Tag: worldwide flood
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!