Genesis 8-9:17

Warming Up to God

As you come to Jesus today, let the truth of his love that was poured out for you sink into your soul. Reflect quietly for a few moments on the beauty of his love.

Beauty. Love. Patient, kind, selfless. So much more love than I display for my boys. God is continuously looking down on us and willing us to follow him and obey him; not as an angry dictator, but as a father who knows best for his children. He knows every intricate detail of our lives.

Discovering the Word

What do we learn about God's concern for the passengers of the ark and his activity to end the flood (8:1-5)?

• He remembered them.
• He made the waters subside.
• The rain stopped and fountains of the deep were closed, whatever that is. I'm imagining great sprays of water like a continual Old Faithful (Utah).

 

What initiative does Noah take during this period (8:6-12)?

• First he sent a raven, then a dove to roam over the waters and look for land. 
• Why did he not send the raven the second time too? - the raven apparently never returned.
• He sent the dove several times until one time it did not return to him. Then he knew that it had found land and it was safe to exit the ark.

 

Noah's first action after emptying the ark is to offer a sacrifice to God (8:20). What does this reveal about his priorities amid the pressure of urgent tasks calling for immediate attention?

• God came first. Kind of like me, right now I sit in the office at 5:51 going through this study when I could be sleeping. But I don't always live it out so well during the day. I get frustrated too easily and pray so very little. Lord, give me the desire to do better, Help me see the joy before me.

What commission does God now give Noah and his family (9:1-7)?

• Have babies! Lots of them.
• Eat anything that you want, but do not drink its blood, do not eat it alive.
• If anyone kills another, God will require their death (man or animal). This is to ward off the "you killed my friend, so I will kill you and all your family and friends" attitude. (an eye for an eye...)

In 9:17 God makes a covenant as unconditional as it is undeserved. What do we learn about the extent and purpose of this first covenant?

•  For all time, God will never flood the whole earth. He will never give up on us.

Applying the Word

How has God's grace been evident throughout this passage?

• God could have scrapped the whole thing as a bad job (I probably would have...after all, there was only one good man out of the whole bunch!), but he chose a different path. He chose to save the one faithful man and rebuild with him.

How has his grace been evident in your life lately?

• I guess God shows his grace in many ways. He sustains our lives, he gave us saving grace through his sun, he still loves me even when I am not the mom of the year.

 What aspect of Noah's example—his obedience, faith, courage, endurance—is most meaningful to you in a situation you are facing?

• Endurance. Just in the daily life of a mom of young children. sometimes I really feel the love that I have for my children. Other times, it is not so easy. When they are acting out, or they are just generally fussy, or I didn't get enough sleep, I struggle. Not only that, but sometimes (though I would never say it out loud) a envy my life as it was before children. I love my children, and I would never wish them away, but I remember what it was like to actually have time, and I feel a little bitter.
• So endurance! Motherhood is a long road. Oh God, help me to seek you and have peace in you in the stressful moments and in my moments of bitterness.

Responding in Prayer

Spend time in prayer thanking God for his grace to you, who deserves his judgment.

• I do so many things wrong. I don't pray enough (nor do I have the desire to, praying is so...boring/sleep inducing/empty...sorry! just being honest!), I have many, many selfish thoughts, I am not a "good Christian". I have been listening to a podcast about famous/notable Christians in the past 2,000 years, and I really don't come up to scratch!
• Oh God, help me with my unbelief! Thank you for your amazing grace! please help me to seek you with my life. Give me the desire. Help me see things the way you see them, so that I can prioritize a bit better. Give me the desire.