Apologies for the delay - our internet was down most of last evening.
I also want to encourage you to share something on this blog - we will be strengthened by many voices - not just mine or Ann Voskamp's.
Today takes us to the story of Jonah - Genesis 6:5-8. This part of story is difficult. We like the part about the ark and the animals, the rescue and the rainbow. We decorate baby nurseries in this theme and make wooden and stuffed toys to commemorate the event.
But the why behind the ark and the animals is not as pretty. Human beings, created in the image of God, created for relationship with God are VERY wicked. The text says that their minds fixated on evil.
The next verse is telling. God has "creator remorse." He's sorry that He made this sorry lot. And ultimately decides to toss it all in the cosmic trashcan. Crumple it up and throw it away. It's not rescue-able and not redeemable.
But there are two tiny slivers of hope in this introduction to The Flood. First, the writer says God's heart was filled with pain. He was heart broken. The character of God is such that He derives no satisfaction from humanity's evilness. His response to wickedness is not an "I can't wait to punish them." There is no anger - only sorrow. That should tell us a lot. And you may want to pause here. Because maybe you've been holding onto the lie that God is angry at you for sinning and that He can't wait to punish you. Maybe you fear God more than love Him. And if so, you should stop and consider God's heart breaking over the sins of his people. Perfect love casts out fear. God is more heart-broken than angry over your poor choices and actions. So stop and let that sink in.
The second sliver is this - "Noah pleased the Lord." This is the transition line that makes for decorated nurseries and pairs of stuffed animals. The tree of Jesse is going to get trimmed back to one branch - all human genetic code finds its source in one who "pleased God." And that too speaks to the character of God AND the purpose for our existence. You may want to stop here and ask - Is it my desire to please God and how can I do so? And ultimately will my motivation be fear or love? I can tell you from experience that fear won't get you very far.
What is the motivation for God's plan - the flood? If God is love, the Ark part we can understand, but what about the water? What about the drownings? Could it be less a punishment for their sins as a recognition that - on their current trajectory - all of humanity would wipe themselves out anyway? Could the pain of the status quo have caused God to put these wicked humans out of their misery? It's worth contemplating.
It comes back to the character of God What is God like? Why should we praise Him? Right praise is called "ortho (right) doxy (praise). If we don't have a right understanding of God, how can we praise Him rightly? If the character of God is ultimately found in the One would send His only begotten Son to rescue us and this Son said, "If you've seen me, you've seen the Father," then we would do well to listen as much as we can to Jesus.
Everything is Scripture must be interpreted through the Person of Jesus Christ - even floods and discipline and.punishment. Noah pleased God. When Jesus was baptized a voice was heard in heaven - "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."
How will you please God today?
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