Scripture:
These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. And Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight, and the earth was filled with violence. And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch. This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark 300 cubits, its breadth 50 cubits, and its height 30 cubits. Make a roof for the ark, and finish it to a cubit above, and set the door of the ark in its side. Make it with lower, second, and third decks. For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die. But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you. And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ark to keep them alive with you. They shall be male and female. Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, of every creeping thing of the ground, according to its kind, two of every sort shall come in to you to keep them alive. Also take with you every sort of food that is eaten, and store it up. It shall serve as food for you and for them.” Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him. (Genesis 6:9-22)
Devotion:
During the Christmas season, we often see images of the stable in Bethlehem or the shepherds with a star overhead. But do you often see pictures of Noah and the ark around Christmas time? Ever seen a Noah’s ark Christmas ornament? Chances are, the answer is no. However, did you know that even Noah’s story is part of the Christmas story?
The story of Noah and the ark began before Noah was even born. Yesterday, we read about how Adam and Eve brought sin into the world when they rebelled against God. And Sadly, Adam and Eve were not the only people prone to disobedience. Romans tells us that we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). So, as more and more people inhabited the earth, evil also continued to increase. God was grieved by the wickedness in the world and decided to wipe creation clean.
However, not everyone turned their backs on God and so He chose Noah and his family to play a very important role in the story. God called them to make a giant wooden ark and to fill it with all the animals they could muster. They were going to preserve God’s good creation. Even though this plan likely seemed foolish, Noah trusted in God. Through them, God saved his people and had them start over again.
When we look around today, it’s obvious there is a lot of evil and wickedness in our world. It can be tempting to not honor God with the things we think, say, or do. We, like the people in Noah’s day, are sinners who want to do things our way. However, just as there was only one way for Noah and his family to be saved, Jesus is the only way we can be saved from the punishment, power, and presence of our sin. God will rescue us like He rescued Noah when we have faith, and trust in God, His Word, and His promises.
Questions:
- What wickedness or brokenness do you wish God would rescue you from?
- What might it look like in your life to trust in God’s plan for you?
- Where are you having a hard time believing God has your best in mind?
Activity:
Draw a picture today of the ark and think about this: God told Noah to use the wood from trees to build a boat that would rescue them from certain death. Did God use the wood of a tree in any other story in the Bible as part of His big rescue plan? (Hint: it was “t” shaped) Read Romans 6:23 with your family and be thankful that although we are all sinners deserving of death, God offers us the free gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ.
