Working with God
Working with God
Words of Faith 2-10-2022
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2022
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Genesis 6
[13] So God said to Noah, "I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. [14] So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out. [15] This is how you are to build it: The ark is to be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high. [16] Make a roof for it and finish the ark to within 18 inches of the top. Put a door in the side of the ark and make lower, middle and upper decks. [17] 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. [18] 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. [19] You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you. [20] Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive. [21] You are to take every kind of food that is to be eaten and store it away as food for you and for them."
[22] Noah did everything just as God commanded him.
What a day that must have been for Noah! It was his life pattern to "walk with God." He was "continually conversant" with God. But now, the Lord announced to Noah His intention to put an end to all people. Wow.
Fed up with the terrible violence of man, the Lord was going to start over with a righteous remnant. This was a serious conversation. Not your average "quiet time," to say the least. Noah learned that every living thing was to be destroyed. But first, the Lord had an enormous task ahead for Noah. He was to build an ark.
I must admit that I have all these questions. Why an ark? After all, God is God. Why not make things a little easier? How much trouble could it be? Why not speak a nice cruise ship into existence and then throw in a few onboard stables? Aside from eating a little too much or maybe getting a touch of the flu, a cruise ship would have been much more comfortable! But this is not the way that the Lord chooses to work. He called Noah to trust and obey. He called Noah to participate in this venture with the labor of his own back.
It is really part of God's marvelous grace that He calls us to participate in His plans. He could do it all. He could provide cruise ships or angelic armies at the ready. But it has always been the Lord's intention to walk with His children and work with His chosen.
How did Noah respond? Contrary to the comedy versions of the story, Noah did not argue a bit. He did everything just as God commanded him. The writer of Hebrews declares that, "By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith" (Hebrews 11:7).
A man or woman of faith is so contrary to a faithless culture as to stand in condemnation of that world. A person who fears the Lord-- holds God in a trembling reverence-- is treated with disdain by a culture that mocks the things of God. We never need to speak a word of condemnation. We need only to trust and obey. A life of faith, trust, and obedience says it all.
Are you ready to work with God? He may not call you to a massive task like building a floating zoo, but He certainly has something He wants done. Are you ready to listen? Are you prepared to trust Him and obey?
Lord, I want nothing more than to walk with You and work with You. I am listening. Show me today what You would like for us to do together. In Jesus' name.
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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2022
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2022 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.
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