Looking for trouble? Go along with the crowd.
Genesis 6:5 The LORD observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. 6 So the LORD was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart. Genesis 7:1 When everything was ready, the LORD said to Noah, "Go into the boat with all your family, for among all the people of the earth, I can see that you alone are righteous. 5 So Noah did everything as the LORD commanded him.
Genesis 8:20 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and there he sacrificed as burnt offerings the animals and birds that had been approved for that purpose. 21 And the LORD was pleased with the aroma of the sacrifice and said to himself, "I will never again curse the ground because of the human race, even though everything they think or imagine is bent toward evil from childhood. I will never again destroy all living things. 22 As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night."
It is easy to read the story about Noah and jump to the building of the boat and the actual flood, but what about the events that led up to the flood?
Already the people on the earth had disobeyed God to an outrageous extent, from the temptation in the garden to be like God, to jealousy and murder, you can be sure that is only the tip of the iceberg. You can be certain that Noah had a lot of opportunities to join right in, just think about how over whelming the enticement would be if you didn't know another person that was living to please God, Noah and his family were all alone in being saved from God judgment. Noah was facing some difficult circumstances and he could surely use a friend to encourage him, if he could have had a small group to give him a hand, it could have been so much easier.
Noah's situation was worse off than what we have , despite the circumstances Noah was righteous and he received grace in the midst of the judgment of the wicked, what an awesome example for us to hold fast to our faith and continue to do what is right no matter how bleak our situation may seem.
Psalms 34:15 The eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help. 16 But the LORD turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth. 22 But the LORD will redeem those who serve him. No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.
2 Peter 2:9 So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment.
God is a righteous judge but he is also merciful and he will rescue us from this world and take us to be with him for eternity.
I must remember that no matter how bad the world seems to be around me, it is still better than what Noah had to live with, he didn't have any companionship with other believers to help him and encourage him.
Thank you Lord for the fellowship of those that are Christ followers, help us to remember the importance of being in small groups doing life together so that we can encourage and strengthen each other.
