Through Noah God
kept a remnant of His creation to renew the work that He had begun. He could
not have chosen a better instrument. Noah had followed His instruction closely.
Everything God told him to do he did as instructed. More than about Noah’s obedience,
the account of the flood tells of God’s mercy that endures
forever. We recall what Psalm 30:5 says, “His anger is but for a moment, His favour is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the
night, but a shout of joy comes in the
morning.”
What God starts
He will see to its logical conclusion. Verse 1 captures for us God’s mercy. He remembered
Noah and the remnant of His creation in the ark. Unlike us, God never forgets.
He will bring to completion what He has begun in us. He will always bring everything
to a logical conclusion. So Noah was not left stranded. How comforting to know
that God never forgets His faithful servant?
Noah used the wisdom
God had given him to collaborate with Him in the task. In sending the dove out three
times, Noah was testing the situation. It’s a way of telling us the need to
evaluate every situation in life. Here we are reminded to test any given situation
we encounter. We must not just plunge headlong without assessing the moment.
Had Noah not tested the situation first, he would be stranded as it took
another 14 days before the flood totally abated. This is a call to us not to
move blindly without discerning the situation. This will enable us to act
rightly, astutely and perceptively before the Lord. Always be sure to assess the
ground before a mission is launched.
Noah remained in
the ark till the flood had totally subsided because the ark is the safest place
in an uncertain situation. Being in Christ is the safest place in an uncertain
world. We can always find our security in Him in a changing world. But being
sure is as important in life. If we are uncertain of when to act, we must wait
on God. This was what Noah did, waiting another 14 days before he and his
family went out of the ark. The olive leaf brought in by the dove was a symbol
of peace. It’s indicating to us that the surest sign to move is when we can
sense the peace of God. When the moment is right God will indicate by giving us
His peace. Even with the peace, hearing from God is important. Noah only moved
at the instruction of God. Verse 16 tells us that only when God told him to go
out of the ark, did he and his family and all in the ark begin to move out. It
is wise to be sure of the situation, but it’s also important that we move with
the Lord. And remember always to stay as a family. That was what Noah did. Let’s
be discerning. Let’s keep one ear open to God to hear what’s He is saying to
us. But more importantly, let’s obey all His instructions. To God be the glory!
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