Noah was trusting God in chaotic times of the flood. There had been 40 days and nights of rain, and the fountains of the deep added to the flood. Some scholars think that seismic and volcanic activity may have accompanied the flood.[1] This would make for a very chaotic ride on the ark.
This was a worldwide flood and God began to dry it up. Genesis 8:1bHe sent a wind to blow across the earth, and the floodwaters began to recede. 2 The underground waters stopped flowing, and the torrential rains from the sky were stopped. 3 So the floodwaters gradually receded from the earth. After 150 days, 4 exactly five months from the time the flood began, the boat came to rest on the mountains of Ararat.[2]
The waters didn’t recede overnight. Noah and his family had to wait patiently for the flood to subside. The winds may have even caused the waters to be more chaotic. This teaches us the importance of patience and faith in God’s timing. God continues to work even if we can’t see it immediately.
Renewal and Hope
We know God was resetting the world and destroying evil in the flood. But I think He was probably doing a work in Noah and his family. Their patience and faith were tested and growing. Growth and renewal take time in Noah’s day and in ours.
As the flood waters receded and dry earth emerged, there would have been hope for a fresh start. No longer would Noah have to contend with evil neighbors. We learn that even when we face obstacles that seem to be insurmountable, we can trust that they will eventually ease. God was giving Noah a gift of a new life in a renewed world.
We, too, have a gift of a new life in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5: 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ.[3]
God’s Faithfulness
The receding floodwaters stand as evidence of God’s faithfulness and promise to Noah. God is always present, even during the storms of life. He will walk beside us and guide us through troubled water.
Psalm 46: 1 God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. 2 So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. 3 Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! [4]
To learn about trusting God in chaotic times, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/navigating-the-floods-of-life
[1] Henry M. Morris, The Genesis Record, Baker Book Hous, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1976, page 196.
[2-4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.