Noah and his family boarded the Ark as instructed by God. Once inside, God closed the door and the storms soon began. For forty days and nights the torrential rains poured down on the wooden vessel. As with most rain storms, there was plenty of thunder and lightning. The earth had not previously seen thunderstorms, and undoubtedly those inside the Ark must have been frightened. After several days of rain, the flood waters began to rise up, and the huge vessel began to float. For approximately five months they floated, not knowing where the flood waters would take them. Shem, Ham, and Japheth must have questioned their father numerous times about the safety of their floating home, and what the future would be like. After coming to rest on Mt Ararat, God remembered them.
“And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters assuaged” (Gen 8:1).
God didn’t just remember them intellectually, like we might remember an old friend or family member. God’s remembrance moved Him to action. He caused a wind to dry up the water in preparation of the Noah family leaving the Ark. The family spent another five months in the Ark before God instructed them to come out. That’s a total of one year in that boat! Stop and think about what God was doing in those five months that they did not see. He was drying things out, vegetation began to grow, the trees once again began to sprout leaves, rivers and streams were formed, and natural pathways thru the hills and valleys took form. Surely they thought God had forgotten them, but little did they know that He was actually making everything beautiful and accessible for them. One year is a long time to go thru storms, and a long time to wait.
We are all going thru a very difficult time right now. The novel coronavirus, the protests, the riots, and the political unrest has us all wondering what is going on, and when this will end. When we go thru any life storm or a difficult time, keep in mind that God knows exactly what is going on, where we are, and He remembers every one of us. The trial may be long, and you’ll certainly have doubts and fear, but give God time to work, to prepare things for you. Don’t push the door of safety open, wait on God.
“Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord” (Psalms 27:14).