Have you ever wondered if God has forgotten about you? Do you sometimes wonder if God is really there? Do you wonder if He is aware of your trials? Do you sometimes wonder if He cares? If so, Genesis 8 is a good reminder that God is there, He is aware, and He cares. As we begin Genesis 8, we see a lonely boat carrying the only life on earth. This boat has been floating over a desolate earth that has been covered in water for 150 days. This flood was the result of God’s judgment against the wickedness of man. In our sermon from Genesis 8, we shall learn that during this difficult time, “God remembered Noah.”
- The Flood Recedes (1-5). God remembered Noah and worked to rescue him from his trouble. God “made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided” (8:1). Just as God commanded the fountains of the great deep to burst forth, and the windows of the heavens to be opened (7:11), He now commands them to be closed (8:2). Also, as “the waters prevailed on the earth 150 days” (7:24), now “the waters receded from the earth continually. At the end of 150 days the waters had abated” (8:3). We are reminded in these verses that God is in complete control. He created water, He brought the flood waters in judgment, and He commanded the waters to disappear. In all things God is in control.
- The Earth Dries (6-14). After the flood waters receded, God caused the earth to once again produce plants and trees. Noah sent out birds “to see if the waters had subsided from the face of the ground” (8:8). Finally, when a dove returned with a freshly plucked olive leaf, “Noah knew that the waters had subsided from the earth” (8:11). God’s goodness is demonstrated in these verses as we see God being faithful to keep His promise to Noah to see him safely out of the ark.
- Noah Leaves the Ark (15-19). In verses 16-17, God told Noah “Go out from the ark…bring out with you every living thing that is with you.” This command is important because it reveals that the time of judgment is over. The faith of Noah is demonstrated in these verses because he waits to hear from God before leaving the ark. God has removed the flood waters, has prepared the earth for habitation, and now commands the animals and insects to “swarm on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth” (8:17).
Our Scripture today provides us with an important reminder to trust in God during the difficult times of our life. Noah was a man of faith who trusted God to deliver him through the flood waters of judgment. God was faithful to save Noah and He is faithful to save all who have faith and trust in Jesus Christ. If you ever doubt that God is in control and wonder if He is even aware of what you are going through, let this comfort you: God is there, He is aware, and He cares. If you are a Christian, you will not waver as you know that God is able to keep His promises to save and help. If you are not a Christian, surrender your life to God and be saved.
First Baptist Scott City, MO 