David Swift

Genesis 6:5-8

5 The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.

6 The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled.

7 So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.”

8  But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.

Reflection:

How many times has your TV, internet or computer froze on you? If you are like me, there seems to be something that happens on a monthly basis to one of my many interconnected devices requiring a reset. I inevitably find myself digging behind a dresser or TV stand pulling the power cord…counting to ten…then plugging it back in with my fingers crossed that I don’t need to call tech support.

In a similar way God found frustration with creation in just a few short chapters within the first book of the Bible. God already had witnessed sin enter creation and seemed ready to pull the plug and wipe everything from the world. And yet in God’s magnificent, loving character God made a way. God found Noah, a righteous and faithful man, who would help usher in a renewed version of creation after the floodwaters receded.

Much like us, God hoped this would be the reset that would be enough to right the course of creation. As we all know, the story didn’t end in Genesis 9 with God’s sign, a rainbow, and the words: “they lived happily ever after;” however, God did establish a covenant with Noah and his descendants that he would not destroy the earth. God’s bow would always face himself and not toward his beloved creation. God would take the wrath.

Lucky for us the story did not end with Noah and God did not give up on his creation and continued to keep his promise. Even though God continued to see the wickedness of sin, he decided to become flesh and die for those sins. God knew that through the death and resurrection of his son, Jesus, the true renewal would begin.

And now, the story continues with us today! We are to be faithful like Noah, so that the renewal which began through the sacrifice of Jesus, will be perfected in our lives. Ephesians 3:20-21 reminds us that he “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we are thankful that you kept your promise to Noah and sent Jesus to be the renewal of creation so that our lives may be full. Lord, we ask that your Holy Spirit fill us to lead a life that reflects your love and the hope you have for all our lives. Amen.