July 14, 2010
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The Big Wait
I was reading through Genesis 8 today about Noah and the flood. It isn’t clear how long it took Noah to build the ark, but I’m assuming years or even longer. After all that time, Noah finally gets in the ark. And while the rain only fell for forty days and forty nights, Scripture is clear that it took 150 days total before the water finally began to recede. It wasn’t until day 264 that Noah finally sent out a raven and a dove. It wasn’t until day 314 that Noah was ready to open up the cover of the ark and look outside himself. And he continued to wait! Finally, on day 371…
Genesis 8:15-16 – Then God spoke to Noah, saying, “Go out of the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons’ wives with you.
What stood out to be me in this account is how long Noah waited in the ark. Over a year! Even after the dove never returned he waited. Even after he opened up the cover of the ark he waited for fifty-seven more days.
In our “Go-Go-Go!” culture of today, I think we often want to push the move of God or jump in our big life decisions. We want quick answers. We ask God for signs. A dove returns with an olive leaf and that means its time to go, right? The dove actually returned to Noah on day 278 with the olive leaf. The dove left to never return on day 285. Noah didn’t leave until day 371. He waited another 86 days!!!
What I love about Noah is that he did look for signs and he was practical. He sent out the birds and he opened up the cover. He looked and waited, likely interceding and seeking God for an answer. He could have jumped in presumption at different times, but I believe he had a confidence that God would speak clearly at just the right time. And so he waited. And indeed, God spoke to him clearly.
I desire this same patience and contentment in the Lord. While I want to get moving, I know God has his perfect timing. I want to keep praying, seeking signs/guidance and looking out to the horizon, but all the while waiting with confidence that God will open the doors for me in His perfect timing.
God bless
