Connecting Scriptures:  Genesis 1:28, Ephesians 5:2, Romans 1:21, Hebrews 4:13, Psalm 33:13-15, 2 Peter 3:9

God isn’t absent minded.  He doesn’t misplace his keys, forget an appointment or a birthday.  He doesn’t get lost or step over anothers feelings.  As I mentioned before, and undoubtedly will again, God isn’t like us.  So what can it mean, as the chapter begins that, “…God remember Noah…”?  The remembrance here is followed by an action on their behalf.  God’s remembrance here is a foray to him blessing Noah, his family and all the animals of the ark with ending the flood and beginning the world again.  “Remembering” is another way to say that God is faithful and He intends to act in faithfulness toward Noah and all of creation—God will not act outside of his character and that is a very good thing.  

After sending out a raven (unclean animal) and then a dove (clean animal, used as a representation of the Holy Spirit in future texts) Noah is assigned to wait.  Did you notice the amount of days that pass after the 40 days and nights and the 150 days of water ruling over the earth.  Did Noah become impatient?  Did the sons and wives squabble with the burden of constantly caring for a boat full of animals?  Did they peer out the window and watch as slowly more mountains were visible and more surfaces looked more solid than waves?  We don’t know how they dealt with this time of waiting, but we do know that they stayed put until God told them to move.  I believe all that waiting was purposeful.  2 Peter 3:9 gives us a glimpse into Gods heart for us as we wait on His timing and voice.  

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

Noah needed time to prepare his heart to start again.  Life would be different when he stepped out of the ark (new landscape and no civilization), but in many ways, the same (sin still remains).  I think we see the fruit of all that time in what action he chose to take as his feet touched dry ground.  He made a sacrifice to God.  He worshiped.  He could have gotten right to work building and providing—but instead he got low.  This is God’s intention in our waiting as well.  It gives us the opportunity to see how faithful He really is.  It gives us space to reflect on the  flood of judgement we deserve, and the vessel of mercy he delivers us on.  When God gives you the green light on whatever it is you have been praying towards or has released you from whatever heavy burden you have been bearing—do as Noah and worship the One who says, “Go out from the ark…”.  Know that His heart is that you would not perish, but that you would turn your face to him and live.  

Speaking of His heart, the same one that was “grieved” and sorry He had made man in chapter 6, now has an affection that is overflowing as he responds to Noah’s posture of sacrifice.  The end of this chapter bridges what will be the Noahic covenant.  Today leaves us with this truth—God knows that man is wicked, but he won’t punish the earth or animals for our sin.  Part one is a promise to creation.  This new world would never see another world wide flood.  This first judgement was to re-create the world.  But, there will be another judgement.  Read all of that 2 Peter 3 chapter for a broader picture of Gods intention in the chapters we’ve covered in the account of Noah.  The second judgement has its own ark, as we saw yesterday, it is Jesus.  He has made provision for us in His Son.  The door of salvation is open to us now, but soon, it will be closed when Jesus returns to set all records straight.  I write this, because I do not want any reader to be unaware of how we can saved.  Jesus, God’s Son and God Himself, came to save sinners.  He did this on the cross, as He was the sacrifice for your sins.  He took your judgement.  

Jesus is the only way to be saved and He is calling all to repentance now, in these days of waiting.

Questions for Reflection:

1.  What does God “remembering” Noah reveal about His character and love for humanity?

2.  What do you think the raven and then the dove with the olive branch can symbolize?

3.  Great detail in how long it took for waters to recede are given in this chapter and it required patience on Noah’s account.  How can these verses, and the ones found in 2 Peter, encourage us to wait on the Lord?  What is He calling you to wait well on?