Genesis 6-7

Warming Up

Today is a day full of sin and struggle—and it is a day made and consecrated by the Lord. Tell him about the events of your day and let anxiety slip away.

School started yesterday. It is an interesting thing, This gives me no anxiety or fear. Teaching does not overwhelm me anymore. I guess that is what 5 years experience under my belt will do for me. :) However, at the end of the day, I do not feel like I have anything to give to my family, especially my kids. For the past week I have been almost completely drained when I get done at work, so when I go pick up my kids I am tired and out of sorts. I don't have the energy to give them 100% of myself.

I got more sleep yesterday and I woke up for a QT (at 5:30...who knew I would ever voluntarily do that...) but I still felt drained.

I am also trying to get my website up and running for Graphic Design teachers...but there is nothing else that I can really do. I am waiting on Brian to finish up a few things to help it function better. So, until that happens, I'm a little stuck. I don't spend much time on the website anymore, and I am ok with that. I am not trying to replace my work income...I like my job. The goal of the site has kind of changed. I am offering a lot of free stuff at the moment. I work on it when I can. I imagine that since school has started, I will have more time to put into it.

Time. That four letter word. Why does there never seem to be enough time? I am so jealous of when I had more of it. But that was then. Now is a new and different adventure, and if I am not careful, I will miss it.

Discovering

When the Lord looks at the human condition in the time of Noah, what does he see (6:5-13)?

• The wickedness of man was great.
• EVERY thought and plan of his heart was COMPLETELY evil.
• BUT Noah was not one of those men.
• God saw Noah as a righteous man, blameless among all the people.
• The world was corrupt and filled with violence.

How has God's attitude toward creation changed since the beginning (1:31; 6:6-7, 11-13, 17)?

1. First it was very good.
2. Then he regretted and was grieved that he had ever made man. God would destroy man, and as an extra precaution, all the plants and animals would have to go too. 
3. Then he saw it as corrupt and filled with violence. He was still ready to destroy the earth.
4. And the way that he will destroy the earth, would be with water.

How is Noah different from his contemporaries (6:9; 7:1)?

Noah was different from his fellow man. He was called righteous. He walked with God.  I do not feel like I truly walk with God. I do the right things and I am a "good girl", but I don't feel truly connected with God. And to tell you the truth. The idea scares me. What if God calls me to do something unbearably difficult...suffering...the Christian life is flooded with it. Oh, God. Help me look past my fears and find peace in your promises and joy in the knowledge of your grace.

What provisions does God make for Noah and for the various living creatures to preserve life after the flood (7:14-22)?

• God took two of every creature on earth and had them go with Noah on the ark.
• God sealed the door for their protection from the waters of the flood.
• Everything else...died.

 What details are given about the flood and its results (7:17-24)?

• The waters fell for 40 days.
• The ark rose high above the destruction.
• The water rose so high that even the tallest mountains were covered by more than 22 feet.
• Every land creature on the earth died.
• The waters prevailed for 150 days.
• That is more than 6 months, in case you're wondering.

Apply

In what situations have you felt embarrassed because of your obedience to God?

Sometimes it is in things as simple as prayer before a meal. I can feel the eyes on me and my prayer is...well less than spiritual because I am rather distracted.

Other times, I'm embarrassed in my daily life around the people I meet. I don't want to share my faith in the way I probably should because I worry about what people will think of me. Or worse, I don't feel confident enough in my faith to reach out to someone who needs to hear truth.

Other time still, I am embarrassed to represent such an unpopular subject. Jesus has been so watered down in our culture that the truth seems to be more of a children's story than saving truth. But this truth is the only truth that matters. I don't completely understand why Jesus had to die...but he did die and that somehow saved us all from eternal damnation, an eternity without God. This is the truth that everyone needs so desperately to hear, and I struggle to give this truth to those who need it because the topic has almost become taboo in our culture. People who speak this truth are sometimes construed as "Bible thumpers" and that his not how I want to come across.

God, help me get past these things and be obedient to the things that you have asked of me.

What do chapters 6 and 7 reveal about the severity and grace of God?

Severity of grace? I am not sure that I agree with the wording here...Severity is usually thought of in a negative way. But I suppose the definition is technically: very great, or intense.

So, he had to destroy man because he is a just God. I don't know why he chose to do it this way instead of simply striking every man dead on the spot and being done with it...But anyway, he saved Noah and his family. Noah was called righteous even though he still sinned. He made mistakes (which we read about later).

God saves righteous sinners. That sounds like an oxymoron, but it's true.

The New Testament compares the severe judgment in the days of Noah with the judgment that will be poured out at the return of Christ. How can you urge those around you to seek refuge in Christ?

Shall I stand in the street and shout their damnation? Not only do I not want to put in the energy for that, but I do not feel like that is effective. At least not in our time and culture.

My method is slow. Cultivate a relationship. Slowly ask leading questions and encourage them to seek you. To be completely honest, it's not a great method. I confess that I have zero success. I have lead one person to Christ and to be completely honest, I don't know that that person is really saved. My old college roommate.

A better method would be to pray...a lot more than I do. Time to make some changes there.

Responding in Prayer

Think of someone you want to come to salvation. Pray to God and ask him to "flood" that person with love and forgiveness.

 Leah. Thank you so much for her life and her love for her family. I pray that you would bring her to your grace. Help her to seek you. Bring someone into her life that would lead her to you.