In His ImageSample

Day 31: The Great Flood

Discover: Genesis 7:1-24 recounts the story of Noah and the Great Flood. God instructs Noah to enter the ark because He is about to send a flood to destroy all life on earth due to humanity's wickedness. Noah obeyed God's commands, taking his family and the animals into the ark. The flood waters rise after seven days. Rain falls for forty days and forty nights, covering the highest mountains. Every living thing on the earth passes away over 150 days while Noah, his family, and the animals remain safe in the ark. In Genesis 6, we see how sin corrupts God’s creation. Yet, in Genesis 7, we see a picture of the way of salvation. God rescues Noah and his family from the penalty of judgment as God protected Noah’s family because of his righteousness, Christ, righteous one. The Bible carries this theme all the way to its fulfillment in Jesus Christ.

Learn: This passage has many takeaways, but one intriguing aspect is the significance of 40 days and nights. It depicts God testing His people. The number 40 appears in the Bible more than 150 times and often refers to a period of time, such as a trial or struggle. But after a trial, there is always hope of new birth and new life. Therefore, we can see how God remembers the ark in the flooded world. Through destruction, we see hope of new life. Even Christ experiences 40 days of trials when He is tempted in the wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights in Matthew 4. Christ also spends 40 days teaching and ministering to His disciples after His resurrection before ascending into heaven in Acts 1:3. Christ sees the fruit of His tested faith because He relied on the Spirit and obedience to God’s Word.

In the same way, Noah obeys completely by doing everything the Lord commands Him. As a result, He is protected from the judgment of God. Obedience, even amid evil, should be the supreme goal and desire of God’s people.

Apply: Obedience to God is never easy. Even when things go as planned, we still learn how to walk in step with God's commands. In Eden, when everything is perfect, we find obedience to God impossible to bear. Therefore, if we cannot reflect righteousness in the most perfect circumstances, how do we do it in the face of evil today? Noah’s example shows us that it can only be done by humility. We must let go of our pride and rely only on the Holy Spirit. Obedience must begin with the denial of our flesh and dependence on God’s Word. What does obedience look like in a culture filled with self-gratification? Are there areas in your life that you need to realign with the image of Christ?