The Promise Maker

“I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.”  (Genesis 9:13)

I’ve been thinking about Noah recently – you know, stepping into scripture, and imagining being there alongside him as he heard from God.

The Bible tells us that Noah was a God-fearing man living in a society marked by violence and evil. Those around him and his family, simply ignored God’s warning of impending judgment – all the way until it was carried out. Through God’s design all living things upon the face of the earth were wiped out through a massive deluge of water.

The man Noah, however, found favor with God. He listened to Him; he believed Him. So when God told him to build a large watertight floating vessel as a place of refuge and safety for him and his family – along with specified animal types, Noah set to work!

I’ve thought about the many ways he surely had to endure ridicule and mockery during the building of that vessel. I’ve also imagined those same scoffers and mockers – perhaps clawing at the ark screaming to be let inside, as the waters came and rose. Horrific imagery to me.

You can read Noah’s saga beginning in Genesis 6 – perhaps taking some extra time to put yourself right there in this unfolding drama of rescue will help you become interested in a greater way, the place of safety and rescue that we believers find in the Heart of God. These promises made to Noah and his family are promises made to us.

Just as the waters came at the order of God, 150 days later they began to recede according to God’s plan. At Day 370, God told Noah and his family to leave the ark, along with the animals. This was also God’s plan.

It’s important that we do not miss Noah’s next building venture.

This time it was an altar to worship the LORD.

Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and took some of every clean animal – and offered burnt offerings on the altar.  (Genesis 8:20)

God was pleased as He smelled the pleasing aroma (vs. 21.) And in His pleasure He responded with a promise to Noah, his family, and the earth He created. That promise is marked with God’s Rainbow in the sky.

STOP AND REFLECT

Noah obeyed – amidst ridicule and no visible truth that God was who He said He was or proof that He would do what He said He would do.

He was diligent to carry out God’s instructions even though the project (according to theologians) took 55-75 years to complete.

Because of his obedience, Noah and his family were rescued from God’s wrath.

When it was all over, Noah worshipped.

God was pleased.

In His pleasure, God made a promise. And within this promise, God gave Noah a fresh start in his new season of life.

What was true in Noah’s day is true in ours.

There is a day coming when God’s wrath will once again boil over. He will punish the sin on this earth – honestly isn’t it hard to believe it hasn’t yet happened?

For the Believer, there’s hope and joy and excitement – for we, just like Noah, will be redeemed during these years of horrid tribulation that happen after the rapture of the church.

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.          (1Thessalonians 4:16-18 NIV.)

God’s call to remove those who have received their salvation from Him – could literally happen at any moment. There will be no alarm sounding or minutes of preparation to acknowledge Him. 

All who have found favor with God, by placing their trust in the salvation provided by Christ on the cross, will escape God’s wrath - the wrath that will bring on judgment and punishment for violence, evil, and dismissing God.

Friend, have YOU found favor with God by accepting His free gift of salvation? Are you living these days in anticipation of soon seeing Jesus? Are you living a life obeying God and enjoying His presence as you go about your daily activities involving family, care-giving, paying bills, and recreation time?

You may be a Believer, but going through very difficult trials during these days. I want to remind you that God will sustain you and strengthen you. Just as God’s grace sustained Noah when those massive waters literally drowned out EVERYTHING he had known, His grace WILL SEE YOU THROUGH.

Noah moved into a new season of life – different and unfamiliar, God was in it and sustained him through it. God saw him through during the trial and also as he stepped into his new season of life.

God’s grace and mercy are always in the fiery trials, the floods, and the NEW SEASONS OF LIFE. He is faithful to step you into YOUR new season that is before you.     

A covenant is promise – a binding agreement between two parties that establishes them in a mutually committed relationship.

The PROMISE MAKER is also the PROMISE KEEPER.

God’s invitation to us to enter into a covenant with Him is through the death of His Son on the cross. Just as the ark had ONE DOOR for Noah, his family, and the animals to enter – there’s ONE DOOR to enter this covenant relationship with God; JESUS!

When Thomas questioned Jesus about where He was going and how we could get there (John 14:5) Jesus answered,

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.” (John 14:6 NIV.)

God has promised to keep us safe during the horrors of the tribulation years. He has made that Promise and Provision through Jesus, the Christ. God keeps His promise.

But for the unbeliever, time is running out. When Noah had completed his assignment of building and getting his family and animals onboard – God shut the door.

Then the LORD closed the door behind them (Genesis 7:16 NLT.)

When God closes a door – it’s closed with no hope of squeezing in.

To be on the inside of that promise, you must choose Him before God closes the door. 

The life of Noah is a great and timely reminder to walk in a manner pleasing to our Lord, to obey Him, worship Him, and be ready for His soon return.

And – just like Noah - continuing to speak truth to an unbelieving world until the moment just before God closes the door.

Father, thank You for Your Word that shows us Your grace and mercy. Thank You for letting us glimpse – through the life of Noah – great encouragement and hope as we live in a world filled with those who do not worship you and walk in Your ways. Help us to never tire of speaking and teaching Your salvation to those lost and dying around us. We look forward to Your soon return. Amen.

Passionate To Teach,