Read: Genesis 8
In chapter
eight we begin to see the redemptive purposes of the flood. God did not forget Noah and his family which
shows us that He loves and cares for people.
God sent a wind to evaporate the waters and they receded from the earth
(v. 3). After some time of drying the
ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat (v. 4) as the waters continued to
recede (v. 5). Noah then sends out a
raven and then a dove to test the level that the water had receded (v.
6-12). Eventually the dove does not
return, signaling that things were drying.
But still Noah had to wait. On
the first day of the first month Noah removes the covering from the ark so that
he could finally see himself that the ground was dry but he had to wait almost
two more months for it to be completely dry (v. 13). We are told in Scriptures that the rains
started on the 17th day of the 2nd month (Gen. 7:11). We
are told that Noah left the ark on the 27th day of the 2nd
month (Gen. 8:14). The months of the
ancient Hebrews were lunar; the first six consisted of 30 days each, the latter
six of twenty-nine days each. The whole
twelve months would have therefore taken 354 days. If we add this to the 11 extra days (from the
17th to the 27th) then we get exactly 365 days, a
complete solar year! I think God likes
math! God called Noah out of the ark (v.
16) and commanded all the living creatures to come out so they could multiply
on the earth, be fruitful and increase in number (v. 17). So Noah obeyed and they all went out! Then, Noah built an altar to the Lord and
sacrificed burnt offerings on it (v. 20), signifying worship. The Lord accepted Noah’s offering and was
pleased with his worship. He promised to
never again destroy all living creatures (v. 21); this promise will be
described more thoroughly in chapter nine.
It was made even though every inclination of man’s heart is evil from
childhood (v. 21). Verse 22 gives us the first glimpse into the eternal nature
of the earth. Seasons were first
introduces in Genesis 1:14 but now we see more distinctions between them –
seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night. This is a merciful promise to the inhabitants
of earth. There may be a variety in seasons
but no season will fail, they will continue at their proper time for all
eternity. This ends the actual account
of the flood, although the next few chapters still focus on Noah. Through the flood we see both the justice and
love of our God. He punishes the wicked
yet He is merciful, giving them time to repent.
He is fair in waiting as long as possible to extend His grace to all who
may seek Him.
Prayer and Journaling
1. Noah
stayed in the ark where God shut him in until God told him to come out. He didn’t go running out at the first sign of
dry land. It is sometimes hard to wait
on the Lord and not rush into things on our own strength. God asks us to wait on Him. This means that we pray and actively seek His
will and guidance as well as His timing.
Waiting does not mean that we are inactive but that we seek His ways and
look for confirmation before rushing ahead.
In what areas do you need to wait on the Lord? In what areas have you been anxious to run
ahead of God? Pray that you would learn
to prayerfully wait for God to show you His direction, will and timing for
these things.
2. After
Noah and his family came out of the ark he built an altar to the Lord
signifying worship. Think about it, God
had just preserved Noah and his family and miraculously kept them and all the
animals alive for a year on the ark.
They now set foot on dry ground; the earth was to be restored. Noah had LOTS to be thankful for and He
worshipped the Lord. God accepted His
worship. What are 5-10 things that you
can thank and worship God for today? See
if you can even come up with a list of 15-20 things. Then go through each in prayer, thanking God
and worshipping Him for each one.
