“Even Though”

Scripture:        Genesis, chapters 6-8; Luke, chapter 3

Genesis 8:13-22 (NLT):

Noah was now 601 years old. On the first day of the new year, ten and a half months after the flood began, the floodwaters had almost dried up from the earth. Noah lifted back the covering of the boat and saw that the surface of the ground was drying. Two more months went by, and at last the earth was dry!

Then God said to Noah, “Leave the boat, all of you – you and your wife, and your sons and their wives. Release all the animals – the birds, the livestock, and the small animals that scurry along the ground- so they can be fruitful and multiply throughout the earth.” So Noah, his wife, and his sons and their wives left the boat. And all of the large and small animals and birds came out of the boat, pair by pair.

Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and there he sacrificed as burnt offerings the animals and birds that had been approved for that purpose. And the Lord was pleased with the aroma of the sacrifice and said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of the human race, even though everything they think of or imagine is bent toward evil from childhood. I will never again destroy all living things. As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night.”

Observations:

Noah’s faithfulness

Two things caught my attention in this passage today. First, Noah’s faithfulness. We see that throughout today’s chapters, but in this passage one particular act stands out.  Earlier in chapter 8, we read that Noah sent out a dove three times. The first time, it came back because it found nowhere to land. The second time, it came back with a fresh olive leaf in its beak. The third time, it did not come back.

It had been ten and a half months since Noah and his family entered the ark. I don’t know about you, but after that much time, when that dove didn’t come back, I’d have been ready to get out! But Noah waited two more months – until God said to Noah, “Leave the boat.” Two more months. But Noah trusted God, just as he had trusted God all along the way.

“Even though”

The second thing that caught my attention is God’s grace and mercy. In chapter 6, we read: “The Lord observed the extend of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil” (6:5, NLT). The flood did not change that. After Noah’s sacrifice, God declared, “I will never again curse the ground because of the human race, even though everything they think or imagine is bent toward evil from childhood. I will never again destroy all living things.”

Even though people are still wicked and bent toward evil from childhood, God demonstrates his mercy toward us. That’s what mercy is – God not giving us what we deserve. Mankind hasn’t changed; we are still bent toward evil from childhood. But God also hasn’t changed! He demonstrated His mercy by sending His Son to reveal Himself to us, and to reconcile us to Him. “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8, NLT).

Application:

Our denial of our sinfulness is part of our “bent” toward evil. Years ago, many believers put “Born Again” bumper stickers on their cars, to reflect their faith in Christ. I remember seeing other bumper stickers that said, “Born right the first time.”  And my thought was – and still is: “No, you weren’t.  None of us were. We are all born in rebellion against God. Until we acknowledge our sinfulness and accept God’s gracious gift of forgiveness and life in Christ, we remain broken.”

Human society directs so much energy and passion toward “fixing” our broken world. However, our efforts are futile until we acknowledge the reason for our brokenness. The world is broken because of sin. We are broken because of sin. Our efforts to fix what is broken can only be effective is if they are joined with God and surrendered to His control. As long as we continue to deny truth and seek our own answers, we will be frustrated and defeated. Only the One who created us can truly heal us!

Prayer:

Father, thank You for reminding us today of Your great mercy and love. Even though we are bent toward evil from birth, You offer us healing and hope through Jesus Christ. Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Cleanse us through the presence of Your Holy Spirit.  Help us to be faithful to You, and to trust You to lead us each day in Your way.  Amen.