THE TOWER OF BABEL

Read Genesis 11:1–9

     "Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth." Genesis 9:1 NIV

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      In the very beginning when God created Adam and Eve, He blessed them, and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it." (Genesis 1:28) Then after God judged the earth and wiped out all but Noah's family, He once again told them to be fruitful and fill the earth.
      Many generations later, in rebellion against God, the people of Babel built a massive tower and said, "Let us make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth."

     They failed to take into consideration our sovereign triune God, whose plans will not be thwarted. He said, "Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other." So the LORD scattered them from there over all the earth. (Genesis 11:4, 7–8)

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      Lord, it seems apparent that the only way to true success in life is to seek Your will when we make our plans. Give me a willing heart to listen and obey the principles in Your Word. Help us to seek after You as a family, asking You for the gift of wisdom in every decision

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     "That is why it was called Babel–because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world and scattered them over the face of the whole earth." Genesis 11:9 NIV

I WILL REMEMBER

THE RAINBOW

Read Genesis 8:1–9:17

      "Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember…" Genesis 9:16 NIV

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      Having never before experienced a rainstorm, much less a worldwide flood; Noah and his family spent more than a year inside the ark with animals of every description. After seven months, the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat.(Genesis 8:4)

      When the earth was completely dry after another five months, Noah and his family finally stood on solid ground. Before anything else, Noah built an altar of worship to the Lord. God promised Noah and his sons,

     "Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood– This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come…" (9:11–13)

     And then they saw it–a beautiful, indescribable glow of colors stretched from earth to Heaven and back to earth again - the first rainbow!

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      Lord, I am thankful that You see every rainbow in the world, and none of Your promises will ever be forgotten. Today I am claiming Your promises of protection, wisdom, and victory for our family. In the midst of difficult circumstances, help us to trust and obey just like Noah. I am depending on You to bring our family safely through this life into Heaven. May each one come to know You in a personal way, trusting in your promises for all of life’s challenges.

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     “The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off–for all whom the Lord our God will call." Acts 2:39 NIV

NOAH FOUND FAVOR

Read Genesis 6

     The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain… but Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. Genesis 6:6, 8 NIV

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      Noah lived in the most wicked generation this world has ever known, where not a single family followed God. We are told that "The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time." (Genesis 6:5)

     Yet Noah’s testimony was so strong that his wife, his sons and even his daughters-in-law respected and followed him in obedience to God. This should give us encouragement and hope for raising a godly family in our own ungodly culture.

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      Sin is not only a travesty to us, Lord, for You said that Your "heart was filled with pain." I know that my impatient, unkind and angry thoughts are all a source of grief to You. I also know that You are my only source of healing, forgiveness and strength. Help me to come to You faithfully every day to find cleansing and forgiveness. Only then can I be the wife, mother and friend who will please you and uplift the ones I love. Help me to live a consistent Christian life so that our children will want to follow You.

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      The LORD then said to Noah, "Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation."   Genesis 7:1 NIV

HE WALKED WITH GOD

ENOCH

Read Genesis 5:1–32 ; Hebrews 11:5

      “Enoch walked with God then he was no more, because God took him away … Enoch was commended as one who pleased God." Genesis 5:24; Hebrews 11:5 NIV

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      Very little is said in Genesis about Enoch. We read about him again in the New Testament and find that Enoch was a powerful preacher who prophesied, "See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones…” speaking of a yet future day. (Jude 14b)
      He is mentioned again in Hebrews, as one whose faith was counted for righteousness. Then one day, as Enoch walked with God, he was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. (Hebrews 11:5a)

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      Our lives may seem insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but God honors those who place their faith in Him. We, like Enoch, can look forward to eternal life and perhaps even the Lord's return in our lifetime. (1Thessalonians 4:17)
      Lord, give us the faith to trust You in every decision we make, so that we will bring glory to Your name. Help our children to walk as “children of light–finding out what pleases the Lord.”(Ephesians 5:8b,10) Make us all like Enoch who walked with God.

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      "… before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 11:5b–6 NIV