews 11:1-16
When we believe on Jesus Christ, we join a select group of individuals who by faith pleased God and laid hold of the promise of being close to Him for eternity. There is no other way to please God than to live by faith in His word!
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” (Hebrews 11:1-3) Faith brings understanding of our creation, purpose and the fall into sin. When we read God’s word the light of truth helps us believe and understand today’s problems.
We also look back at the record of those that came before us and see the outcome of their faith. The writer of Hebrews calls them the ‘ancients’. This record begins with Abel offering a better sacrifice than his brother Cain. Abel obeyed God’s revelation of a blood sacrifice for approaching Him.(Genesis 4:3-8) Cain did not believe. Abel was commended by God as a righteous man and is still speaking to us today through his record in Scripture. (Hebrews 11:4) Cain was mastered by the sin of unbelief and killed his righteous brother. He lost God’s blessing.
Enoch so pleased God that he escaped death by his faith-motivated actions. (Hebrews 11:5) Enoch walked with God and was a prophet to his generation concerning God’s coming judgment. (Jude 14-15) God simply took him to heaven directly as an example for us of the reward of faith-filled living! (1st Corinthians 10:11)
Noah was warned by God of a coming destructive judgment of the world by water. Because he believed God, he built the ark according to God’s direction. He and his family were saved out of all living on the earth as a testimony of the reward of faith. (Hebrews 11:7)
Abraham heard God’s word instructing him to leave his country and go to the land God would show him. Abraham packed up his family and set out, trusting God’s word. He ended up living in a tent in the land of promise, trusting that God was faithful. It is recorded that Abraham was looking for a city built by God! (Hebrews 11:10) Faith pleased God and this record encourages us today.
Creation of the nations
January 5th Scripture Reading: Genesis 10-11
God chose Noah to start the population of the world all over again through his three sons and their wives. Did you ever wonder how we got all the different nations of the world? Did you wonder where all the languages and nationalities came from? Genesis 10 and 11 give us insight about the nations.
God blessed Noah’s family and told them to multiply and fill the whole earth. (Genesis 9:1) Noah’s grandson born to Ham, Nimrod, led a rebellion around 100 years after the flood. The rebellion consisted of gathering family members together on the plain of Shinar (Ancient Babylon, current Iraq). They decided to build a tower that would reach to the heavens and to make a name for themselves instead of filling the earth. (Genesis 11:1-4) This seemed harmless enough, except it was against God’s command.
God came down! Man had built himself a tall tower, in a vain attempt to reach the heavens. This disobedience was the very kind of sin that got man removed from the Garden of Eden. God realized that with one language and rebellious leadership, nothing would be impossible for them. He confused their language and thus scattered them over the earth.
God did one more thing that insured that they would not rebel again. Genesis 10 is a genealogy of the son’s of Noah. One of Shem’s grandsons, Eber, had a son Peleg. The Bible states that “in his time the earth was divided. . “. (Genesis 10:25) Some scientists believe that this is when God might have separated the continents. Genesis chapter 10 lists seventy family groups that formed the nations of the world that we see in existence today. (see The Genesis Record by Dr. Henry Morris, pages 260-261)(also book review page and sidebar). A side note is that “Eber” is probably where the name “Hebrews” was derived. The concentration of genetics in each scattered group could have resulted in the races we see today. Take time today to thank Him for your heritage and for showing mercy in judgment at the Tower of Babel.
“From one man He (God) made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.” Acts 17:26-27
A day in Noah’s life
Scripture reading for January 4th: Genesis 6-9
As we read this familiar story of Noah and the flood, let’s listen for God’s heart. God saw that the man that He had made in His own image had turned to wickedness instead of the walk of faith God had planned for him. Man’s sin had caused God’s heart to become grieved and filled with pain. That same sin had consequences for mankind. Man has the freedom to choose his own will instead of God’s, but no freedom to choose the consequences. Sin always brings God’s wrath and ultimately death.
