Epiphany 1 - Saturday

Text: Genesis 6:9-22 (see below)

On Jeopardy this week the creators of the show had a Final Jeopardy question about Ancient Measurements and the answer was: “What is a cubit?” That moment came to mind when I read the lessons for today. 

I have always been devoted to the story of Noah’s Ark as it is found in the pages of the Book of Genesis: Something about a man who was growing old and deciding to follow the call of God to accomplish such an outrageous plan, to be faithful, to follow through, and to receive a promise at the end. More than any other story in the Hebrew Scriptures, the narrative of the Ark and its contents has contributed to many hours of discussions along life’s journey from Sunday School lessons as a child, to presentations on Ancient flood stories at the Chautauqua Institute, to a memorable Bible & Biscuits discussion, etc. The story of Noah and his Ark never fails to deliver.

What follows below is a clever reminder of the many lessons that can be taken from that story found in Genesis 6. The author is unknown for it is a piece that has been around for a long time. Enjoy.

Noah’s Ark Everything I need to know, I learned from Noah’s Ark…

· ONE: Don’t miss the boat.

· TWO: Remember that we are all in the same boat.

· THREE: Plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the Ark.

· FOUR: Stay fit. When you’re 60 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.

· FIVE: Don’t listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.

· SIX: Build your future on high ground.

· SEVEN: For safety’s sake, travel in pairs.

· EIGHT: Speed isn’t always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.

· NINE: When you’re stressed, float awhile.

· TEN: Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.

· ELEVEN: No matter the storm, when you are with God, there’s always a rainbow waiting.

Love One Another - Brian

The Snails Made It Too!

Charles H. Spurgeon, English Preacher of the Nineteenth Century

“By perseverance the snail reached the ark.”

Source: ThinkExist.com

Genesis 6:9-22

These are the descendants of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation; Noah walked with God. And Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence. And God saw that the earth was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted its ways upon the earth. And God said to Noah, ‘I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence because of them; now I am going to destroy them along with the earth. Make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch. This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. Make a roof for the ark, and finish it to a cubit above; and put the door of the ark in its side; make it with lower, second, and third decks. For my part, I am going to bring a flood of waters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die. But I will establish my covenant with you; and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. And of every living thing, of all flesh, you shall bring two of every kind into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female. Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, of every creeping thing of the ground according to its kind, two of every kind shall come in to you, to keep them alive. Also take with you every kind of food that is eaten, and store it up; and it shall serve as food for you and for them.’ Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.