01.07.10
Genesis 7–Has much changed?
My Bible Study finds me in Genesis 7. This is certainly a familiar story, Noah, flood, animals, ark, you know it well. However, for some reason when I read it this year in the face of all the talk and movies about the end of the world it struck me as haunting and deeply real. Thinking about this small ark, floating alone on this planet. Thinking of Noah and his family sitting down to eat day after day looking at each other wondering, “What is going on out there?” “What is going to happen next?” “Is this really happening?”
It was God’s words to Noah that really hit me. “Go into the ark,…” It is clear that God was in control, events were out of Noah’s control. All Noah could do was respond to God’s word. So in the ark Noah and his family waited, floating, uncertain of what comes next, day after day, night after night, out of control, relying completely on God. Waiting for a new world, a new start, but daily confronted with care for the animals, fixing food, cleaning the place, daily work, small things, but important things while God managed to larger, world issues.
Has much changed? Are we not called to “Go into…” whatever we are called to do? Called to Hong Kong, Michigan, Nebraska, South America, or wherever. Placed there by God to do daily tasks laid before us. Letting God navigate the bigger world issues. Worrying, fretting, complaining will not alert the course of the ark. God will guide the ark, but while on board there is work to do. Service to perform, people to love, hearts to mend, hugs to give.
I don’t think I ever really appreciated Noah as I do today. Wow, what a man, what a family of faith.
What ark are you on and while on that ark are you doing the work before you while you let God guide and direct?
