Day 290 As in the Days of Noah

 

10/17/2026

"But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD."

Genesis 6:8

 

Life had gotten pretty ugly in Noah's day, much as it has in our present age. So bad in fact that God said He was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and Scripture says that God was grieved. So, He decided that enough was enough, and He decided to destroy the every living creature including the birds of the air and all of mankind. All except for one man:

"This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God. And Noah begot three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. And God said to Noah, 'The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark....'" (Genesis 6:9-14).

Everyone is familiar with the story of Noah and the ark, even those who do not attend church. Yet the story holds so much symbolism when we consider how miraculous the event was and remains as an example to us today. It shouldn't be surprising, as there are so many mysteries hidden within God's Word, and we will have an eternity to understand.

Up until the floodwaters came from God there had never been rain on the earth. God had watered the land with dew and his own sprinkler system. While Noah was building this boat per God's instructions he was also busy preaching to the people around him, trying to warn them of the coming disaster, hoping they would mend their ways and change their fate; however, this didn't happen. It took Noah at least 100 days to build the ark, gather the animals, and load everything up on the ark. Finally God told him it was time, so after everyone - Noah and his wife and his three sons and their wives - and every creature was onboard, God shut the door and the floodgates opened. I imagine there were many people trying to get inside the ark, but God had made His decision. For forty days it rained until the entire earth was covered, and every living creature destroyed. Imagine what was going on in the minds of those onboard knowing they were the only people alive. It was an incredible journey they were on. 

It took considerable days for the land to dry out before God opened the doors and all departed to begin a new life on a new earth. Noah built an altar and dedicated burnt offerings to God. The LORD was pleased and He promised Noah the following:

"And the LORD smelled a soothing aroma. Than the LORD said in His heart, 'I will never again curse the ground for man's sake, although the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done.'" (Genesis 8:21). 

God later sealed this promise with the sign of the rainbow establishing a covenant with Noah (Genesis 9:8-17). He told Noah and his sons to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. The rainbow was a sign of the covenant between God and all creatures of the earth that He would never destroy the earth by flood again. 

Sadly, because of man's fallen sin nature, evil and violence exists today, and I cannot imagine at times how much more horrific things can become, yet Scripture paints a pretty graphic picture of just how bad things will turn before Jesus Christ returns. When Jesus' disciples asked Him when the end would come, He told them only His Father knew when that day would be, but He described the signs to watch out for (Matthew 24:3-8). He later adds, "But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be." (verses 36-39)

We like Noah have been given a work to do - an ark to build - in order to prepare ourselves for the return of Christ. We have things we need to do to prepare our hearts, get our lives in order. Each day a new struggle comes with corrupt leadership threatening to destroy our nation, take away our freedoms, rewrite the Constitution and erode our justice system. It can be terrifying to consider, if anyone is even giving it a second thought. I know that God will protect His people, those who surrender their lives to His care and provision, but my heart cries for those who do not know Him, who have not found peace and salvation in Jesus Christ. Like Noah we know the storm is coming, and this time it is a trial by fire. So like Noah we must be busy trying to reach lost souls with the Good News, so they too can have eternal life in the world God intended from the beginning. I am so anxious for that day, but even so, it will be much happier the more people come with us.

Until that day may the true days of Noah be the fruitful ones.