I greatly appreciate my friend Cheri and her heart for God. She too is a writer and we often share our words. When she wrote about Noah, I immediately connected. Our different stories offered us both lessons from Noah’s life.

The gospel of Matthew, when referencing Noah, teaches that there is a bigger lesson God is communicating than only Noah’s obedience to build an ark and move his family and two pairs of every living creature inside in light of a coming flood. Everyone else was unaware.

 

They were unaware not only of the flood, but of something more important, the coming of the Son of Man.

“For as were the days of Noah … For as in those days before the flood …
until the day when Noah entered the ark,
and they were unaware (and they knew nothing, NIV) …
so will be the coming of the Son of Man”.
Matthew24:37-39

God’s will has a bigger purpose than what is obvious.

Recently I received several invitations to be involved in a small group Bible study. I love the format and have been involved in many over the years; it was an opportunity to help others grow in their faith as well — something that is important to me.

But it was not to be. My desire was there but my plate was full. To obey God, I needed to let that desire go. My decision was not always understood. I clung to hidden obedience. I imagine many people watching Noah build the ark didn’t understand.

A safe person doesn’t allow the understandings of other to affect their obedience.

“Make … an ark of gopher wood.
Make rooms in the ark,
cover it inside and out with pitch.
… the length … 300 cubits, its breadth 50 cubits, and its height 30 cubits.
Make a roof … set the door in its side.
Make it with lower, second, and third decks.”
Genesis 6:14-16

Noah had no clue about how to build the ark. God gave very specific directions. What about me, do I have any clue about how to live out God’s plans?

In 1988, I boarded a plane to San Jose, CA. We were considering moving our family with two pre-teen boys away from all they ever knew. This seemed about as crazy as God’s plan for Noah.

As I flew across the country, I reviewed my journal. How had God been speaking? Could I see the fingerprints of his will? YES, but I needed to be reminded.

A safe person listens for the voice of God.

The ark didn’t just serve Noah and family, it had an eternal purpose. The ark, the flood, the rainbow all remind of God’s promised covenant with his people. “God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”” Genesis 9:17.

“By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen,
in reverent fear constructed an ark …
By this …  he became an heir of righteousness that comes by faith”.
Hebrews 11:7

God asks that we trust his steadfast love when we look into an unknown future. His plans are often not our plans. “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps”. Proverbs 16:9. Moving to California was as scary as it was exciting.

A safe person (mother) rests in God’s will, even when it is scary.

Friendship with God is the bottom line in living out being a safe friend. Noah’s friendship with God was the beginning of his ark adventure.

“But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.
Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation.
Noah walked with God”.
Genesis 6:8 and 9

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, Nov 2022