Read Genesis 7 -- 9
In Today's Reading:
Today's chapters emphasize the importance of reading for ourselves exactly what God wrote. It will especially correct the misconception that only two of each animal entered the Ark, the length of time spent in the Ark, even which bird was sent to check for dry land. What promise did the rainbow hold (Isaiah 54:9-10)? God changes our diet and Noah is given the same command Adam received (9:1).
Verse for Today:
Noah built an altar to the Lord . . . and offered burnt offerings on the altar (Genesis 8:20).
Highlights:
Noah, his family, and seven pairs clean, one pair unclean of every living creature enter the ark as God had commanded (Genesis 7:2); the great flood; the rainbow covenant; Noah on the ark for about one year; after leaving the ark, he built an altar and worshiped God.
Offering his sacrifices on the altar was an expression of Noah's faith and his gratitude for God's saving grace. It was an acknowledgment that he was undeserving of mercy and that someone or something, apart from himself, must die as his substitute to remove the judgment of God for his sin. Sacrifice, as presented in the Bible, is based on substitution. Animals were sacrificed to provide a temporary "covering" for sin until Jesus, the sinless Son of God, made the final sacrifice and died for our sins.
Jesus was conceived without sin and lived a sinless life, and could therefore be an acceptable Substitute for our sins. Only sinless blood could make a perfect sacrifice. The life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls (Leviticus 17:11; Hebrews 9:22).
God revealed to John the Baptist the Lamb of God, Which takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).
In the Bible, Jesus is referred to as the Lamb of God more than 30 times.
It is this revelation that creates within the child of God a desire to worship Him for Who He is, as well as for what He has done. Such a revelation of God's grace should cause us to humble ourselves before Him and commit ourselves to doing His will as revealed in His Word. Everything He allows to come into our lives, as well as everything He chooses to take away from us, is to perfect our lives. By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith (Hebrews 11:7).
A Thought from Proverbs: If you cry after knowledge, and lift up your voice for understanding; If you seek her as silver . . . Then shall you understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God (2:3-5).
Christ Revealed:
Through the ark (Genesis 7:1). See Acts 4:12; 1 Peter 3:20. Christ, our Ark of safety, protects the believer from the judgment of fire that awaits all unbelievers.
Word Studies:
7:3 keep seed alive = preserve the species; 8:1 assuaged = subsided; 8:3 abated = disappeared; 9:3 meat = food; 9:19 overspread = populated.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for the missionary ministries · Country: Monaco (32,000) in southeastern France · Major languages: French and English · No open evangelism permitted · 90% Roman Catholic; 7% Protestant; 1% Eastern Orthodox · Prayer Suggestion: Offer up your prayer to God, your King, who will hearken to your prayer (Psalms 5:2).
Optional Reading: Matthew 3
Memory Verse for the Week: Matthew 1:23