In truth, a home should be a haven from the world around us. It's the place where we feel safe from pressures clamoring on the outside. Inside its four walls, we find acceptance from the people whose opinions truly matter. When our hearts are overwhelmed, like Dorothy, we may also lament,"There's no place like home."...Whether you live in a single story, a duplex, or a trilevel ark, it's not the house that makes a home. It's the people who dwell in it. You have to admire Mrs. Noah for going along for the ride.
We'll discover that the ark would be shaped in a way that was perfectly suited for floating rather than sailing. This is a beautiful illustration of God's sovereignty....Imagine the kind of trust that Noah and his family must have had as they climbed aboard and realized that there was no navigational system. But isn't that similar to our journey of faith? God wants us to sit back and allow Him to route our course.
Today's scripture is Genesis 6:11-16.
1. Underline the word earth in today's text, and describe the earth's condition in Noah's time.
The earth was filled with violence. It was corrupt.
2. Circle all the references to God in the text. How did God respond to the earth's condition?
God decided to destroy the earth, except for Noah and his family.
3. Reread the text, and explain how the earth had become corrupted.
It was filled with violence and corrupt because the persons who inhabited it were corrupt. The earth was also filled with violence through them.
4. Who did God include in His plans? Look back to yesterday's lesson, and explain why he was included.
God included Noah in His plans, because he was just and righteous, and walked with God.
5. Describe the means of deliverance from the coming destruction and who was intended to use it.
Noah was to build an ark for himself--no one else was included in these particular verses. God gave Noah specific measurements and directions for how to build this ark.
6. Highlight the word make in the text; then describe the details of the vessels construction.
God told Noah to make himself an ark of gopherwood with rooms in it. He explained exactly how to make it: the length should be 300 cubits and width 50 cubits, and height 30 cubits. He instructed Noah to make a window for the ark, and a door in its side. He should also make it with lower, second, and third decks.
7. What do you learn about God from Genesis 6:11-16, and why is this important for us now?
Though God was very disappointed with how humanity had turned out, He did not give up on us completely. He provided a way out for this creation of His, and described exactly how it could be redeemed. Because Noah followed God's instructions to the letter, we as a species were saved, as were each animal of the earth, sea, and sky.
8. The people in Noah's day were violent and corrupt. List some ways people today behave in the same ways.
People today are violent and are also not obeying God's laws. They are sexually immoral, their business practices are corrupt, and they care about no one but themselves.
9. According to Hebrews 11:7, Noah had a plan of salvation for his household. With this in mind, write about some ways you can lead your family to the Lord.
I can seek, listen to, and heed God's instructions in order to raise my family up in His ways. I can be in this world but not of it, and can prayerfully instruct my family in this manner of living as well.
Rather than being women who point a finger at the corruption, let's offer the only solution to the problem. We can point the way to the cross. Just as Noah was known as a "preacher of righteousness" (2 Peter 2:5), be known as one who spends her time loving the unlovely, sharing the gospel, and "redeeming the time, because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:16).
This lesson closes with a quote by William Bennett:
We have a real problem in this country when it comes to values. We have become the kind of society that civilized countries used to send missionaries to.
This is a scary thought!
0 comments:
Post a Comment