TCN's Biblical Journey Jan 2nd

Genesis 6

Okay, the world was a bad place. I can get that. Can you imagine if someone like Stalin, Hitler, or your mother-in-law lived for 800 years? (Sorry mother-in-laws, I just couldn’t wouldn’t resist) This is the world of Noah, people lived a long time and that may have been part of the problem. Imagine the trouble a person could get into. I have seen what grudges do to people after 50 years, after 500 it’s amazing there were any people left. So, let's agree the world must have been a bad place. 

Now we see Noah. When he was born his father said, "He would bring us comfort" (see Genesis 5:29) but how Lamech expected Noah to accomplish this is unclear.

Yet was see something about Noah at the end of chapter 6 which does make him stand out, "He did everything just as God commanded."

Looking into Jesus words in John 14:15 we see something important here. Jesus said, "If you love me, keep my commands," or as other translations put it "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." How do we show God we love him?  Obedience.

Perhaps what we miss here in Genesis 6 is not just a man obeying a deity, but a man who loves God enough to do what he asked him to do.

Perhaps the story of Noah isn't a man building an ark to save himself from an angry God but something more.

Perhaps the story of Noah and the ark is more of a love story? A man's love for God. 


There is far more to find in today's readings (Genesis 6-10), but maybe this will cause you to ask yourself why are you obeying God? or maybe it's why you aren't?