Advent Day 4
Saturday - Genesis 19:13-17
I have grown up behind a steering wheel. Some of my earliest memories of staying with my great Aunt and Uncle included my Uncle allowing me to drive his riding lawnmower even though my legs were nowhere near long enough to reach the foot controls. (I imagine this must have been quite the sight around 1982-1983) I have studied, practiced, and now have decades of experience controlling a vehicle and I am not exactly sure why I enjoy controlling a vehicle in motion so but I do. On July 4th of this year all my abilities to operate and control a vehicle in motion were challenged. As the wreckage of my truck and overturned trailer were scattered along the side of I-81 I felt extremely vulnerable and to a great degree lost. What happened, how did this happen, and did I help or hurt this situation were questions racing through my mind.
God reminds us in Genesis who is in control through giving the first of 5 major covenants in His Word. Important for us to know is that the difference between a promise and a covenant is the implementation of a physical sign. The language of covenant is used in this passage with Noah and all living creatures. In this passage God makes a permanent covenant and then seals it with a rainbow.
That very long night back in July on I-81 I kept hearing in my mind and heart verbiage from a song we had sung together during church earlier that morning. “My soul will sing to you an offering; how great you are.” As I stood on that dark interstate amongst the wreckage, I was humbled. What I saw was great chaos but amongst the physical carnage my family was safe and unharmed. A prayer we had prayed just hours before in our little mobile home away from home had been clearly answered. The material loss was clear but the grace and controlling power of God had never been more evident to me. Still though, I had to choose to be thankful as opposed to frustrated. While my abilities had fallen short I completely believe God had controlled thousands of factors allowing the safety of me and my family.
Today I want to challenge you on the topic of your abilities and perceived control. Our passage speaks of God’s promise after He had literally overturned everything Noah, his family, and the animals had ever known. Would you ask God to help you turn control of your life over to Him. Would you consider His fulfillment many years later of the promise of a savior and allow Jesus complete control of the ways you are “steering” your thoughts, actions, and heart? Would you consider the rainbow and how God cares for you, your home, and His church? Would you choose to be thankful today, regardless of your circumstances, to allow your heart to sing about how great God is?
“12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all future generations: 13 I have placed my bow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I form clouds over the earth and the bow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all the living creatures: water will never again become a flood to destroy every creature. 16 The bow will be in the clouds, and I will look at it and remember the permanent covenant between God and all the living creatures on earth.” 17 God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and every creature on earth.”
Genesis 9:12-17
