Today's Bible reading: Genesis 8; Matthew 8.
"But God remembered Noah and all the beasts..." (Gen 8:1) In the Bible this is figurative language, since God in his omniscience can't forget anything. It is a metaphor, a way of saying that God doesn't abandon his people. He remembered Noah and the creatures on board in order to act on their behalf. They had been afloat for nearly a year. He keeps us always in mind that he might care for our needs at the proper time.
"The ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat..." (Gen 8:4) The ark came to rest, a Hebrew word meaning to "settle, or rest," rather than running aground or breaching on submerged rocks. With the ocean's currents, receding waters, and rocks so close the surface, there would be danger of the ark breaking apart (see for example, Acts 27). But God allowed the ark to settle gently upon the mountain terrain. All of the journey from beginning to end was under God's care.
The dove (8:8-12). Noah's dove flew over the waters and brought back evidence of a new world beginning. All four gospels report that the Holy Spirit came down "like a dove" to rest upon Jesus coming up from the waters of his baptism. The new world has begun in Jesus!
God's care for creation. Despite the ongoing sinfulness of man the Lord will not destroy the world by flood waters again: "While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease." (8:22)
Matthew 8. The Lord Jesus demonstrates his authority and power over illness (leprosy, paralysis, fever), over nature (the storm and waves), and over demons. He is compassionate to those who come in faith (8:2-3). He looks for faith, and delights in it when he sees it (8:10, 13, 26).
"But God remembered Noah and all the beasts..." (Gen 8:1) In the Bible this is figurative language, since God in his omniscience can't forget anything. It is a metaphor, a way of saying that God doesn't abandon his people. He remembered Noah and the creatures on board in order to act on their behalf. They had been afloat for nearly a year. He keeps us always in mind that he might care for our needs at the proper time.
"The ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat..." (Gen 8:4) The ark came to rest, a Hebrew word meaning to "settle, or rest," rather than running aground or breaching on submerged rocks. With the ocean's currents, receding waters, and rocks so close the surface, there would be danger of the ark breaking apart (see for example, Acts 27). But God allowed the ark to settle gently upon the mountain terrain. All of the journey from beginning to end was under God's care.
The dove (8:8-12). Noah's dove flew over the waters and brought back evidence of a new world beginning. All four gospels report that the Holy Spirit came down "like a dove" to rest upon Jesus coming up from the waters of his baptism. The new world has begun in Jesus!
God's care for creation. Despite the ongoing sinfulness of man the Lord will not destroy the world by flood waters again: "While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease." (8:22)
Matthew 8. The Lord Jesus demonstrates his authority and power over illness (leprosy, paralysis, fever), over nature (the storm and waves), and over demons. He is compassionate to those who come in faith (8:2-3). He looks for faith, and delights in it when he sees it (8:10, 13, 26).
Comments