“But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” (Genesis 6:8) God’s eyes are always looking for a way to show favor and mercy! (2nd Chronicles 16:9) His eyes are looking for any who would listen to Him so He might save and bless them. God revealed His plans to Noah for judgment of wicked mankind and a polluted earth. He gave specific instructions for saving Noah, his family, and the animals. Noah did everything just as God commanded Him.” (Genesis 6:22)
“In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, on the 17th day of the second month–on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of heaven were opened.” (Genesis 7:11) God did exactly what He said He would do on a specific day in Noah’s life! Jesus taught that it would be just like the days of Noah when God would finally and completely judge the wicked of the earth. (Matthew 24:36-39) This time it would be by fire! Are you a person like Noah of old who is declared “righteous” in God’s sight by faith in Jesus Christ? Does your walk with God demonstrate separation from the sins of the world and obedience to God? There is a day coming when the fire of God will fall!
“For He has set a day when He will judge the wold with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising Him from the dead.” (Acts 17:31)
“By these same waters the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.” 2nd Peter 3:6-7
“Noah Found Favor in the Eyes of the Lord”
Scripture reading for January 4rd: Genesis 6-9
Oh how dependent we are on God’s grace! We are all bound up in sin’s grip and the wrath of God is being released against all ungodliness daily. (Romans 1:18) It is only by His grace that we are saved. The people of Noah’s day were caught up in continual wickedness and sin. God was grieved that He had made man and was preparing judgment. It was by grace that Noah and his household found favor in God’s eyes. (Genesis 6:8)
Sin always brings judgment. God has decreed that sin brings death. But man, in his blindness to God’s truth, thinks that life is going on just fine. Everything is like it has always been. People seem to get by and all die eventually. Why not live as you please and do what feels good before you are dead too? Those with no fear of God block out the knowledge of God and suppress the truth in unrighteousness. God’s mercy and patience are ignored and the sin piles up to heaven and tips the scales of judgment suddenly on a day no one expects! (Revelation 16:15)
This happened in Noah’s day. Because he found favor, God warned Noah of the coming judgment. Noah was instructed to build an ark and took 120 years in this saving endeavor. Noah’s faith was tested by the building process and the long wait. When the ark was finished, God told him to gather the animals and get his family and himself inside. God shut the door and Noah and the animals waited seven days. Noah obeyed. (Genesis 7:1-5) Then the rains came down and the flood broke upwards as the fountains of the deep opened up. It was in the six hundredth year of Noah’s life in the second month and on the 19th day that this happened.
What do we learn from this story? First, sin brings judgment and God doesn’t forgive unless there is repentance. He may delay the judgment and offer more time, but those who sin will be held accountable. God spoke to Noah and he in turned warned that generation. At the appointed time, the judgment fell suddenly. Those who were obedient and prepared were saved. Those who delayed or did nothing died!
Prayer: Lord, open my eyes to your timetable for me and our nation. May I find favor in your eyes today!
Sunday Rest and Reflection
January 4th–Sunday of Rest
Each Sunday, the devotional Bible I am following this year offers a time to catch up and reflect on the journey so far. I liked the idea and thought it was good. Catch up today and rest in the Lord. This walk is not a race. We are involved to build a relationship with the Lord and want to know His heart.
As I reflect on these first three days, I am excited at what I am learning and insights that I have gotten that help me on the way. God created the heavens and earth and man and then he took one day to rest. That day was man’s first full day on earth and he was to spend it with the Lord, enjoying creation and the loving God who created it for his pleasure.
I think about Enoch who walked with God so closely that God just took him to be with Him. The birth of a child to Enoch and his wife, caused him to begin to prophesy about the Lord coming again in judgment. He was 365 years old when the Lord took him directly to heaven–one of only two in the Old Testament who didn’t die physically! Oh, for that close a walk! In fact, this is just what we are to be ready for today in the rapture of the church at the last trumpet! Noah walked with God and rode the ark over the waters to a new world! What an exciting walk! The God we serve is worthy of our worship and service. It’s just a drop of worship compared to the oceans of his mercy!
He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Revelation 22:20