Step by Step

DEVOTION

GENESIS

STEP BY STEP

Gen 7:1-5

7:1 The LORD then said to Noah, "Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation. 2 Take with you seven of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate, and two of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate, 3 and also seven of every kind of bird, male and female, to keep their various kinds alive throughout the earth. 4 Seven days from now I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and I will wipe from the face of the earth every living creature I have made."

5 And Noah did all that the LORD commanded him.

NIV

One again we see that Noah did all that the Lord commanded him. We also see the Lord explaining in detail what Noah was to do. This time regarding the number of each clean and unclean animals he was to bring in the ark. We have never seen recorded a time when God explained to Noah the difference between the clean and unclean animals, in fact Noah and his generation did not even eat meat yet. So why were some clean and some not? Certainly from later instructions as recorded in Leviticus the distinction between them was that the clean were acceptable for food and sacrifice, the unclean not so. But here God has already made the distinction for Noah so it must have been for the purpose of sacrifice only at this time. Yet looking into the future, as with God there is no past or future, he knew he was going to allow Noah and his family to now eat the meat of animals after they left the ark. So it was needed to tell Noah which was which, first for sacrifice as before the flood, and later for food after the flood. But again it would seem the whole point here is that God did not leave Noah guessing about anything. The only reason we know anything about all this is that Noah made sure his sons knew everything that had happened before the flood and all that God has told him. This was passed down until God instructed Moses to actually write it all down. Now with the passed down accounts, God also certainly filled in any blanks as well as corrected any embellishments when he spoke with Moses regarding all that was to be recorded. But then that is the same point, God did not leave Moses guessing either. Noah acted on the faith he had in God. When God told him to do something he did it. When God told him he would send rain on the earth for forty days and nights, Noah believed him, even if rain had never happened before. We are going to see a more detailed description as to just how the earth was completely flooded a little later, but for now we should know that God does not keep his intentions from his creation, at least from those who walk with him. As we walk with God, as we live in Christ, we do not have to guess either what God’s intentions are, or what his instructions are for us.

Prov 16:9

9 In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

NIV

The Hebrew tells us a little more detail in that phrase. In our heart we devise a plan, we weave, fabricate, plot what we desire in our life, but God establishes, he prepares and fits and applies his desire for our life. Our lives are what they are not either by our own doing or by chance, if we are walking with him. Surely those who refuse to walk with him, are among those who he will ultimately wipe off the face of the earth, as he did in the days of Noah. But then their plotting, devising, weaving their own lives still brought them to the steps God directed for them because of their evil ways, he determined their steps to perish. All their plans came to nothing more than death by flood. God directs our path, he orders our steps. He speaks to us from both the scripture and through the Spirit as to what we are to do, how we are to live, what steps we are to take. He does not keep us guessing, he assures us he will show us the way.

Ps 119:105

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

NIV

Although we are lead in the path of righteousness, that is we are lead to live a life that is pleasing to God, accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are also lead in the way we are to live in this life. There may be times when we think we have our own plans, that we plot our own course, but we need to know God will tell us what we are to do. He will not hide his direction for our steps. Just as he has done with Noah, he revealed more and more as time went on in his instructions to him, he might well reveal only a portion of his direction for us a little at a time. The idea of a flashlight shining a path in the darkness gives us that truth. It only reveals enough light for a little way down the path. God reveals enough for us to take the next step, but we have to do that which he reveals and he will continue to reveal more and more as we walk with him, step by step.