I believe that big part of the reason we are drawn to epic stories (in the Bible, novels or movies) is because we are looking to be inspired. We're in search of a new hero - someone we aspire to be like. Someone who challenges us to be better than we are - to make our life count. That is why the Youth at the Chapel are spending this summer journeying through The Bible's Biggest Stories. We may have grown up singing songs and hearing the nursery rhyme version of Noah's Ark and Jonah and the Whale. But they are true stories that reveal how big and powerful and loving our God - Yahweh - is!
Week #1 we took a fresh look at Noah. (His story can be found in Genesis 6-9.) The story begins with God evaluating His creation and voicing His extreme disappointment with the wicked human race. It says in 6:11-12 that the earth was corrupt in God's sight and full of violence. The word corrupt has to do with the idea of being ruined or spoiled. In the beginning, God created the first man and woman in His own image, blessed them and saw that all He had made was excellent in every way. But when Adam and Eve chose to rebel and sinned, our perfect communion with God was shattered. The pain and evil that followed were NOT part of God's plan.
He was heartbroken, and regretted ever having created mankind. '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." But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD" (6:7-8).
We talked tonight about how Noah was a righteous man - blameless among the people of his time, and walked faithfully with God (6:9). He was singled out and scoffed at because he did the right thing. We live in a time where our culture considers it normal to engage in a lot of the behaviors that the people of Noah's time were experiencing. We deal with greed, jealousy, gossip, lust, etc. every day, and it can be hard to live righteously when others are not. But we see in this story that Noah's righteousness made a difference. Because Noah chose to do the right thing, mankind was given a second chance! And even if no one else noticed or appreciated what he was doing, God noticed - and that is all that matters. So we see that it is worth it to be different and do what it takes to please God.
To remember this, the students were given the following scripture memory verse:
"Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." ~ 2 Timothy 2:22
The story goes on to tell of how God instructed Noah to build an ark and fill it with two of every kind of animal in preparation for a flood. This must have seemed like an impossible task, but Noah had faith and obeyed anyway. Sometimes God asks us to do things that seem impossible, or to take a risk when we cannot see what the future holds. But God always has a plan and is working to protect, bless and grow the people who love and trust Him.
Now we come to the good part of the story - the flood! There is some intense imagery in there about the springs of the great deep bursting forth and the floodgates of heaven being opened (7:11). Living here in Japan has given us unique insight into what that might have been like. We have witnessed first hand the destructive power of water. But even in the midst of this scary part of the story, there is some reassurance. In v. 16 it says that God shut them in. He protected Noah and his family, and sealed out the storm.
The awesome thing is that God continues to rescue and protect His people from the storms of this life. He also made a covenant with Noah never to try and wipe out mankind again. He knew that we hadn't changed - that our hearts are still wicked and that we would cause Him no end of hurt and disappointment. But He loves us and wants that relationship with us so bad that He was willing to give us no end of second chances.
This is the first taste of the love and redemption God exhibited when He sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. And when we act like Noah, placing our faith and hope in God, even when that's the total opposite of what everyone around us is doing, even when it doesn't make sense and we have no idea where He will take us, He forgives our sins and washes us white as snow - making us righteous because of our faith! When we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, He will place His Holy Spirit within us to encourage, guide and strengthen us. Then He seals us shut - just as He shut the doors of the ark. So no matter how severe the storms we encounter on this earth, God will be there as our shelter and strength!
Praise the Lord that:
"Even when the rain falls,
Even when the flood starts rising,
Even when the storm comes,
I am washed by the water."
~ Needtobreathe
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