The Promise
Then God said to Noah, “Come out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and their wives. Bring out every kind of living creature that is with you—the birds, the animals, and all the creatures that move along the ground—so they can multiply on the earth and be fruitful and increase in number on it.” So Noah came out, together with his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives. All the animals and all the creatures that move along the ground and all the birds—everything that moves on land—came out of the ark, one kind after another. Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. (Genesis 8:15-20)
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. (Psalm 100:5)
Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. (Deuteronomy 7:9)
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. (Psalm 100:5)
Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. (Deuteronomy 7:9)
At the beginning of Genesis 7 and towards the end of chapter 8, we find three enormous words: Then God said… This is massive, because they’re words spoken to a man named Noah – a man who is facing the most significant lockdown anyone could imagine. It’s in the tough times that we need to hear the Lord the most, so knowing that God was speaking some direction (or even anything!) into his situation must have been massive for Noah.
Noah is not alone in receiving direction and promises from God. The same is true for us today as well. Regardless of the storms or stillness that may come your way today, God continues to have something to say about it. God is not silent in your situation. He speaks through the Bible. He speaks through the spiritual gifts of his people. He speaks through the magnitude and design of his creation. He even speaks through an audible voice to his people, as well as through the quieter, inward voice, through which he whispers to our souls.
Noah had courage, conviction and direction to build, step into and disembark from the Ark – none of which would have been possible through his own strength or clever thinking. It wasn’t self-confidence that brought illumination to Noah. It was through being shaped by the Word of God that Noah knew what he should do. This is why the first thing that he did when he stepped out of the ark was to down tools and to spend time in the Lord’s presence. Taking the time to listen for God’s voice changed everything for Noah and his small family. They would inherit the earth!
Noah is not alone in receiving direction and promises from God. The same is true for us today as well. Regardless of the storms or stillness that may come your way today, God continues to have something to say about it. God is not silent in your situation. He speaks through the Bible. He speaks through the spiritual gifts of his people. He speaks through the magnitude and design of his creation. He even speaks through an audible voice to his people, as well as through the quieter, inward voice, through which he whispers to our souls.
Noah had courage, conviction and direction to build, step into and disembark from the Ark – none of which would have been possible through his own strength or clever thinking. It wasn’t self-confidence that brought illumination to Noah. It was through being shaped by the Word of God that Noah knew what he should do. This is why the first thing that he did when he stepped out of the ark was to down tools and to spend time in the Lord’s presence. Taking the time to listen for God’s voice changed everything for Noah and his small family. They would inherit the earth!
1) How open are you today to the fact that God wants to direct your paths? Can you think of examples when he has done that in your past? If you haven’t, what may have hindered that? (eg unbelief, pain, unhelpful distractions, ungodly influences)
2) What is in your schedule this week that will almost certainly distract you from spending time looking to God and listening for his promises? Are you willing to adjust your day and week accordingly, to make space for him?
3) When Moses wrote the book of Genesis, he knew what God said to Noah through revelation from God himself, but also through the fact that the account of Noah had been passed down from one generation to the next. What are you writing down in order to keep a record of how/when/what God is saying to you during lockdown? You may need to recall it one day to remind yourself and to pass it onto others!
2) What is in your schedule this week that will almost certainly distract you from spending time looking to God and listening for his promises? Are you willing to adjust your day and week accordingly, to make space for him?
3) When Moses wrote the book of Genesis, he knew what God said to Noah through revelation from God himself, but also through the fact that the account of Noah had been passed down from one generation to the next. What are you writing down in order to keep a record of how/when/what God is saying to you during lockdown? You may need to recall it one day to remind yourself and to pass it onto others!
Father God, I thank you that your Word is enough for all my needs. Thank you that you are not a silent God, even today. Holy Spirit I invite you into my day today to guard and guide me. I am sorry for that times that I have ignored you lately, or assumed I knew better. Please help me to be completely open to your loving direction and faithful promises. Amen.
If you have time, consider carrying on your conversation with God using one of our helpful Prayer Pathways.
Today’s Everyday Devotions have also inspired a devotional video that you can watch on our YouTube channel.
Join our online service at everyday.online
Today’s Everyday Devotions have also inspired a devotional video that you can watch on our YouTube channel.
Join our online service at everyday.online