Noah's Example of Obedience and Patience (Blogging Through the Bible)

Welcome to another week of Blogging Through the Bible! We continue in the book of Genesis this week, and I must say it has been great digging into this familiar story of Noah's Ark. God has been faithful to show me new things in this story, and I trust that He is doing the same for you!

Here are my S.O.A.P.s since my last post on Friday. As a reminder, I'll be posting here every Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday for Blogging Through the Bible. I am loving your thoughts and comments, so please keep sharing here with me!

My S.O.A.P.s for Genesis 7 and 8

Saturday, October 4, 2014

Genesis 7

Scripture: Genesis 7:1 Then the Lord said to Noah, “Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation.

Observations: Noah did not go into the ark until God commanded him to come into it with his family because Noah was found righteous before God in a wicked generation.

Application: God bids us all to come unto Him. We can trust that wherever He calls us that He goes with us and will protect us.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, what comfort we have as Your children to know that You go with us wherever You call us to come. Help us to trust that all things are working out for our good because You love us and call us according to Your purposes. In the loving name of Jesus I pray. Amen!

Sunday, October 5, 2014

Genesis 8

Scripture: Genesis 8:7-8 Then he sent out a raven, which kept going to and fro until the waters had dried up from the earth. ⁸ He also sent out from himself a dove, to see if the waters had receded from the face of the ground.

and

Genesis 8:13-16 And it came to pass in the six hundred and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, that the waters were dried up from the earth; and Noah removed the covering of the ark and looked, and indeed the surface of the ground was dry. ¹⁴ And in the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dried. ¹⁵ Then God spoke to Noah, saying, ¹⁶ “Go out of the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons’ wives with you.

Observations: I was curious about why a raven and a dove. Noah sent a raven because a raven is a scavenger bird. The assumption is that it found dead carcasses for food and that’s why it never came back into the ark. He sent out a dove because it ate vegetation and would find a plant to eat. Noah needed to know that the waters had receded and that there was life outside of the ark. The dove does come back with an olive branch in its beak after being sent out a second time. The earth was blooming again!

Noah had learned to be patient and obedient to the Lord during this time. He waited until God told him he could leave the ark with his wife and family. They were on the ark for a whole year! Wow!

Application: Be patient and wait on the Lord. Don’t rush into anything – wait for His leading and for His perfect time. Be obedient to what the Lord asks of me…even if it may be uncomfortable or unpopular.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to remember that You are always on time and that Your timing is always perfect. Help me not to rush out ahead of You or for that matter, lag behind from where You desire for me to be. I pray to have an obedient spirit, willing to obey whatever You ask of me. I want to live my life in sweet surrender to You Father. In the wonderful name of Jesus I pray. Amen!

*****Here is this week's reading plan:

I'll see you back here on Wednesday so we can share again! Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments section below. I'm praying for you and hope you have meaningful times this week in the Word of God!

Walking in His Grace, 

Laurie