Advent 2016: God Remembered

Readings: Psalm 124, Genesis 8:1-19, Romans 6:1-11

The Flood account in the Bible has long been thought to be a “captain’s log” of sorts based on the way it is tied to the number of days from the start of the voyage. That interesting possibility informs how we read the following:

Then God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the animals that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters subsided. (Genesis 8:1)

Then God REMEMBERED Noah.

God had forgotten about him? The one guy on the one boat surviving the flood after the humiliation of the past years spent building the giant boat?? God was super busy and forgot Noah?

Not exactly.

It is easy during dark seasons…long lonely journeys…to feel forgotten, abandoned, and alone. It is easy to think that election results show that God has turned his back and given us over to a madman. It is tempting to believe that in the moments when we are not sure whether we noah-arkcan…much less want to…keep breathing, that we have been left to our own devices.

That we have been forgotten.

And then we laugh. Or have a good cry. Or amazing sex. Or walk a trail to see the most beautiful sunset. Or celebrate a goal scored by our kid. Or feel seen at work or at home in real and meaningful ways. Or maybe we just get up and put our clothes on and brush our hair…and that feels like a huge win.

In those precious moments we feel that God has remembered us.

And then God remembered Leah, and brought her out of the darkness of her depression.
And then God remembered Leah, and gave her a job that makes her happy.
And then God remembered Leah, and provided good friendships and community.

Whatever your circumstances…it is easy to feel forgotten and blessed to feel remembered.

Our help is in the name of the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth (Psalm 124:8)

Noah wasn’t forgotten. He’d just been at sea watching the rain pour and overtake the earth while hanging out with 7 other humans and a lot of probably really smelly animals. He felt adrift…and he literally was.

And then God remembered Noah. Said another way…and then Noah felt God’s presence again in his life.

Noah wasn’t forgotten. And neither are you.

God remembers you…lean into that today.

 

 

 

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