Megan Evans, Women’s Ministry Director, LHBC
Genesis 8:13-16 (ESV)
13 In the six hundred and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried from off the earth. And Noah removed the covering of the ark and looked, and behold, the face of the ground was dry. 14 In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth had dried out. 15 Then God said to Noah, 16 “Go out from the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons’ wives with you.
Do you have the patience of Noah? Noah and his family spent nearly a year with the animals in the ark. The smell alone would have been reason enough to bust down the doors and release the floating zoo—not to mention the noise and mess. Yet Noah was faithful, and he waited for God’s instruction.
It’s hard to endure unpleasant circumstances. It can be hard to adjust when our lifestyle and routine gets disrupted. Waiting for long periods of time does not often bring out the best in us. Several weeks of COVID-19 quarantine and stay at home orders perhaps has given us a small taste of their anxiousness to get off that boat! The account of the great flood and God’s promise is powerful, and nailed into the slats of the giant ark is also a story of great patience.
The Bible tells us that when the ark finally came to rest on the mountains of Ararat after months of traversing flood waters (8:4), they waited. While the water receded for two more months (8:5), they waited. After another 40 days Noah released a raven who continued to fly, then a dove who came back, and they waited. A week later, Noah released the dove again who came back with an olive branch. Noah could tell the waters were almost dried up. Oh, how hard it is to wait when the end is close in sight!
A week later Noah released the dove again–and this time it did not come back. Genesis 8:13 demonstrates Noah’s final measure of immense patience as he waited an additional two months while the ground slowly dried up. At that point, it would have been so tempting to just settle for life with muddy feet!
The earth was almost ready, the land was almost dry, but Noah continued to wait for God’s perfect timing. Finally, when the earth was completely dry, God instructed Noah to disembark. I get stuck in the almost ready stage sometimes, don’t you? Perhaps like me, you find yourself wanting to hurry God and rush His timing because waiting any longer feels impossible.
How was Noah able to wait patiently? Genesis 6:9 gives us a clue. Noah is described as a righteous man who walked closely with God. Noah faithfully followed God, even though he was the only one left of his entire generation who did. What does a life look like when we walk with God? Galatians 5:23 promises that God’s Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
We may not feel like we can spend one more day in our circumstances, but the patience of Noah reminds us not to settle for impatient muddy feet! With God in charge, we too can cultivate the patience required for His perfect timing. What areas of impatience that you need to surrender to God today?
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Father God, grow in me the fruit of your Spirit. Forgive my impatience, and I surrender any areas of restlessness today. Teach me to walk in step with you like Noah did, listening carefully to your word and waiting for your timing. Thank you for saving me and for showing me your love and grace each day. In Jesus Name, Amen.
MEMORY VERSES OF THE WEEK:
Psalm 25:4-5
Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.