Genesis 7:1-5: a reflection

1The LORD said to Noah, “Come with all of your household into the ship, for I have seen your righteousness before me in this generation. 2You shall take seven pairs of every clean animal with you, the male and his female. Of the animals that are not clean, take two, the male and his female. 3Also of the birds of the sky, seven and seven, male and female, to keep seed alive on the surface of all the earth. 4In seven days, I will cause it to rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights. I will destroy every living thing that I have made from the surface of the ground.” 5Noah did everything that the LORD commanded him.

The flood is coming, and God tells Noah to enter the ark with his household, for God has seen his righteousness in that generation. He gives detailed instructions about the animals and the timing. And the passage ends with a simple but weighty statement: And Noah did all that the LORD commanded him. Faced with a command that must have seemed strange, and a coming judgment others did not believe in, Noah simply obeyed, and did all that God said.

Notice the quiet obedience of Noah: he did all that the LORD commanded him. He did not argue, or delay, or obey in part; he did everything God said. And this obedience was no small thing, for it meant preparing for a judgment others scoffed at, and doing what must have seemed strange to those around him. But Noah obeyed fully, trusting God's word, and so he and his household were kept safe when the flood came.

That full obedience is a pattern worth following. God's commands do not always make sense to us, or to those around us; sometimes obeying means doing what seems strange, or preparing for what others do not believe. But Noah shows us the way: to do all that the Lord commands, fully, trusting his word even when we do not fully understand it. When God calls you to obey, do not obey in part, or delay, or wait until it makes sense to everyone; do all that he commands, as Noah did. The refuge of the ark was for those inside it, and Noah entered it by obeying; trust God's word enough to do all he commands, and find your safety, as Noah did, in full obedience to the God who sees and saves the righteous.

Lord, when the flood was coming, you told Noah to enter the ark, and the passage ends simply: Noah did all that you commanded him. He did not argue, or delay, or obey in part, though it meant preparing for a judgment others scoffed at and doing what must have seemed strange; he obeyed fully, trusting your word, and was kept safe. Give me that full obedience. Your commands do not always make sense to me, or to those around me; sometimes obeying means doing what seems strange, or preparing for what others do not believe. But Noah shows me the way: to do all that you command, fully, trusting your word even when I do not fully understand it. When you call me to obey, keep me from obeying in part, or delaying, or waiting until it makes sense to everyone; help me do all that you command, as Noah did. The refuge of the ark was for those inside it, and Noah entered it by obeying; help me trust your word enough to do all you command, and find my safety, as Noah did, in full obedience to you, who see and save the righteous. Make me fully obedient, Lord.