January 7: Noah Obeys God

"God gave Noah an impossible task-to put a pair of every animal inside the ark. And Noah did exactly what God asked. When God gives you an impossible task He will help you to make it possible. You only need to obey and trust Him."

Bible Reading: Genesis 7:1-5, 17-24

I really enjoyed today's reading. Throughout the first few chapters of Genesis we see a list of catastrophes that stem from disobedience. It was because of disobedience that mankind falls into sin. We then see the consequences of sin--death, destruction, violence, shame, guilt, separation from God, and the list goes on. All of this started from a simple act of disobedience. Romans 5:19 tells us, "For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous." That one man that disobeyed was the first couple in the Garden of Eden. And that one man who made us righteous through his obedience was our Lord Jesus. The focus of today's reading is the importance of obedience and the power it can have on many. Obedience has always been important to God. Ever since the beginning. It is required of us as children of God. Why is obedience so important to God? God has a plan for us. He has a perfect will for his children just like he had a perfect will for Adam and Eve. His will was for Adam and Eve to eat from the tree of life so that we would live forever in communion with God where sin, suffering, and death would have no part. However, man disobeyed and that brought God to remap His will for us. God had to prepare the perfect sacrifice to redeem mankind. He gave his one and only son to save the world from condemnation. As his children, God wants us to trust him and trust his will just like we trust our fathers here on Earth because we know that they only want the best for us. Likewise, God knows us the best and wants the best for us. In order for God to carry out His perfect will for us, we must obey and trust him. 

After the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, things just started to go downhill. Sin had entered the world which gave way to violence, destruction and death. Man turned his face from God. They went after the desires of their flesh and the worship to the one true God ceased. This deeply saddened and also enraged God who decided to wipeout mankind off the face of Earth. However, God always has a separate holy remnant for him. In the middle of all the violence and corruption, God had his eyes on one man and his family. That man was Noah. Noah was a righteous man who found favor in the eyes of the Lord. God spoke to Noah to build an ark to save himself, his family and the animals. Hebrews 11:7 tell us that "by faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household." Noah could have easily disobeyed God. Up until that point it had never rained, so to any man the idea that a flood of waters would cover the earth may have sounded absurd. To any man the idea of building an enormous ark for his family and the animals would have been not ridiculous but impossible. However, not only did Noah believed God but he also obeyed him. In doing this he was able to save his household. God takes obedience very seriously. Obedience is very pleasing in the eyes of the Lord. 1 Samuel 15:22 says, "Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams." Not only is our obedience great delight to our Lord, but it is the true sign of our love for God. How can we show God that we love him? By obeying him. Jesus said, "if you love me, you will obey what I command" (John 14:15). "And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands" (2 John 1:6). If we love God we must obey him. Obeying him includes trusting him. Sometimes we may feel that what God wants or asks of us is impossible, but we must remember one thing--with man things may be impossible, but with God ALL things are possible (Matthew 19:26). Praise God!!