The Pastor’s Porch
August 7, 2020
Happy Friday to you! If you have read this week’s posts, have you figured out the story? We have been looking at the story of Noah’s ark through the eyes of different characters—Noah’s neighbor, his wife, his son and even an animal or two. While the thoughts they had were fictional, I imagine that they are not too far from the truth. We too have found ourselves thinking those thoughts from time to time. So, why did I choose this particular story? For me, it mirrors much of what is going on in our world right now. In only a week or two, everything turned upside down with the pandemic. For Noah and his family of course, it was more dramatic as they lost all of their friends and some family, and their homes were washed under the flood. They could never go back. Honestly, neither can we. Yes, physically everything is still standing. But how we see life, that has dramatically changed. Add to that all of the racial, economic and political unrest, and truly our world has flipped upside down. So why the ark? I believe that God wants to help us survive and even thrive during this ocean of change. If we seek refuge in His “ark” we will do so. Note this however—Noah’s journey was no cruise. There was tremendous work to be done taking care of all of those animals. I would imagine that there was plenty of complaining and arguing among his family members. Note also that the ark did not have an anchor to hold it in one place. No, it was constantly on the move going where God sent it. That forward motion was important, as the ark ultimately must land on a mountain. Can you imagine coming out of this time with a mountaintop spiritual experience? I can. If we are about God’s work during this time, if we shelter with Him and depend on Him not only to provide for our needs, but trust Him to lead us through the journey, we will make a difference in the lives around us and will come out stronger. There is a framed quote that used to sit on my desk in Washington. It says, “When you are going through hell, keep on going.” Think about that. Don’t sit in the middle of it. With God’s help take the journey. Oh and one other thing about Noah’s story—don’t forget the rainbow. God promised that He would never again destroy the world. Sometimes we may wonder whether our world is crumbling, but we hold on to that rainbow promise. May you be encouraged that no matter what you face in these tough times, God is with you.
Lord, thank You for the story of Noah. Thank You for inviting us to take shelter in the ark, that we may survive the flood that is all around us. Help us to be encouraged today by Your faithfulness. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Genesis 9: 12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”
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