I will bring a flood of water on the earth to destroy all living things that live under the sky, including everything that has the breath of life. Everything on the earth will die. But I will make an agreement with you—you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives will all go into the boat. Water flooded the earth for forty days, and as it rose it lifted the boat off the ground. The water continued to rise, and the boat floated on it above the earth. The water rose so much that even the highest mountains under the sky were covered by it. It continued to rise until it was more than twenty feet above the mountains. All living things that moved on the earth died. Genesis 6:17-18;7:17-21

All water is not nourishing. Water is destructive. God chose to use water to clear the earth of sinful people. He promised never to do so again, but in the time of Noah, he saw the extent of wickedness in the world. We often think we live in a world filled with evil, but as of today, God has not cleared the earth of all sin. We live in an imperfect, sinful world. God does not make this world perfect; we get to anticipate a perfect world in heaven.

Even at the time of the flood in Genesis, when God saw the extent of wickedness on the earth, he saw hope in Noah. He provided for Noah and his family but only through Noah’s obedience. Noah, even though he was a man of faith, could have chosen to question God. He could have asked for many explanations of the details God was giving him. Building an enormous ark on dry land must have seemed odd. But when God instructs us, it doesn’t matter how odd it sounds. Odd doesn’t matter. Truth matters, and we can always rely on and trust God. He is truth. He doesn’t have the capacity for anything else.

Consider a time you trusted God even when a circumstance seemed odd. How did God provide?

When you consider the destructive power of water, what situation comes to mind?

The floods, tsunamis and hurricanes of today do not only impact wicked people. Even among destruction, how do such forces and tragedies provide opportunities for God’s goodness to be lived out and revealed?

Live It. Look around you today and notice someone whose life is flooded. Perhaps it’s a physical flood but more likely you’ll readily find someone who is flooded with stress, confusion, decisions, unhealthy relationships, overwhelming emotions or burdensome past. Consider how you can provide relief to the person. Trust God to guide you in words and actions.