Many of us know the story of Noah and the ark. Noah faithfully built the ark when there was no flood – no rain clouds on the horizon or storms threatening. God gave Noah every detail for construction, what to bring on board and exactly when to board. God provided for every need for every creature of His creation. The waters covered the earth. Every thing was destroyed. When the waters receded, all creatures exited the ark. Noah offered a sacrifice pleasing to God. God made a promise He would never flood the earth again, put a rainbow in the sky and promised it as a sign of His covenant with “all flesh on earth”.
We read this and know it so well we easily miss the details we can apply to our lives today. We live in a world that turns its back on God. Much of our world has stopped remembering God. Many live without remembering God because their sole focus is on the present and the future of life on this earth.
Noah successfully rejected that concept and way of life. He and his family were found to be faithful to God. They worshipped God. They were not part of the world’s activities. Are we rejecting the way of the world? Are we found to be faithful to God?
God knew what the future held and gave Noah instructions how to prepare. Do you see God’s instructions for us in the bible? Can you see Him instructing us how to prepare for the storms ahead? There have been times in my life that I was so caught up in the present storm that I didn’t see the bigger storm I was about to enter.
This week we were hit by hurricane Zeta. A powerful category 2 storm roared through in the dark of the night. I kept looking outside but couldn’t see anything because of the black night. I could hear the rain pounding on my tin roof. It was so loud, I couldn’t talk on the phone, I could only watch tv, grateful for closed captioning. The wind bumped my house a few times. Those gusts were incredibly strong. The noise of branches and flying objects hitting my roof was alarming. I wonder what it was like in the ark for so long.
We have learned how to prepare and survive hurricanes. There are times when people ignore that information and lose their lives by refusing to evacuate or go outside to take pictures or take risks that cost them their lives.
We, too, can make the mistake of choosing not to follow God’s laws that He gave us to keep us safe. I don’t want to be a casualty on that list.
God’s word is our prep guide for the storms we are going through today and will face in the future. Some are physical like hurricanes, yet the hardest ones I have faced and am facing are the spiritual storms.
God didn’t just prep Noah, have him build an ark and load it up. God stayed with Noah. Scripture tells us “God remembered Noah”.
God gives us every proverbial measurement, every detail of design, every piece and part of life we need to survive the storms. Noah used lumber. We use His word. When we allow Him to “build” us through the gifts He has given us, He provides us with the “tools” we need, He gives us instructions with every detail, guiding so we know when to move and empowers us with exactly what we need. Just like He did with Noah.
My friends, I pray you too, know that God “remembers you” as you are facing storms you never imagined would cross your horizon. When the time came for Noah and crew to leave the ark, he immediately built an altar and offered a sacrifice to God. Noah remembered God.
God was pleased.
Noah’s sacrifice was pleasing to God. I want to remember this. However, our sacrifices aren’t on an altar, meat or fowl.
Micah 6:8 ESV
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.
Hebrews 13:15-16 ESV
Through Him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
Hosea 6:6 ESV
For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
There are many more verses in the bible that point us to this message God is giving us. We know how He wants us to honor Him, the sacrifices He desires and what pleases Him because He tells us. Are we listening?
Noah is an example of a faithful servant of God. God lovingly calls us to be His faithful servants. What an honor!
God made a covenant with Noah that still covers us today. Seeing the rainbows in the skies above brings my heart and soul instantly into worship.
Through the storms I have walked, I have learned to trust God’s promise that He is with me. He prepares me ahead of time, He walks through them with me and on the other side, He is still there. I believe what I am learning in these storms today is preparing me for the storms of the future.
God’s promises can be trusted.
When I focus on God’s promises, I remember the physical storms of life don’t affect the outcome of my spiritual life with God.
Eternity is my focus.
Noah didn’t leave the ark and stand there wondering “what next”. God was with him. We can live knowing that no matter what storm we are in, it ends. We aren’t standing there alone. Shifting our focus to eternity changes every challenge we face. We recognize it has purpose and we seek God in it. We know His love, provision and plan is for the best life possible for us, measured by His presence today and for eternity.
God is there.
“Father God, please accept our sacrifices as pleasing to You. We love You, Lord. We see Your signs and wonders all around us when we look. Thank You for being a promise maker and keeper. Let our eyes be focused on You alone as the storms come and go. Show us where to go. Lead us. Our hearts desire to serve You well. Forgive us when we stumble and fail. We gratefully acknowledge Your forgiveness and hope that restores us, new every day just as Your blessings and mercy flow over us. In Jesus’ name. Amen”