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Day 9

Faith

by Amber Donnett

By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household.  By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. (Hebrews 11:7)

 

What is faith?  What does it mean to live by faith? Hebrews 1:1 says, “...faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

 

The account of Noah is found in Genesis 5-10.  Everyone on earth was against the Lord, except Noah.  They did not believe and have faith.  There was violence and corruption everywhere.  It was a sinful world, much like today.

 

God called on Noah and told him He was going to wipe out the earth. He instructed Noah to build an ark because He was going to send a flood.  How do you think Noah felt to know that every person he knew, besides his immediate family, would die? He had to be scared and terrified and overcome with emotions.  

 

Noah was given specific instructions by God to build the ark.  He obeyed, not knowing the outcome or how the story would end.  He had to step out in faith and follow the directions of the Lord because he believed and knew that God had the master plan.  What would the result have been if Noah, rather than faithfully obeying, did what Adam did in the Garden of Eden?

 

Noah had to have faith because nobody around believed him.  God told Noah that he could only take his wife, his three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and their wives (Genesis 6, 8-10, 18).  He told Noah to bring two of every sort of animal (male and female) into the ark and keep them alive.  The flood would last for forty days and forty nights.  The water went above the mountains, covering them fifteen cubits deep.  The boat must have been rocking back and forth with dead bodies, animals, and God’s creation hitting the side of the boat.  We don’t always understand, but we must have faith to trust and believe that, in the end, God knows the bigger picture and will work it out for His honor and glory.

 

When the flood ended, Noah opened the window that he had made and sent out a raven.  It went to and fro until the waters were dried up from the earth (Genesis 8:7).  Then, he sent out a dove to see if the waters had subsided from the face of the ground, but the dove did not find a place to set her feet.  She returned to the ark.  Noah did not give up.  He waited another seven days and sent the dove out again.  When she came back this time, she had a freshly plucked olive leaf.  Noah knew the waters had subsided from the earth.  Noah then waited another seven days and sent out another dove and she did not return to him any more (Genesis 8:6-12).

 

Like Noah, we live in a sinful, corrupt world today.  Just like Noah, we have the rainbow as our promise that God will never flood the earth again.  Around the throne of God, there is also a majestic rainbow used to communicate the glory of God alone.

 

Questions to Ponder:  Would you have the faith of Noah to be obedient to the Lord even when what He is asking you to do doesn’t make sense?

 

Think on these lyrics written by Colton Dixon in the song, “I Will Build a Boat.”

 

I will build a boat in the sand where they say it never rains. I will stand in faith.  I will do anything it takes, with Your wind in my sails.  Your love never fails or fades.  I will build a boat in the desert place and when the flood and the water starts to rise, yeah, I will ride the storm ‘cause I got You by my side.  With Your wind in my sails, Your love never fails or fades.  I will build a boat, so let it rain.

 

Prayer:  Dear God, Help us to always have the faith and be bold like Noah.  Help us to always completely trust You in all that we do. Help us to step out in faith and take the next step.  Help us to be the men and women of God just like Noah was.  You tell us that everything will not be easy, but if we can have faith as small as a mustard seed You will see to it and help us through it.  You can move mountains. Nothing is impossible for You.  Lead, guide, and direct us in all that we say and do.  Help us to keep our eyes on You and we will give You all the honor and glory.  Amen.    

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