NO GAS! NO BRAKES! SAY WHUT?! (Part II)

God's patience allows us all our stories, perhaps not so loaded as these, though all upon His mercy rely. Who knows what pivot lies ahead for each of us?  No doubt, our futures hold at least one. Shall we bless God as that milestone in the making is about to shift? Will we pivot in favor of Jesus and His ways?

       From the Genesis account there were 1,656 years from the creation of Adam to the onset of 'the flood' [if taken numerically and literally]. None of the patriarchs from Adam to Lamech, the father of Noah, experienced the flood's fatality, though both Lamech and Noah's grandfather, Methuselah, lived within the span of man's heightened wickedness. Methuselah, living 969 years, died immediately before the flood, and by tradition it is thought that God did not allow him to experience the flood, because of his godliness. His manner of passing was not stated, but contextually one might speculate his departure as merciful. Lamech preceded him in death and did not experience the flood. Lamech would've known of his son's righteousness, and would've passed away, one might speculate, optimistically, with Methuselah and Noah being together for that span. He [Lamech] would've seen the fruit of Noah's life through his children, and likely, Lamech would have died on a bed of grace, not despairing, but comforted. Noah's name, as given by Lamech, develops from, “This one shall give us rest...comfort” (Genesis 5:29). From despairing comes comfort. The genealogy of Jesus, reviewed, includes Noah, which indeed permits this naming and genealogy, a messianic prophecy, a prophetic announcement of the Christ:
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find COMFORT for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” ( Matthew 11:28-30).

      We get to see the glorious thread of comfort extending from the ante-diluvian [pre-flood] reality, to the post-diluvian reality [after the flood], ultimately personified in Jesus' coming. God will take away [righteously], and God will make a way [righteously].
What an anointed rear-view mirror we have with the genealogies! Amen!  What a remarkable pivot!

        “These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God… Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and the earth was filled with violence...[Noah] Make for yourself an ark... And Noah did according to all that the Lord commanded him. Now Noah was 600 years old when the flood of water came upon the earth... there went into the ark to Noah, by twos, male and female, as God had commanded Noah (Genesis 6:9,11,14; and 7:5,6,9).

        Of the eight remnant humans delivered from the presence of sin in the world, the genealogy that leads to Jesus is through the son of Noah named Shem, whose son, born in this 'new world' is named Arpachshad, which means 'healer.’

        Sin is not done with, but He who began a good work will be faithful to complete it.
Peace.

PRAYER:  Thank you Lord for the covenant of hope that You've offered us, and Your choosing of mercy. Thank You for that preference that out of freedom we might love You above all else, through worshipful and praiseful living, and that we ought to love and honor one another. Your mercy and grace prescribes we love, and Your holiness insists upon it. Forgive us when we stray, Lord. Yes, forgive me, even now.

Within these moments of mercy, Lord, help us with our yielding and the faithfulness required to be steadfast and humble in this life. Help us to be courageous, creative, generous, and scripture-bound in our blessing of each other in a world which, at the least, is indifferent to the righteous notion, and, at the most, assertively contrary. Certainly, we boasted such an inward wilderness before Your reach! You began a wonderful change! Stir us rightly now, Lord. Bring us to joy in our deliverance, and let life's lessons meet our authentic hope in You, making for an uncommon brightening of the soul. May Your Spirit as such prevail in me.  We submit to Your will all of  this, and to pray  in the name of Jesus! Amen.
by McNeal Brockington