Thursday, Aug. 15
Genesis 5:29 – 7:24 Read it here
Hundreds of years go by with barely any detail.
The human race multiplies and spreads over the earth, and sin along with it.
When we contemplate the frequent question of why is there evil in the world, one of our first thoughts is often, Why doesn’t God just get rid of the bad people?”
The story of Noah answers that question.
In a world full of violence and corruption, Noah stands out. “Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God.”
If the way to remove sin from the world is to get rid of the bad people, Noah is a promising candidate for leading a fresh start. So God tells Noah to build a large boat, an ark, to save himself, his family, and the animal species from the coming flood that’s going to cleanse the world from sin.
As would be expected of a godly man, Noah follows God’s direction, builds the ark and gathers the animals into it, along with his own family.
– Rev. Mark Fleming
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Thursday meditation
Proverbs 1:20-27
Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square; on top of the wall she cries out, at the city gate she makes her speech: “How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?
Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings.
But since you refuse to listen when I call and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand, since you disregard all my advice and do not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you; I will mock when calamity overtakes you—when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you.
Prayer focus
Pray for God to open your heart and mind to gain wisdom wherever it may be found – to take away the temptation to assume that others have nothing to teach us because of their age, education or position in life.