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| Noah - Artist unknown |
TODAY'S SPECIAL: Genesis 7:1-24
TO CHEW ON: "So those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; and the Lord shut him in." Genesis 7:16
The illustration I found for today's post pictures what I believe the years of building the ark must have been like for Noah and his family—full of scorn, teasing, jokes made at his and his family's expense, etc. Yet we never hear of him arguing with God about this crazy assignment, or complaining about the treatment from his neighbors.
I wonder, though, how Mrs. Noah, the boys, and their wives felt about Noah following these seemingly bizarre instructions from God.
Oswald Chambers says:
"If we obey God it is going to cost other people more than it costs us, and that is where the sting comes. If we are in love with our Lord, obedience does not cost us anything, it is a delight, but it costs those who do not love Him a good deal. … We can disobey God if we choose, and it will bring immediate relief to the situation, but we shall be a grief to our Lord. Whereas if we obey God, He will look after those who have been pressed into the consequences of our obedience. We have simply to obey and to leave all consequences to Him" - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, January 11 reading (emphasis added).
Our focus verse today illustrates the truth of what Chambers says. The consequences of Noah's obedience, though probably painful for his family in the immediate, were a long-term blessing.
1. His family and animal species of all kinds were preserved because of his obedience. The wording of Genesis 7:16: "So those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him…" tells us that Moses got the order. It was up to him to enact it.
2. Noah's obedience put him and all those with him in God's care: "God shut him up."
I believe these principles of obedience from Noah's life speak to our lives still today.
- Our actions don't impact only us but those around us as well. Our obedience may have implications for our family members, friends, neighbors, even strangers (for apparent good or bad).
- In the end, our obedience puts us in God's care. And isn't that the safest place for us and all those with us, despite what it looked like in the short term: "Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you" - 1 Peter 5:7.
PRAYER: Dear God, please help me to obey You no matter what the consequences. Amen.
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Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
