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“But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with him on the ark.  And God made a wind blow over the earth and the waters subsided.” Genesis 8:1 (ESV)

Interesting how those images of childhood Sunday School evoke deep memories of our fave Bible stories.  Loved watching all those animals marching two by two so cute.  And then the rains came, the floods rose, the dove went out, the land returned and the rainbow filled the sky.

Our view is quick, short and much less intense than the reality of life on the ark. We move through the story in fast forward mode hitting the highlights and landing on the happily ever after.  Isn’t that how we want all stories to unfold?

Reality is Noah, his family and all those animals were on the ark a lot longer than two Sundays  – the global flood is estimated to have lasted over a year.  A long time to be together…a long time to be inside…a long time to endure yet kept perfectly safe.

Month after month, I would have entertained the thought has God forgotten us.  How much longer must we be in this ark?  Perhaps Noah felt the same; we really don’t know since the scriptures don’t give us a peek into the conversations on the ark.  Regardless I love Genesis 8  – no sweeter words than God remembered Noah, all the beasts and all the livestock on the ark.  Now that word remembered might cause us to think God had temporarily forgotten those floating through the waters on the big ark.  Nothing is further from the truth.  In the Hebrew remembered is “zakhar” which conveys turning one’s attention to or thinking about.  Now that God’s purposes for the flood were accomplished, He turned His focus back to those He saved.

What a beautiful reminder, our God is fully aware of all things and is in control of all things.  Not only did He turn his attention toward His creation He had redeemed, God moved on their behalf.  He made a wind blow over the earth resulting in the flood waters receding.  Bottom line, He took action so leaving the ark was guaranteed.

We might be in the worst storm of our lives, being knocked around in the waves of despair and fear, wondering if God is still there.  Could be disappointment has us drowning in sorrow.  Perhaps we feel rejected, uninvited, cast aside and isolated.  Maybe we find ourselves overcome by the circumstances surrounding us.  Rest assured sweet friend, our God has not forgotten us. He hasn’t moved on and left us to handle life on our own.  God is in total control even though the world around us seems out of control, and He is fully aware of everything touching our lives and will take action to guarantee what will serve us best.

“Father, nothing touches our lives that hasn’t been sifted through Your hands.  We can wait and trust in total confidence that You will act on our behalf.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life