When thinking about the story of Noah, the first thing that comes to mind is a cute picture of animals happily getting on a boat-a picture that could be hung inside a nursery or child's room. These chapters tend to take on a children's story persona in our minds as we picture the animals happily trotting along.
So how can this story relate to our daily lives as adults?
One thing that I feel is sometimes glossed over is the waiting. Not only was Noah and his family trapped as it rained for 40 days, but this was in the midst of a storm like no other. Instead of a happy family cruise, these people were not only isolated from everyone they knew, but they were aware that each person not on the ship had drowned. While I can't imagine the relief, humility, and thankfulness they were experiencing by God saving them, I also would doubt that it was an easy ride.
Those days of storms included nausea inducing waves, frightening sounds, and a lack of peace. After it stopped raining, the waiting did not stop. Noah and his family had to remain on the boat for MONTHS after. Noah continued to send a dove to check for dry land, and it took a couple weeks for this to be successful. The point is: that was a lot of waiting.
Sometimes as followers of Jesus we know the hope that He is offering. We know His promises, and we are truly grateful for the mercy He has shown. However, that doesn't mean that we don't have to wait out the storms.
What are the storms in your life?
We all experience hard things that seem like there is no end. Maybe you are overwhelmed by school or a big work assignment that is taking all of your time and then some. You might be in a period of unemployment or of not having the finances to meet the bills and you can't figure out when that season of life will be relieved. Relationships could be causing your storm; not finding that right person, finding that person and having them change their mind. Illness, depression, you name it. We all have or will have storms. Even knowing and fully believing that God has so much in store for us in Heaven may not take the pain and fear away from what we are experiencing here.
But whatever the case, your storm will end.
God's timing is always better, even when we can't see it. When the ark hit ground, I am sure Noah and His family were ready to get out. Where the ark was sitting, leaving that boat and walking on dry land probably seemed like a good idea. They may not have been able to understand what the harm would be in doing things their way-such as leaving the boat. It was not until the dove returned that they realized the purpose for the continued waiting-there was no dry land for them to stand on.
Even if you can't see the purpose in your storms and your waiting, God does. And lucky for us, He is willing to wait with us, even as we try and make deals, reason with Him, or plan out our own futures. He sees the olive branch at the end, and He will lead us to our own dry land.
And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” (Genesis 9:12-16)
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