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Tag: Noah’s Flood

God Has Fixed This …

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On December 8, 2015

In Christian

GodIsntFixingThisGodHasFixedThisThe December 3rd edition of the Daily News in its front page, headlined, “GOD ISN’T FIXING THIS” in response to what they felt was a cowardly and platitude response to the San Bernardino massacre of 14 innocent lives by terrorists, calling to attention the tweets of “thoughts and prayers” of several politicians. The motif of the article was that it was not “God control” but “Gun control” that was needed.

First and foremost, I must admit that I cannot even imagine the hurt and grief that the loved ones of the victims left behind are going through and that any condolences, that me or my family offers, would be insufficient as a solace, to the grieving families. Having said that, we wish to say to the surviving victims of this hate and violence that you can be assured of our prayers. Second, I do agree that some action needs to be taken but I am not certain that “gun control” alone would fix this and I say that because, even before there were guns, violence has always been a problem, since the fall of man. Violence, especially violence that results in the death of others, is the byproduct of sin. We see that in the life of Cain, the first human murderer, who slew his brother Abel, being subdued by sin (Genesis 4:7) and Satan – the first murderer – from the beginning – (John 8:44). In fact, man choosing to follow the evil desires of his own heart, instead of following God led to his corruption and the corruption of the world, so much so, that the world was filled with violence, grieving the very heart of God, the Creator, who in his wrath brought justice by destroying the whole world, save Noah and his family, by a flood (Genesis 6:11-13). From this, we can see that the very fallen nature of man is what needs to be fixed for him or her to be a creature of peace and not of violence.

Points to ponder:
Some have argued that “God isn’t fixing this” while others have rebutted that it is not God’s to fix – but the fact of the matter is “God has fixed this”, when Jesus Christ was born, 2000+ years ago, for when he was born, the heavens opened and the angelic choir sang “Peace (the antidote to violence) on earth and good will to ALL men.” The question is whether you choose to believe in it or not. The very nature of man is what needs to be fixed and fixing (transformation of man within) is only possible when we totally surrender our will and our selfish desires to Jesus Christ, trusting and believing in him, and choosing to Love God totally and Love man as we love ourselves. God has fixed us – Are you fixed? Am I fixed?

Jesus Christ – The Ark :: Mysteriously Unique

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On December 10, 2013

In Christian, Genesis, Jesus Christ - The Ark, Jesus Impersonator, Noah's Ark (and Jesus), Through the Bible

We are familiar with Noah’s ark that brought about salvation to all who were in it. This ark was commissioned by God and was built amidst an evil and wicked generation until God’s impending judgment by flood destroyed all of mankind (including all land and air organisms). While it is easy to merely focus on the the judgment of God and Noah’s faith, close scrutiny of this account reveals to us, the very Son of God – Jesus Christ. As we dissect this account using the characteristics of Noah’s ark, it doesn’t take much to realize that it is a pre-type of God’s only Son, Jesus Christ, as The One and Only Ark to save mankind. This article is part of the series, Jesus Christ – The Ark.

First and foremost, God tells Noah that he must build the ark with gopher wood. In fact, the word “gopher” is unique as it appears only once in the entire King James Version of the Bible. Though some other (newer) translations have attempt to identify this wood as that of Cypress, there is no conclusive evidence of such speculation. All we know is that gopher wood was a type of wood before the flood that God brought about during the time of Noah. Today, it remains a mystery and is unique of its true identity.

Points to ponder:
The Apostle Paul writes that the mystery that has been hidden from ages and from generations, but is now made manifest to God’s saints, is Christ Jesus in us, the hope of glory. Jesus Christ remains a mystery to some, and some even worship him ignorantly as an unknown God (Acts 17:23) which God overlooked in the past but now commands to repent (Acts 17:30) but the fact remains that he is unique. Just as the ark was the only (unique) means of salvation from the flood of God’s judgment, there is none like Jesus Christ, for their is no other name, given under heaven or earth, by which man can be saved (Acts 4:12), from God’s righteous judgment, when he returns to reign. Is Jesus Christ, still a mystery to you? If he is, ask God the Father to reveal his Son Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, now, before the flood of his judgment comes.

Genesis 6:14 (KJV)
14 Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.

Colossians 1:26-27 (KJV)
26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Ephesians 3:2-11 (KJV)
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

Bringer of Rain (Not Spartacus nor Elijah)

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On April 17, 2013

In Christian, Genesis

When reading Genesis 2:5, one cannot help but notice the phrase, “for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth“. Later on, during the time of Noah, we will learn that God says, that he will cause rain to fall upon the earth for a period of forty days and forty nights (Genesis 7:4).

Spartacus, a Thracian slave turned gladiator, who led an insurrection against Rome in the 1st century is attributed to be the bringer of rain, but it is not Spartacus, who is the bringer of rain. While the meterologist may predict the possibility of rain or its lack thereof, the only One who can open the windows of heaven (Genesis 7:11-12), and bring rain upon the earth, is the LORD God. When prophet Elijah prayed to the LORD, the LORD God caused it to rain abundantly/greatly (1 Kings 18:41-46). It is important to recognize that it was not Elijah who was the bringer of rain, but the LORD God.

