For the last couple of weeks this passage has been on my mind. Boats, rain and storms have shown itself more then usual. I also have been going through my own personal storm and I keep thinking about this text so I finally listened and read. Here is what I got from this story.

Noah’s ark is a story that discusses how God decided to punish the evilness of man by flooding the world, but looking at this story deeper, there is so much more to this story. God shows us how He operates, how He will bless and what He looks for and expects.

God observes, creates purpose, puts a plan together, chooses a person, gives instructions, and then puts you in a place to be successful and protected. It’s our job to listen, follow and be patient. He uses the righteous and unrighteousness. You can be considered unrighteous but by being connected to someone who is righteous, you can be blessed and shown grace. Who are you connected to who is blessing you? Finally once the plan has been completed He will give you His plan, instructions and expectations. 

Noahs actions of being faithful and righteous earned him the right to go through the storm!!! Noah had to go through the storm because of others actions. He didn’t deserve to go through the storm, but the storm was a blessing because there was no other options. Stop looking for options other then the ones God has given you. Building the ark, the job to collect all the animals, and going through the storm was the gift/blessing for Noah and his family.

The 5 things that really stood out when I looked again into this popular story was

1. God gives you a circle and He will tell you who needs to be around you. He will make sure people who do not need to be a part of or receive the benefit of your blessing will not be in the picture. Do not let people in your circle who God does not approve of. When the door shuts don’t let anyone else in.
2. God not only protects the person who needs to fulfill their purpose but God protects their circle as well.
3. God has a purpose for everything you do and everything around you. The Raven was a resource and made things easier because the raven could see and go places you cant while you are “shut in” and protected. Patience will be needed because the truth will be given and you may not like it or the wait in store.
4. God knows exactly what you will go through and will prepare you accordingly. We just have to listen and follow his instructions and be patient because you will not be told everything. Be still until He says move.
5. There was a season to prepare for the storm and their was a season to wait after the storm. God may not always tell you about the storm but He will allow you to be prepared for the storm. The question is will you be prepared. There was also a period of waiting after the storm. So although the storm was over, Noah had to still wait for the right conditions to get out of the boat.

When you’ve gone through your storm make sure you give praise and show your appreciation through actions and get prepared for the next storm. Never forget no matter how bad the storm is you are not only protected but you have been given the time to prepare. Being prepared means you have to listen and put in work.

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OUTLINE
Genesis 6-9
God observes Genesis 6 vs 11-12
God has a purpose vs 13
He has a plan vs 13 - 21 overall plan (14, 18 - 21: plan for you)
God chooses the person vs 9, 13
He gives instructions vs 14 - 16, 19 - 21 Genesis 7:1-4
You listen and follow Genesis 6:22 and Genesis 7:5
There is a waiting period Gen 7:4
There will be a storm BEFORE the covenant Gen 7:10
Told Noah who should be in his circle Gen 6:18 (did not say his family was righteous or blameless)
God’s plan will happen whether or not you listen and follow Gen 7:11-12
God shut them in Gen 7:16-24 (the ark was lifted above the waters and the rain didn’t flood the boat). Noah, his circle and the chosen animals were protected.
There was another wait. Gen 8:1-5 a 150 days after 40 days and 40 nites and then some (God didn’t tell Noah about this wait). God wont forget you. Stay patient. Gen 8:6-14
Listen to your circle and know the signs. What you need to know may come from the unlikely source but they have a word. Gen 8:7-12 Noah could have left out when the raven brought back the olive leaf, but he was patient. He knew it was almost time when the raven did not come back (some people are meant to be with you for a season) and he was patient and waited seven days after that.
God tells you to move Gen 8:15-17 Noah didn’t leave the ark until God told him to.
God gives purpose after the storm Gen 8:16; 9:1
After the blessing praise God. Noah gave a sacrifice. Gen 8:20

God gives His plan after the storm and explains his covenant (didn’t tell Noah what the covenant would be before the storm). Gen 9:1-17

If anything was revealed to you please feel free to share with me.

​Regardless of what happens in your life. You will be let down by a number of people time and time again. In fact the most pain will come from the people who you hold closest to your heart. The question is how do you respond and do you forgive after you have been wronged. Forgiveness technically is not a choice, it is expected. God expects us to forgive as many times as we have been wronged. He expects this because He does it as well. God forgives any action as long as the person’s heart is sincere and then He forgets. It is as if it never happened. We unfortunately are not able to forget BUT we still can forgive. Time on the other hand will allow us to heal from the pain. After you have been hurt, are you able to show the same love God would show you after you have let Him down? Think about the same actions you consistently commit over and over again and you pray for forgiveness. God continues to forgive you for that same act and He gives you an unlimited supply of grace. Although consequences may be in order, God will always love and look out for you. He will never forsake you, and He has a plan for your life. Psalms 51:5 discuss how natural sinning is for man and Romans 3:23 says for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. There are days we have made some horrible mistakes and we know we let God down, but He will never turn His back on us. Regardless of how great we thought our best day was, we still let Him down on that day. We have never went a day where we have not let God down and God has never went a day without showing us grace and forgiveness.
In the song “Song of Intercession” by William Mcdowell the two following lines stand out. “The change I want to see must first begin in me. I surrender” and “If they’re looking for you, Jesus. Let them find you in me.” They are short yet powerful lines and shows us how Christ wants us to love. Living Christ like means you have to love like Christ and that means forgiving like Him as well. You have to show unconditional love even when it is not shown to you. Loving is easy when it is given back. Showing God's love can be hard because you are challenged to love and forgive those who do not love you.

You will be placed in situations where you will have to opportunity to show others what it is like to be loved by God. Sometimes those opportunities mean forgiving when you feel like it is unforgivable or showing love when you have been deeply hurt. It is easy to let your emotions get the best of you but if you are able to love when the world says you should not and if you are able to forgive when the world says you should not then it will be easier to accept and understand the love and grace God shows us when we have done wrong towards Him and others.