Woven

Pages 14 and 15 in Angie's book, Woven, will help you keep track of our stories as we read them. So far, we’ve covered the globe (Creation), the man/woman symbol (Creation of Adam and Eve), and the snake (First sin). And, all of that is found in Genesis 1 through 3. Now, let's move on to the boat.

By Genesis 6, humans had multiplied and so had sin. Corruption took over, and God had to do something about it. One of my favorite points that Angie Smith makes in the entirety of this study is on page 38 when she quoted R.C. Sproul, “What amazes us is justice, not grace.”

We always want to know why God would allow a flood to kill nearly every human being without ever wondering why He chose to save anyone. Wouldn't He have been justified in wiping out humanity? God’s way is always grace. Sometimes we fail to see it.

Read Genesis 6: 1-8.

See, God created beauty in the Garden and then man and woman to enjoy it with Him. They chose their way immediately. In the pages to follow we read over and over that mankind continued to choose his own way until sin multiplied and covered the earth. Genesis 6:4 says, “…every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.”

And, yet God chose to offer Noah the opportunity to partner with Him for good. I always want to be careful and remember that Noah chose faith. Our God doesn’t force. He told Noah to build an ark and Noah chose to do exactly what God said. Goodness, this story always encourages me to pray for the kind of faith that affects my entire family line.

In Genesis 7, Noah’s family and many animals were safe on the ark while major rains came and cleansed the entire earth of impurity. If I’m honest, this story still baffles me a bit. I don’t understand it all. It seems like there could have been a better way. Still, I believe as Angie says that sometimes we just have to trust that God is good and we aren’t Him.

Read Genesis 7: 15-16.

These verses may not seem hugely important to you; however, they’ve always impacted me. God called on Noah to build the boat, to gather his family, and to make room for the animals. But, God organized the animals in two’s and determined when it was time to close the door.

The hand of God guided Noah’s family and all of the animals into the Ark. Then, the hand of God closed the door behind them. It’s a simple detail, but it speaks volumes to me. Noah didn’t have to figure out the timing. He didn’t have to fret over whether or not everyone and everything had made it inside. He’d done his part of the project, and the rest of the details were up to God. The kind and gentle hand of God hemmed them all in. Then, the rains came.

If that’s not goodness, I just don’t know what is.

In Genesis 8 and 9, you’ll read about the flood and its end. God continued to care for Noah and guided him off of the boat when it was time. When I get to Heaven, I hope I get to see video footage of Noah's praise time with the Lord. He built an altar and worshiped, because what else would you do after an event like the one recorded in Genesis 6-9?

We cannot end today’s lesson without focusing on the covenant, the promise God made with mankind. Ladies, God doesn’t owe us a thing and yet He chose to make a covenant with us through Noah. He promised never to flood the earth again.

I set my bow in the cloud and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth. And it shall come about, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud, and I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and never again shall the water become a flood to destroy all flesh. Genesis 9: 13-15

Journal: I know I’ve been long-winded today. But, take some time to journal. Thank God for His faithfulness! Praise Him for His kindness! Pause and think about a situation you’re in the middle of that is filled with details. Ask God to show you what He’s asking YOU to do so that You can give back to Him what only He can do. Noah built the boat. God closed the door. In your situation, what has God specifically asked you to do? Don’t try to “close the door.” Allow God to be God in your situation.

Prayer: Write out your own prayer of thankfulness to our covenant making and covenant keeping God.