Every living thing that moved on land perished—birds, livestock, wild animals, all the creatures that swarm over the earth, and all mankind. Everything on dry land that had the breath of life in its nostrils died. Every living thing on the face of the earth was wiped out; people and animals and the creatures that move along the ground and the birds were wiped from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those with him in the ark. (Genesis 7:21-23)
The scene depicted in chapter 7 of Genesis is a very sobering one.
One large boat housed all that would survive of land and air creatures. Only those chosen to be aboard that large boat would live. Only those selected would avoid the wipe out. Of the creatures, it’s interesting that God has already determined clean from unclean animals.. Even with that distinction, God is willing to save the unclean with the clean.
There are times when scripture outlines actions that are taken in a fairly straightforward manner. Noah was told what to do and he did it. That’s all we needed to know. Nothing about the process that lead to the obedience, nothing of any angst or challenge he may have felt about the task. What is highlighted is that God told him what to do. He followed instructions and as a result where everyone and everything else was being submerged in water, as his name implies, he was able to provide comfort to those that were saved.
It’s a sobering episode with a sobering message among other messages. The process of obedience is not as important as the outcome of obedience. Hearing the instruction – we are in a world that may not be sinking in water, but the level of corruption is not going unnoticed. We need to be saved. There is an ark available and requires obedience – a response of ongoing faith – to avoid the next wipe out.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 