Genesis 8:1–Daily Scripture Reading and Meditation

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Welcome to today’s Daily Scripture Reading and Meditation covering Genesis 8:1 wherein we are reminded that God does not abandon His children, no matter how wild the storm.

But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided.

With all that God had put into creating the world, He then put much into its desolation.  Although I don’t believe that we’re to get the impression that God had forgotten Noah and all that were with him on the ark, there is a sense in which His dramatic energy was put toward everything outside for a season.  Like a husband and father focused on the duties of war while still maintaining a heart of love and devotion for his family safe in the home he provides for them, so God was doing much work outside of the ark without in any way neglecting those within.

We see here how God then, having completed His works of judgment for that season, puts his attention especially on those whom He had rescued.  It was not merely mankind that He showed concern for, but for all the creatures accompanying him.  Though God could have created again out of nothing, He instead still saw as good the designs that He originally put forth.  God’s story has always been one of preserving a remnant instead of starting over from scratch.  Though the seeds of sin have never disappeared from the human heart or the groanings from the rest of the earth because of the same, God is a Redeemer and grace-giver.  These of course were displayed in the greatest degree and with most finality through Jesus, the One that we’re meant to think on when we consider God’s salvation at various points, exercised all throughout history.

Think on how glad Noah must have been to see God transitioning from thundering rains to cleansing winds.  We’ve likely had similar experiences in our own lives where, after a long dark night of the soul, we find a freshness that God’s Spirit brings in through some relief or revival.  It’s good to be reminded through examples like we find in Genesis 8 that God does not abandon His children.  Seeing such will produce within us patience, faith, and trust that God’s timing is good.  Matthew Henry comments concerning the account of Noah, God consults our benefit rather than our desires; for he knows what is good for us better than we do for ourselves, and how long it is fit our restraints should continue and desired mercies should be delayed. In other words, God knows of and is working toward the best for us whether we understand all His methods or not.  If you have put your faith in Jesus, trusting Him daily, know that the storms will always abate and the high waters certainly subside.  And one day, no new tempests shall arise.

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