Bible Pathways - Jan. 3, 2008
Highlights In Today's Reading:
Today's chapters emphasize the importance of reading for ourselves exactly what God has provided in the Bible rather than depending on any other book. It will correct any misconceptions such as "What promise did the rainbow hold?" (Isaiah 54:9-10), and "Was Noah given the same command Adam received?" (Genesis 9:1).
After the sin in the Garden of Eden, mankind became more corrupt until the wickedness of man eventually became so great that the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before Me in this generation. . . . And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar (7:1; 8:20).
Noah was a striking contrast to Adam and Eve. Noah was surrounded by a generation defiled by sin, yet he obeyed all that the Lord commanded him (7:5). Adam and Eve were in a perfect environment filled with the blessings of God but chose to ignore God's Word. Noah's obedience brought blessing to the entire world, while Adam and Eve's disobedience resulted in unending sorrow and suffering to the entire world.
Noah stood as a testimony that man cannot use environment or circumstances as an excuse for choosing to sin.
By faith Noah, being warned of God . . . moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house (Hebrews 11:7). During the years that Noah was completing the ark, he was known as a preacher of righteousness (II Peter 2:5). Noah had faith in the Lord and was confident God's Word would come to pass.
The waters of the flood illustrate the separation from a world defiled by sin. To reject the one ark that God directed Noah to build meant certain death in the water of unbelief. The ark carried Noah from the sinful old world to the new world of God's promises. In Christ old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (II Corinthians 5:17).
By entering the ark, Noah became a recipient of God's marvelous, protective grace (compare I Corinthians 1:21-23). The Christian can say with the Apostle Paul: I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39).
Thought for Today:
The ark was a type of Christ that separated them from the waters of death. This ark had but one door; likewise there is only one way to salvation, for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12).
Christ Revealed:
Through the ark (Genesis 7:1,7; Acts 4:12; I Pet. 3:12, 20). Christ is our ark of safety. Jesus . . . delivered us from the wrath to come (I Thess. 1:10).
Word Studies:
7:1 house =amily; 8:1 asswaged =ubsided; 8:3 were abated =ad disappeared; 8:21 sweet savour =ymbolic of satisfaction; 9:9 Covenant =inding agreement with qualifications given by God; 9:13 bow =ainbow; 9:20 husbandman =armer; 5:22 walked with =elieved in and was obedient to; 6:2 sons =ollowers; daughters of men =orldly women; 6:3 strive =y Spirit will not be disgraced and remain in willful sinners; 6:6 repented =rieved; 6:8 grace =nmerited mercy; 6:9 perfect =lameless.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for The Arabic, English, and Spanish International Shortwave Radio Broadcasts sponsored by a Family's Love for Jesus •Bible Pathway Media Producer: Rick Hash • Country: Vatican City (900) in Rome, Italy • Major languages: Italian and Latin • Religious freedom • Approximately 100% Roman Catholic • Prayer Suggestion: Give thanks to the God of heaven; His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever (Psalm 136:26).
Optional Reading: Matthew 3
Memory Verse for the Week: Deuteronomy 4:2
