“I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.” Genesis 9:13 NIV
The covenant God is making above is with Noah. The world has been flooded, God has done a massive cleaning job of the earth. Noah, his wife, his sons and their wives are left to start the world again. They have been commanded to be fruitful and fill the earth,” (Genesis 9:1 NIV).
Noah had a tough journey in his time on earth. The Bible isn’t clear how long it took Noah to build the Ark, but it’s estimated between 100 and 120 years. Everyone thought Noah was crazy when he started building the Ark, no one believed God would flood the earth. Most people did not believe in God when Noah started building the Ark, they thought he was nuts. Can you imagine the ridicule he endured day after day? But build it he did, and into the history books of the Bible he now lives.
Have people ever thought you’re crazy for following God? I know I have been perceived as crazy. People don’t understand why we do the things we do in God’s name. We have to be very careful when we’re following God not to interject our will into situations, and then blame it on God. The truth is, when God asks us to do something, we don’t often know why. God wants our obedience, not our commentary.
God wants our obedience, not our commentary.
Noah didn’t argue with God when he told him to build the ark, he just started building. He trusted God, day after day, he kept building. For decades, he persevered under the taunts and jeers of those around him. We can learn from Noah’s dedication. We can apply the same principle to our lives.
Walking with God requires daily interaction with Him. Each day, we move forward, little by little in our relationship with Him as we trust Him a little more. Each day, when we apply His word, His teachings, His ways to our lives, we’ll grow closer to Him. Wherever you are in the journey, it’s just the beginning. Each day His mercies are new, His direction different. But if we don’t seek Him, if we don’t cling to Him, trust Him, follow Him, we’ll miss the boat. If Noah hadn’t stayed the course, day after day, for years, he would have missed the boat. But instead, at the end of the flood, he offered praise to God.
We may not understand why God nudges us to text a friend, buy lunch for a stranger or donate to a charity, but God knows why. God created each of us for a special purpose. The lives we interact with each day are unique to us. When we’re following God, we can impact those lives for Him. But first we have to follow Him, daily, just as Noah did, then He will direct our steps.
Question of the Day:
What is God asking you to do for Him today?
Further Reading: Genesis 8:1-10:32 NIV, Matthew 4:12-25 NIV, Psalm 4:1-8 NIV, Proverbs 1:20-23 NIV
