BIBLE PASSAGE
Genesis 6:9-11:32
Isaiah 54:1-55:5
Matthew 24:36-44
“Then God said, ‘I am giving you a sign of My covenant with you and with all living creatures, for all generations to come. I have placed My rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of My covenant with you and with all the earth.’” - Genesis 9:12,13
Have you ever wondered where the rainbow came from? God made it clear that this was the sign of the covenant for Himself, man, and the earth; that God would never destroy the earth again with water.
This week’s reading portion gives us a window into the dialogue between Noah and God. We find in this portion that Noah was receptive, teachable, and open to God when God was speaking to him. Later this would prove to be counted to him as righteousness.
Have you thought about Noah and what Bible he read? What church did Noah go to? Was Noah Jewish? Was Noah a Gentile? Progressively the account of Faith and the good news has brought us to where we are today. The Word tells us that, "Noah was a man righteous and wholehearted; Noah walked with God.
What did it mean in the days of Noah to be righteous, wholehearted and walk with God?
“When everything was ready, the Lord said to Noah, “Go into the boat with all your family, for among all the people of the earth, I can see that you alone are righteous.” - Genesis 7:1
Are we ready to get in alignment with the ark that God has asked us to build? Today, more than ever we need to be sensitive to the reality that God has a plan for you. We want God to find us about His business.
“So Noah did everything as the Lord commanded him.” – Genesis 7:5
“For your Creator will be your husband; the Lord of heaven’s armies is His name! He is your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, the God of all the earth. For the Lord has called you back from your grief—as though you were a young wife abandoned by her husband,” says your God.
“For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with great compassion, I will take you back. In a burst of anger, I turned my face away for a little while. But with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord, your Redeemer. Just as I swore in the time of Noah that I would never again let a flood cover the earth, so now I swear that I will never again be angry and punish you. For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then My faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,” says the Lord, who has mercy on you.” – Isaiah 54:5-10
Today, God is in the process of bringing His people back from all the corners of the world. God desires to be their husband. We see the faithful love that God has for all the people of the earth and that His covenant of blessings can never be broken. Now it is our responsibility to keep watch. The days of Noah are once again upon us and God’s return is imminent. Let us make ourselves ready to meet our husband and bridegroom.
“So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.” – Matthew 24:42-44
“When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.” – Matthew 24:37-39
“However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son Himself. Only the Father knows.”- Matthew 24:36
Questions for Reflection:
▪ Do I believe in a covenantal God?
▪ Like Noah, is it possible for me to do what God commands me?
▪ Am I willing to get in the boat as God prescribes for my life?
▪ Do I resist God’s plan for my life?
▪ Do I believe God can see me as righteous?
▪ Do I see the need to be ready for God’s return?
▪ Do I believe that the days we are living in are like the days of Noah?
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