Noah Remembered
Three times we are told in the last part of Genesis 7 that the Waters prevailed...
Genesis 7:18 (ESV) The waters prevailed and increased greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the face of the waters.
Genesis 7:20 (ESV) The waters prevailed above the mountains, covering them fifteen cubits deep.
Genesis 7:24 (ESV) And the waters prevailed on the earth 150 days.
Water was a symbol of chaos and evil in the ancient world. The sea was a fearful place not many wanted to be around. Think of the days before nautical equipment, floatation devices, large ships, and navigational instruments! Apart from those items, the sea is scary!
But notice the first verse of Genesis 8:
Genesis 8:1 (ESV) But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with him in the ark.
The vivid detail of the Earth's destruction is portrayed and then contrasted by God's remembrance of Noah. Remembrance is not what we think of. It has nothing to do with God forgetting and then recollecting Noah. No, remembrance is a covenantal word. In fact, look at the parts of the word itself: "Re" - again... and "member" - which is to be a part of something. God again made clear Noah was part of His plan.
Child of God, there will be times when the waters rise and prevail against everything around you. But God's not about to abandon you. It may feel that way. I'm sure Noah and his family in the untested vessel at times felt the anxiety of whether or not they may be next. We look at the story from the finished product, they lived through it.
Notice how the waters subside:
VERSE 1b: And God made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided.
The universal symbol of God's Spirit is wind. God's win is strong enough to make the time of our trial or testing move away without a moments hesitation. God is in charge of the flood waters!
Isaiah 59:19 (NKJV) When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him.
Genesis 7:18 (ESV) The waters prevailed and increased greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the face of the waters.
Genesis 7:20 (ESV) The waters prevailed above the mountains, covering them fifteen cubits deep.
Genesis 7:24 (ESV) And the waters prevailed on the earth 150 days.
But notice the first verse of Genesis 8:
Genesis 8:1 (ESV) But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with him in the ark.
The vivid detail of the Earth's destruction is portrayed and then contrasted by God's remembrance of Noah. Remembrance is not what we think of. It has nothing to do with God forgetting and then recollecting Noah. No, remembrance is a covenantal word. In fact, look at the parts of the word itself: "Re" - again... and "member" - which is to be a part of something. God again made clear Noah was part of His plan.
Child of God, there will be times when the waters rise and prevail against everything around you. But God's not about to abandon you. It may feel that way. I'm sure Noah and his family in the untested vessel at times felt the anxiety of whether or not they may be next. We look at the story from the finished product, they lived through it.
Notice how the waters subside:
VERSE 1b: And God made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided.
Isaiah 59:19 (NKJV) When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him.
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