October 30, 2007
Bible Study:
Genesis Chapter 8 and 9
The Portrait of our Faithful Father, who never forgets
To receive the greatest possible blessing from this Bible study, please take a moment to read the passage.
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Prayer:
Heavenly Father, through many storms of life I have already passed. Although at times I felt abandoned, You in Your infinite wisdom permitted the storms to rage for a while, but You never forgot me. At the perfect time, You calmed the situation and delivered me to dry peaceful ground. I praise You for all You do is fair and wise. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Introduction:
The unbearable darkness overpowers me. My tattered, dirty clothes reflect my inner self. Cold and terribly alone, I cry for help, but no one hears. No one cares enough to enter the darkness. I am so insignificant, why would anyone care?
Occasionally, light flickers, hope glimmers, but it always fades. Again the darkness encumbers me and loneliness overwhelms me. I’m a worthless, undetectable speck, who will rescue me?
We all have our stories to tell of despair, rejection, and hopelessness. There are times when the raging storm almost overpowers us as we sink and desperately cry out , “Where are You now, God? Have you forgotten me?”
Many of David’s Psalms reflect his longing for the LORD to deliver him from tribulation. Here is one such passage: How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? (Psalm 13:1 & 2 KJV).
After rocking in a barge-like boat with thousands of animals and impatient family members for a year, Noah must have thought the Lord had forgotten him. Scientists have proven that the lack of sunlight causes depression. The ark had only one window. Imagine the atmosphere created by the insufficient light.
The Lesson:
The first verse of chapter eight tells us that God remembered Noah and all that was in the ark with him. God didn’t forget and then suddenly remember that He had left Noah in the ark six months prior. The phrase emphasizes God’s faithfulness. He promised to sustain Noah and his family through the flood. At the designated time, God sent the wind to reduce the waters and dry the land.
It is possible that wind, as well as rain, was a new thing to Noah and the others. Similarly, the pouring out of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost was a new thing to the disciples.
The Hebrew word “ruah” is translated wind or spirit. When we are in the midst of trials, God is faithful and sends His Spirit to aid us and to deliver us from the raging storm. The main purpose of the Holy Spirit : But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26 KJV). The next verse Jesus tells us: Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14 27 KJV). The Holy Spirit will bring the comforting words of Jesus and remind us of His faithfulness, which generates His peace that passes all understanding.
Noah’s deliverance was not immediate. It took months for the land to dry enough and for vegetation to begin to grow.
Too often, we expect instantaneous results and become skeptical of God’s faithfulness when our situation seems to remain the same after the Holy Spirit reassures us that God has indeed heard our cries in the dark. We may even be tempted to step out of the ark too soon. Think of what would have happened to Noah if he would have grown impatient with God and stepped out of the ark before God gave His permission.
Noah would have sunk in mud—up to his neck. If he had done so, Noah would have suffered the consequences and greatly hindered God purpose in saving him. Likewise, if we step out of the “ark” before God intends for us to do so, we will greatly hamper God’s eternal purpose for us. And we’re sure to suffer regret and unforeseen consequences.
In Genesis 8: 7-9 the dove and the raven are a snapshot of the believer and the non-believer or is it the double nature of the believer. The “old man” or the non-believer is satisfied with a world under judgment. However, the “new man” or the believer finds satisfaction only in things pertaining to the new creation (heaven).
Without the Lord’s prompting, Noah built an altar, offered burnt-sacrifices unto the Almighty God, and gave thanks for His faithfulness. A Christian’s life is one of sacrifice and worship. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service (Romans 12:1 KJV). How do we become living sacrifices? And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts (Galatians 5:24 KJV). The Simple English Translation states it this way: Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed their own human nature to crosses, along with feelings and selfish desires.
We must sacrifice our selfish desires—“human nature”—as Noah sacrificed the clean beasts. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, we become a sweet smelling savor that pleases the Lord. We live as Jesus lived, not for our own pleasure and glory, but placing the needs of others ahead of our own desires. As our example, Jesus came to serve not to be served. He continues the pattern in heaven: Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them (Luke 12:37 KJV). We serve Him with the sacrifice of praise, with fastings and prayers, and by serving others. It is this attitude of servitude that humbles us enough to realize it’s not about us, but about Jesus Christ.
Genesis chapter nine presents God’s covenant with Noah. Within this covenant, God confirms the order of nature, establishes human government, and secures the earth against another universal judgment by water.
I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth (Genesis 9:13 KJV). Again, verses 15 and 16 indicate that God needs a reminder. However, God is not capable of forgetting (except for our sin, For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more (Hebrew 8:12 KJV).
God placed the rainbow in the sky after a storm to remind us of His faithfulness. But more than those of us living thousands of years later, He knew how quickly man’s minds forget especially the good that God does for us. Remember, it had never rained before this judgment came upon the earth. Noah and his family had no idea that it would happen on a regular basis after the flood. Can you imagine the fear they experienced the first time the sky darkened with brewing storm clouds after their traumatic experience with the flood? God knew their hearts and minds would fail them and fear would overtake them so He placed His bow in the cloud as a reminder to Noah, his sons, and their wives. Another picture of the Holy Spirit dawns on this word art. He was sent to remind us of the works and words of Jesus.
Conclusion and Challenge:
Scroll over
picture for welcomed relief. 
An illumination appears, which differs somehow from all other light. I never witnessed such brilliance. In the presence of the Light, I see myself more clearly than before. Ashamed, I crouch into the corner in despair. As much as I long for deliverance, I cannot bear to be seen, not by this One. Unable to look upon His pureness and righteousness, I pull my knees to my chest and bury my face in my arms.
Warmth radiates from His hand as He gently lifts my face. For the first time, I glance into His kind, gentle, caring eyes. Compassion and understanding soothe me. This must be what Love looks like, but how would I know? I never saw love.
His tender, yet strong reassuring hands, draw me to Him as He kneels down. He hugs me and eases my unkempt hair from my face. As He takes my hands in His, He pulls me to my feet. This must be how Love feels, but how would I know? I never felt love.
For the first time in what seems like eternity, I shift my eyes slowly from His face to His hands and observe scars like I’ve never seen before. Again, I gaze into His eyes realizing this Man knows pain and rejection beyond compare. This must have been suffered as an act of love, but how would I know? I never witnessed an act of love.
He picks me up into His strong arms and carries me out of the dreaded darkness. I cling to Him, hoping it is not a dream, praying that He will not let me down nor leave me.
“You are precious to me,” He whispers, “I bought you with My redeeming blood and the Father has given you to me. I will not lose you. I will never leave you nor forsake you. Walk in the Light, as I am in the Light and you shall never face the darkness again. I am preparing a place for you that where I am you may be also, and I will take you there when it is time.” This must be how Love speaks, but how would I know? I never heard words of love.
As He walks, He washes me whiter than snow and replaces my tattered garments with a robe of righteousness, not mine, but His. He adorns me with jewels as a bride prepared for her wedding day. He calls me by a new name that is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. This is what Love does. I know for now I know Love.
Start a Ministry
Start a new ministry. Print some business cards like the one above. If you like, replace my website with yours or your church’s site. Hand them out—with your tip a restaurants, to passers-by, to cashiers, put them in all your outgoing mail. Pray earnestly for our nation’s revival.
If you don’t have a computer or time to make cards, but would like to invest in this ministry, write to me via e-mail and I’ll send you some-FREE.
