Noah’s story of the flood is a familiar one. Perhaps too familiar. Yet as I read it again, I learned something new. Then the Lord said to Noah, “Enter the ark, you and all your household, ….For after seven more days, I will send rain on the earth forty days and forty nights… (Gen. 7:1,4)
God told Noah exactly when to enter the ark (Gen 7:1). He informed Noah when the rain would come. God made known how long the rain would last (v.4b). Noah entered the ark on the 10th day of the 2nd month when he was 600 years old. (See 7:11 and deduct 7 days.) He knew exactly what to do and what would happen each day before things happened.
Did God also tell Noah when to come out of the ark? Did he know exactly when to come out of the ark? Yes and yes. Then God spoke to Noah, saying, “Go out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and your sons’ wives with you. (8:15-16)
When? On the day itself! On the 601st year, in the 2nd month, on the 27th day of the month (8:14). A year and 17 days after he entered the ark! Talk about months of staying at home in the pandemic.. how about staying in a big ship full of animals to feed and care for… not knowing when the lockdown would end! God did not tell Noah in advance when he would exit the ark. Why not? And why did Noah not just ask God then?
Noah had to do some thinking and common-sense problem-solving. He had to test the waters. He sent out a raven. He sent out a dove not once but 3 times. He waited 7 days in between these times. He surmised water still covered the earth when the dove returned. He discovered plants were growing after the dove returned with a leaf. He realized the earth was dry when the dove did not return. He waited for 40 days and 40 nights for rain to stop. He waited for 5 months when the earth was flooded. He waited some more for the water to slowly recede.
I often wish if only God would tell me exactly what to do, when to do it, life would be so much easier. But that is not the way of the diligent, responsible, autonomous being that God created man to be. Man is given the freedom and capacity (skill, intelligence) to make the choice – to decide how best to live his days walking faithfully with God. Making choices wisely is part of getting out of the ark.
Waiting is also part of getting out of the ark. Waiting without knowing is a level up – higher form of God’s honing my character. God told Noah when to go into the ark before the rain came. He gave enough notice so Noah would be prepared. God told Noah when to come out of the ark after the earth was dry. He gave enough time so the earth would be prepared… and safe for Noah to come out.
When God does not tell me, He is trusting me to do the best with what He gives me. Am I choosing wisely? Am I attentive to and thankful for the tiny leaf that came with the dove?
When God is silent, He is giving time for me to be at my best. Am I waiting patiently? Am I trusting that He remembers and brings to completion what He sets out to do? What is your raven and your dove? What are you doing with them? Are you testing the waters? Are you waiting actively? Are you waiting in trust and obedience, for God and with God?
