THE SURPRISE OF A REPRIEVE
The ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat. Genesis 8:4
As I sit and listen to the morning birds sing outside my office window, I’m aware of all that lives outside in the open air. Noah and his family witnessed the killing of every living thing outside the ark and were given no instructions from God about what would happen on the other side of the flood. Their lives were taken up with building the ark and surviving catastrophe. As the ark came to rest and the floodwaters receded, they had no blueprint. The rest and the quiet were gracious surprises.
God provides rest and blessing after the storm. While I am being tossed about, I am so taken with surviving that the thought of rest and reflection on some future day seems out of reach. I’ve learned that I cannot know what blessing will look like. God fashions it, that ‘new thing’, and no amount of curiosity will be able to paint a scenario that resembles what God will create.
For the storm, there was warning and detailed instructions for survival. For the new world, there would be daily grace and spiritual intuition. Once the mountain peaks were visible, Noah would know to send out a raven, one who could gather food from the carnage that rested on exposed land. On another day, he would decide to send out a dove, one who would search for new foliage. None of this was spelled out by God but all of this was put into the heart of Noah because he walked with God.
The nature of a storm is such that it takes all mental and emotional faculties to stay afloat. There are no resting periods to reflect on the past nor dream about the future. It’s inconceivable and doubtful that there will be a future. But God is not bound by time. While the winds of heaven howl, the certainty of future blessing is as much a reality on God’s timeline. In the midst of the uncertainty between Egypt and Canaan, God spoke to Moses. “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14
Make me a victor in Christ and prepare me for ruling and spiritual rest. Amen.
For more from Christine Wyrtzen and Jaime Wyrtzen Lauze, please visit www.daughtersofpromise.org
For more from Christine Wyrtzen and Jaime Wyrtzen Lauze, please visit www.daughtersofpromise.org
Originally published Wednesday, 01 April 2020.
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