stephen R Harrison

“Our Providing Restorer”

“I will establish my covenant with you: 

Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; 

never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”

–Genesis 9:11

God is a promise keeper. In Genesis 6-8, the Great Flood destroyed everything on earth at the Lord’s command. Everything was wiped out except that which was protected in the Ark built by Noah. Noah and his family built and boarded the Ark, not knowing how long they would be on it. The torrential rains fell for forty days and nights and flooded the earth. Genesis 7 and 8 tell us they lived on the Ark for about 370 days. Can you imagine the destruction and death they witnessed? Would the waters ever subside? Would life ever be the same again?

God made Noah a promise in Genesis 6:17-18. He said, “I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish. But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you.”  While building the Ark, during the forty days of the Great Flood, and for almost another year, all Noah had to give his family was the hope of God’s promise. God would destroy the earth with a flood, but he promised to save them. Would God fulfill his covenant promise to Noah’s family?

Finally, just as God had pledged, Noah saw signs of life. He sent a dove out of the Ark, and after a while, it returned with an olive leaf in its beak. Genesis 9:11 says, “Then Noah knew the water had receded from the earth”.  Noah remained faithful and obedient to God because he believed God was trustworthy. While sin had brought tremendous destruction to the whole earth, Noah trusted God was able to restore and cause it to teem with life once again. God promised never to destroy the world again with a flood, and he has kept that promise. He proved he was a providing restorer who always kept his promises.

There are many promises found in God’s Word. Some have been fulfilled in Christ, and some are yet to come through Christ. As you prepare for Easter, may this season of Lent remind you how to wait on the Lord and believe Him and all His promises, just as Noah did. It’s easy to lose hope when waiting for God’s promises to be fulfilled. We can become discouraged when a torrent of flood waters has surrounded us. However, “All the promises of God are ‘Yes’ in Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:20). We can take God at his Word and believe he will restore everything for His glory. 

The Ark is a type or symbol of Christ our Savior. His salvation is for all who enter his New Covenant promise of eternal life. We must trust in his provision to save and redeem us from the curse of sin. That redemption will one day be fully realized in heaven. Until then, our perspective is one of waiting with hope in his promises on the earth, knowing that the best he has promised will be fulfilled perfectly. During Lent, allow God to renew your trust and perspective in his promises and ability to provide and restore.

Questions: 

How are you at waiting for God’s promises to come to pass?

What promises has God fulfilled in his Word that brings hope?

What promises have yet to be fulfilled but will be in Heaven or when Christ returns?

Prayer:

Jesus, we choose to trust your promises. We will obey your Word and trust your promises when the flood waters rise. When the flood waters recede, we will praise your name. Thank you for saving all who trust in you. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.

Read: 

Genesis 9:1-11

Action Step:

Write down the name of someone you know who needs the hope of salvation from the destructive flood of sin. Pray for them during Lent, looking for an opportunity to share the gospel with them.