Looking around, He saw the world was wicked. People did things that decidedly did not glorify God.
But then His gaze fell on one man, and He must have smiled. There was one man who did obey God: Noah.
Noah walked with God. (Genesis 6:9b HCSB) He was known as righteous, blameless among his contemporaries.
He wasn’t perfect. But he was faithful to God’s covenants and promises; he habitually did everything God commanded.
Noah must have stood out quite a bit!
Walking with God indicated Noah not only revered Him but also asked for, and followed, God’s guidance to the best of his ability.
It sounds like Noah lived in a hard time and place to walk with God.
Yet he chose to anyway.
As you may recall, God called Noah to build an ark because God planned a flood. Not just in Noah’s neighborhood. Not just on Noah’s continent.
But the whole entire earth!
Who would have thought it!?! People could not believe it! In fact, many did not actually believe the storm’s severity until it was too late.
But no matter. Their disbelief did not stop the storms from coming. And Noah did not stop doing what God instructed.
Noah obeyed God. (Genesis 6:22, 7:5 HCSB)
He built the ark with the laughter of the crowd ringing in his ears.
He collected the animals to the tune of vicious taunts tossed his way.
He closed the door while the world poked fun. His last memory of the community, was of them calling him crazy.
Inside his floating home, while the storms raged, he did as instructed.
He tended the animals.
He worshiped his God.
And, he waited.
Wasn’t it just a little unfair that Noah did not have a timeline? He didn’t know when this would end!
He didn’t know how the world would operate when this was over.
God’s instructions didn’t detail any of that.
Maybe God just wanted Noah focused strictly on Him, His word, and obedience to Him. Maybe, God was growing Noah’s faith.
The details for life after the flood would come later, when Noah needed them.
Just focus on God for now. He will provide what is needed when it is needed.
Wait on God.
Obey His instructions.
Trust Him.
It couldn’t have been easy.
It must have felt like forever.
I wonder how many time Noah thought, I am SO done with this!
But, he did it. He waited. He obeyed. He trusted.
And, when it was over, God blessed Noah. (Genesis 9:1 HCSB)
Noah did come out of the ark. God did instruct him on how this new world would operate.
And Noah would be remembered for his righteousness, obedience, and faith.
I bet you, like me, can relate a lot to Noah nowadays.
Our worlds have shrunk to the inside of a structure.
We’re often trying to figure out the world’s new rules.
We’re wondering, Lord, how long?
But all we are called to do is this:
Wait on God,
Obey His instructions, and
Trust in Him.
Hmm, that takes patience. And faith.
(Maybe that’s part of why we’re in such a time as this!)
Will you join me in asking for these?
Prayer: Dear Lord, You know. You see. Please provide what I need to weather this storm. Please help me to wait on You, obey Your instructions, and trust You.
And when this is finally over, may I be remembered for righteousness, obedience, and faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen.