September 27, 2022
By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. (Hebrews 11:7) ESV
God gave Noah a task that required a massive step of faith. People had become evil. So the LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them” (Genesis 6:7) ESV. Verses eight and nine tell us that Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord… Noah was a just man, perfect in his generation. Noah walked with God, and God decided to use Noah to save mankind from extinction.
God told Noah to build an ark because a flood was coming upon the earth. This had never happened before. Everyone ridiculed Noah, but it didn’t deter him from doing what God asked of him. He believed in God and faith; he built the ark according to God’s instructions. Can you imagine God telling us to do something like this; would we have the faith to trust Him, or would we bow to peer pressure? God is looking for people like Noah today, those who will trust Him for the seemingly impossible. The result of Noah’s obedience and faith was that he and his family, together with the animals, were the only ones who were saved when the flood came. Noah and his family, together with the animals, spent forty days and forty nights in the ark. Then, when the water had subsided, God told them to leave the ark.
When Noah’s family came out of the ark (Genesis 8:20), ESV tells us, “Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar.” Noah built an altar to offer a sacrifice to the Lord. God planned and provided for this sacrifice by sending seven of every clean animal into the ark. Genesis 8:21-22 (ESV) says, “And when the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, the LORD said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done. While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.” Noah’s sacrifice was acceptable to God.
Friends, likewise, God has plans for our lives too. God is looking for people like Noah, those who will trust Him for the seemingly impossible. Can we trust Him in obedient faith to know precisely what we need to fulfill all His purposes in our life? Would you pray with me?
Dear Heavenly Father, You are faithful to Your Promises. I know that I can trust You. Lord, I lay my life upon Your altar. I Pray that my life will be a sweet-smelling sacrifice to You today and every day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
Encouraging Words: Faithfulness to God requires our obedience, even if it is difficult. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).
God Bless you, and have a Blessed Day, Friends <><
Thoughts by Randall Stapleton is a Daily Devotion brought to you by The Bridge - Learn more at https://wearethebridge.org
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