I have read through the bible many times in my life. I enjoy reading the One Year Bible because it keeps me disciplined in reading God's Word. As I started 2021 and my reading plan, I noticed something in the account of the story of Noah that I never noticed before. I have read that story a gazillion times over and over. I have seen it on video and in the movies. I have read the story to my own kids as well as the kids in my ministry. I even use an object lesson in my programs called "The Noah Bag" to tell the story of Noah.
Noah had an amazing journey. He was well over 500 years old when God told him to build an ark. The people were corrupt and full of violence. Sin was running rampant. God told Noah to build an ark and told him exactly how it needed to be built. So with the help of his 3 sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth they got to work. They gathered gopher wood and started building. God told Noah because of the sinful nature of the earth, He would destroy the earth with a flood. He then told Noah ne needed to gather two of every animal that has breath on place them on the ark. After the ark was complete, Noah was obedient and put the animals on the ark. Only Noah, his family and every animal were on the ark and then the rains came. It rained for 40 days and 40 nights. The earth was covered with a flood and mankind was destroyed. Noah, his family and the animals were all safe and sound on the ark. Noah was the only righteous man on the earth. We all know the end of the story how God saved Noah and allowed the ark to land on dry ground. We also know that God provided a rainbow as His covenant to say that He would never destroy the earth ever with a flood.
This account is found in Genesis 6:9 to Genesis 10:16. What I never noticed before is a phrase that is mentioned twice. In Genesis 6:22 and in Genesis 7:5, both times we read "Noah did everything just as God commanded him." Imagine if Noah was lazy and never built an ark. Imagine if he was not obedient and only gathered animals he liked. I'm sure he would have avoided putting two skunks on the ark! Imagine if he stopped building the ark in the middle of the construction and gave up. None of that is true. Noah did everything he was told to do. In mentioning this twice, it is obvious that Noah was obedient. He did what he was told to do. In his obedience, he was rewarded. God protected him and his family! Noah was an obedient man. He was a godly man.
After reading this story for the one thousandth time, I realize in my own life I need to be obedient to God every single day. When God tells me to do something, I need to do it. I know God is certainly not calling me to build an ark but I do know he does have a plan for my life. I do know he wants me to be a light in the darkness in this crazy world I live in. Let's all continue to be obedient no matter what we face every day!!
SEE YOU ALL NEXT WEEK!!
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