Noah - Perfect Timing

Genesis 8:15-19 Then God said to Noah, "Come out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and their wives. Bring out every kind of living creature that is with you—the birds, the animals, and all the creatures that move along the ground—so they can multiply on the earth and be fruitful and increase in number upon it." So Noah came out, together with his sons and his wife and his sons' wives. All the animals and all the creatures that move along the ground and all the birds—everything that moves on the earth—came out of the ark, one kind after another.

I have to admit I sometimes struggle with controlling my anger while driving. I make an honest effort to control my tongue and not get upset when someone cuts me off. Because I know that's not how Jesus wants me to act, and because my kids are watching me from the back of the van. I often find it amusing, however, when sitting in heavy traffic and some'body' (see, that's me refraining) is weaving in and out of traffic, cutting me off, trying to get to the front of the line - only to see them right beside me at the next traffic light. If they would've just waited, there would have been a lot less stress on everyone involved and they would be in the exact same spot. Noah had sent out the dove, and it was gone. Okay. Now what? They still sat on the ark. God then tells Noah, okay - time to come out. Noah being the obedient servant of God that he is, came out.

Since I myself struggle with patience, I found this point amusing. Noah spent an entire month sending birds back and forth, back and forth trying to see if it was time to come off the ark. If he would have just waited on God, God told him when it was time. Not that Noah did anything wrong by sending out the birds, it just confirms our human nature.

So many times in life we are in such a hurry to see what lies ahead. We are sending out messengers to see what might be in store for us next. When we don't get the answer we want, we wait a little bit, then send out another messenger to check again. If we would be content to wait on God's ultimate, concise, clear message of "Noah, get off the boat" - what other things could we better spend our time doing? Instead of worrying what the outcome of what lies ahead may be - why not use that time to do the things we know God wants us to do anyway. Spend quality time with our families - be in God's Word more - strengthen our relationship with our spouse. When will we learn that EVERYTHING is in God's time. . .