Genesis 8:1-5: a reflection

1God remembered Noah, all the animals, and all the livestock that were with him in the ship; and God made a wind to pass over the earth. The waters subsided. 2The deep’s fountains and the sky’s windows were also stopped, and the rain from the sky was restrained. 3The waters continually receded from the earth. After the end of one hundred fifty days the waters receded. 4The ship rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on Ararat’s mountains. 5The waters receded continually until the tenth month. In the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains were visible.

The flood has prevailed over the earth for a long time, and Noah and his family have been shut in the ark through the long ordeal. And then, at the turning point, come these words: God remembered Noah, and all the animals with him in the ark; and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters began to subside. God had not forgotten Noah through the long months of the flood; and now, at his appointed time, he acted, and the waters began to recede.

Notice the words at the turning point: God remembered Noah. Through the long ordeal of the flood, as the waters prevailed month after month, it might have seemed that Noah was forgotten, shut in the ark while the deep held sway. But God had not forgotten him; and at the right time, God remembered him, and acted, and the deliverance began. The remembering does not mean God had ever lost sight of Noah, but that the time had come for him to act, and the long ordeal to turn toward its end.

That is a comfort for those in the midst of a long ordeal, when it seems God has forgotten. When we are shut in a long trial, and it prevails month after month with no sign of ending, we can feel forgotten by God, left in the ark while the waters rule. But God did not forget Noah through the long flood; and he does not forget his own through their long ordeals. If you are in the midst of a trial that has prevailed long, and feel forgotten, remember Noah: God remembered him at the appointed time, and the deliverance began. God has not forgotten you either; the long ordeal is not a sign that he has lost sight of you. Wait for the time when he acts, as he acted for Noah; the God who remembered Noah in the long flood remembers you in your long trial, and will act, in his time, to turn it toward its end.

Lord, the flood prevailed over the earth for a long time, with Noah shut in the ark through the long ordeal; and then came the words, God remembered Noah, and you made a wind pass over the earth, and the waters began to subside. Comfort me with that when I am in the midst of a long ordeal and it seems you have forgotten. When I am shut in a long trial, and it prevails month after month with no sign of ending, I can feel forgotten by you, left in the ark while the waters rule. But you did not forget Noah through the long flood; and you do not forget your own through their long ordeals. The remembering did not mean you had lost sight of Noah, but that the time had come to act. If I am in the midst of a trial that has prevailed long, and feel forgotten, help me remember Noah: you remembered him at the appointed time, and the deliverance began. You have not forgotten me either; the long ordeal is not a sign that you have lost sight of me. Help me wait for the time when you act, as you acted for Noah; you, who remembered Noah in the long flood, remember me in my long trial, and will act, in your time, to turn it toward its end. Remember me, Lord.