Posted on 12/29/2007 4:36:12 PM PST by WileyPink
Lesson Passages: Genesis 8:15-17, 20-22, 9:1-3, 8-13
Background Passages: Genesis 8:15 – 9:29
Genesis 8:15 And God spoke unto Noah, saying,
Genesis 8:16 Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons' wives with thee.
Genesis 8:17 Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth.
Genesis 8:20 And Noah built an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
Genesis 8:21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savor; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
Genesis 8:22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.
Genesis 9:1 And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.
Genesis 9:2 And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.
Genesis 9:3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.
Genesis 9:8 And God spoke unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying,
Genesis 9:9 And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you;
Genesis 9:10 And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth.
Genesis 9:11 And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.
Genesis 9:12 And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:
Genesis 9:13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.
God Offers New Opportunities
Most television commercials are an obvious consumer trap. Products from shampoo to vehicles to dog food are pitched, and some present-day marketing tactics have lost all sense of decency. The old ad of years ago, “Calgon, take me away,” appeals to me, but it never delivers the promised escape.
Magazines follow suit with their intriguing headlines, especially this time of year. “Hassle Free Holidays,” “Save $300 in 3 Days,” “Supersize Your Happiness in Six Simple Steps” and “31 Ways to Make Yourself Smile” are just a few recent claims in print. If at least one of these was true, I would not have to force myself to smile.
Most of us recognize advertising gimmicks as hooks to sell products, and we do not fall for them. Everyday circumstances and difficulties are not solved or endured easily.
News flash: “Life is not a magazine cover.” Just ask Noah and his family. They had just spent over a year on the ark – pets included. Get the picture?
Exiting the ark at God’s command, Noah’s first act was one of worship. When the aroma of Noah’s sacrifice reached heaven, God made precious promises to Noah and all mankind that would last forever. Next came blessings, instructions and the covenant of which we still see proof today.
Noah and his family had a new beginning, complete with God’s power to make it possible. God knew man instinctively possessed the potential to make a mess of things again. In fact, it was a sure thing that he would. However, God was willing to begin again with the creation of His heart to the point of commanding Noah’s family to increase and fill the earth. What love it took for God to grant the privilege of life to those He knew He would have to also extend mercy time and time again!
Just as Noah’s family experienced a new beginning as the left the ark, you and I have opportunities to begin again as we confess our sin, receive God’s forgiveness and “begin again” to follow Him.
Unlike some of the empty promises of today’s advertisers, the opportunities to thrive were entirely within the reach of Noah’s generation. The same is true of His children today. Yet we are running so fast after what the world offers that we race right past the treasures God has for us.
Many offers in the world today promise security, solutions to problems and peace. However, only God delivers opportunities of lasting value.
Baptist Sunday School Bible Study Ping
Strange analogy. I don’t think it has anything to do with “God offering opportunities”. God gives us a way to escape His judgment and wrath. I guess, from that standpoint, that’s an opportunity, but too many times the term “opportunity” (at least in this society) is associated with some financial wealth building concept. God offers ever lasting life for those who repent and put their faith in Christ.
So true. Too many times people equate opportunity with the "Bling". We as Christians should be seeking opportunities to secure our treasures that are waiting in heaven. Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: And as the author of the commentary stated in the last sentence...
However, only God delivers opportunities of lasting value.
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