Today's Scripture
The Shadow of Lent – Genesis 7:11-24
11 In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the windows of the heavens were opened. 12 The rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights. 13 On the very same day Noah with his sons, Shem and Ham and Japheth, and Noah’s wife and the three wives of his sons entered the ark, 14 they and every wild animal of every kind, and all domestic animals of every kind, and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every bird of every kind—every bird, every winged creature. 15 They went into the ark with Noah, two and two of all flesh in which there was the breath of life. 16 And those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; and the Lord shut him in.
17 The flood continued forty days on the earth; and the waters increased, and bore up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. 18 The waters swelled and increased greatly on the earth; and the ark floated on the face of the waters. 19 The waters swelled so mightily on the earth that all the high mountains under the whole heaven were covered; 20 the waters swelled above the mountains, covering them fifteen cubits deep. 21 And all flesh died that moved on the earth, birds, domestic animals, wild animals, all swarming creatures that swarm on the earth, and all human beings; 22 everything on dry land in whose nostrils was the breath of life died. 23 He blotted out every living thing that was on the face of the ground, human beings and animals and creeping things and birds of the air; they were blotted out from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those that were with him in the ark. 24 And the waters swelled on the earth for one hundred fifty days.
RJ's Devotion
What the passage says
V. 11-16 When Noah was 600 years old, the flood started. Meaning that took approximately 100 plus years to build the ark, based on Noah being 500 years old when he had his sons (Gen 5:32), and God appeared to him when he had all his sons. It is interesting to see that his family and the animals boarded the boat when the rain started to pour.
V. 17-24 It rained for forty days and nights, which resulted in wiping every living being in the world. Noah’s family needed to remain on the boat one hundred fifty days, after the rain, which made them stuck on the boat for more than one hundred ninety days.
What does the passage say to me/us?
I wonder how it might felt being ‘stuck’ in the boat for around one hundred ninety days.
I believe that the emotion of the family would have been mixed. They might have been relieved that the wrath of God has passed them by, but at the same time, they might have been depressed that there seemed to be no hope.
Their patience must have been tried, seriously. Even though they were well prepared to for the wait, if we remember that they waited for the rain for more than a hundred years, I still believe it must have been tough for them.
The contributor on Upper Room Devotional suggests that it requires patients during this time of Lent.
It is true, as we are passing the halfway mark of this forty day journey.
Having patience is easier when we know the result. As Noah and his family held onto the promise of God, without knowing the result, isn’t it easier for us to be patient since we are aware of the goal? So, let’s press onto the journey preparing for an Encounter, with patience.
As Paul says, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14)
Prayer
Lord, as we go through the time of Lent, and also our life journey, help us to have the patience to see your will. Meet us, heal us, and restore us.
In your name, we pray. AMEN
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