Bible in a Year, Day 5: God's Patience Has a Limit

Today's reading

Today's reading is Genesis 6-7, where God sees a violent world, calls Noah to build an ark, and shuts the door when the flood comes.

This is the history of the generations of Noah: Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time. Noah walked with God.

(Genesis 6:9, WEB)

Reflection

Genesis 6 describes a world that had festered. Pastor Jack Graham points out that the scripture says "man's mind was on evil continually and doing evil." Into that world steps Noah, a different kind of man, and Graham gives the reason he walked with God: he found favor and grace in the eyes of the Lord.

Graham notes that Genesis 6:9 calls Noah righteous and blameless among the people of his time, and he adds that this means "not perfect, but blameless." Grace came first, and a faithful life followed. As Graham put it, "In a world where everyone else seemed to be chasing evil all the time, Noah chased God."

God gave Noah detailed instructions: an ark 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high, with rooms, decks, a roof and a door. Graham says Noah worked for over a century while the world mocked. He asks us to imagine the questions his family faced about building a big boat in the middle of dry land. "Every plank was a sermon. Every nail was a warning," Graham said, and still no one listened.

Then the day of judgment came. The animals arrived two by two, Noah and his family went in, and God himself shut the door. "Once the door closed, it was too late for everybody else," Graham said. God's patience had a limit, and when it ended, the ark carried those inside through the judgment and into a new world.

Graham calls the ark a picture of salvation, the good ship grace. "Jesus is our ark. He is our ark of salvation. He is our ark of safety." When we are in Christ, we are saved. Graham also reminds us that Peter describes the flood as a picture of baptism, and that the ark points us to the one who saves us all.

For anyone who feels mocked for believing, Graham leaves this assurance: "when God shuts the door and you are inside, grace keeps you there."

Take it with you

• Noah's faith began with grace he had received. Where do you need to remember that God's favor comes before your effort?
• Noah kept building through ridicule. What act of obedience is God asking you to keep doing, even if no one seems to listen?
• Are you inside the ark, trusting in Jesus for your safety? If so, rest in the grace that keeps you there.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for the grace that finds us when we have done nothing to earn it. Give us the faith of Noah, so that we keep walking with you when the world around us chases something else. Help us obey you even when others laugh or turn away. We trust in Jesus as our ark of safety, and we thank you that your grace holds us fast. Keep us close to you through every storm. Amen.