Points to ponder:
Our God is a God of the elements. We can seek his showers of blessings and if it comes, praise be to God, but if it doesn’t, praise be to God as well, for he is a Sovereign God and does what he chooses and wills, in and for our life, for he alone is the bringer of abundant rain (blessings).

Genesis 2:5 (KJV)
5 And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.

Done, Undone, Redone

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On March 11, 2013

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

In the account of Creation, we see that God separated the waters from the waters (Genesis 1:6-7) resulting in waters above and waters below.
Upon man’s exceeding wickedness, God’s wrath was poured out in the form of a flood, in which the fountains of the great deep (waters from below) were opened up and the windows of  heaven were opened (waters from above) (Genesis 7:11), in a sense UNDOING the separation of the waters, that God had DONE in the creation account.
And not forgetting his righteous servant, Noah, God sent a wind to pass over the earth, so that the flood waters could assuage and the fountains of the deep and windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven restrained, so that the water could recede. In other words, God had to REDO the separation and the earth was replenished by only those who were righteous.

So, in the matter of separation (of the waters), God had to DO, UNDO and REDO.

Points to ponder:
In like manner in our spiritual matters of being separate and sanctified (set apart) for the Lord, when God created man, he created him to be a living soul (Genesis 2:7). Man was distinct from the animals and everything else God created for man was created in the image (Holy image) of God (Genesis 1:27). But with man’s fall and exceeding wickedness, God had to pour forth his wrath on himself, as a flood (for the sins of the whole world was laid on Jesus Christ, God’s Only Begotten Son);  And when the Holy Spirit of God passes over us, receding the self and sin in us, making us believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, to be our Savior, we are redone in God’s image – recreated as a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Are you REDONE in the image of God, conforming no longer to the patterns of this world, but to the image of God’s Son, Jesus Christ?

Genesis 1:6-7 (KJV)
6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.

Genesis 7:11 (KJV)
11 In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.

Genesis 8:1-2 (KJV)
1 And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters assuaged;
2 The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained;

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Doing is Believing

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On October 18, 2012

In Christian

When God commanded Noah to build an ark and bring into it, two of every sort of living thing of flesh, so that he, his family and God’s creation do not perish in the flood that God promised he would send, the Bible records that Noah did all that God commanded him (Genesis 6:22). Come to think of this, prior to this flood, there is no mention of any rain, during the days of Noah, let alone a flood. In other words, Noah believed that what God says he will do and thus obeys by doing what he was commanded.

Points to ponder:
To “do” what God commands us to do is an expression of believing. In other words, we do, when we trust that God will do what he tells us he would and to not do, is in essence an expression of not believing, in a promise keeping God, who cannot lie. Believing (Faith) without doing (action) is dead, for in doing, we express our belief. And when we do, let us be like Noah, who did all. We cannot do “partial” work for God – when we do, we must do “all” that he commands us to.

Genesis 6:13-22 (KJV)
13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
14 Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.
15 And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.
16 A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.
17 And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.
18 But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee.
19 And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female.
20 Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive.
21 And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them.
22 Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.

No matter what – I will obey

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On October 5, 2009

In Christian, No matter what

Many decisions that ought to be taken are not taken due to one of the following reasons:
1. we try to rationalize the situation assuming that our finite and limited human minds has infinite comprehension and abilities or
2. we think of the consequences of the decision and are paralyzed for fear of life or fear of being ridiculed.

In today’s text, taken from Genesis 6-9, we will look at Noah, who chose to obey NO MATTER WHAT.

As a backdrop to this character, Noah was commanded by God to build an ark that would become the means for Salvation of his family and all living things that God had created, from a flood that God said he would destroy the world with, as a punishment for its wickedness and violence. This command would seem absurd to say the least, since there was no account of rain before the flood. The closest thing to rain is the watering of the earth with a mist the came from the ground (Genesis 2:6), but this is not explicitly indicative of rain or flood. For a man to be building an ark when rain had never before been seen (Hebrews 11: 7) and the concept of  a flood not witnessed before then, would certainly give reasons for ridicule, especially if he was also claiming that he was doing so as in obedience to God. Noah nonetheless obeyed NO MATTER WHAT one would think of him.

If Noah had rationalized or thought of the consequences of being ridiculed, he and his family would have ended up like anyone else – unsaved and dead. His act of obedience, trusting in God’s faithfulness, not only saved all who were brought into the ark but also earned him an entry into the Hall of Faith (Hebrews 11:7),  and his obedience in God gave him the title as ‘preacher of righteousness’. (2 Peter 2:5). Only in Jesus, the ark of our Salvation is life and all who place their trust in Jesus, as the savior of the world, are saved from God’s wrath and punishment of death.

Points to ponder:

  1. What is God asking of you and me today in the area of obeying Him at His word?
  2. Can we take the step to obey implicitly, without rationalizing or thinking of the consequences, even if we will be ridiculed; Can we obey NO MATTER WHAT?

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