God Remembers

Read This Week: Genesis 8

But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and livestock with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded. By the first day of the first month of Noah’s six hundred and first year, the water had dried up from the earth. Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and God smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. – Genesis 8: 1, 13 & 20-21

In chapter 8, the flood ends because God decides that his will has been accomplished through it. His sovereignty and power are seen again just as in creation as the rain stops and the vast and catastrophic waters covering the whole planet begin to recede. The Bible says that the water steadily went down over a period of time until the tops of the mountains became visible (v.5), and it dried up from the earth (v.13). Verse 14 offers an emphatic stopping point to this natural disaster when it simply states that the earth was completely dry. It was a new day for Noah and his family, the people God chose to reset the human race.

If you have been following along with this story, you want to take a deep breath at this point. It has been an intense narrative from when the Lord called out the wickedness of humanity and decided to flood the earth. The tension is thick throughout the ark construction and the build-up to Noah boarding the boat with the animals. Then, it is further gripping and dramatic as they endure the rising of the waters and the relentless downpours while knowing what is happening to those left behind. The scene of the ark resting on Mt. Ararat as the water retreats is a solace and a metaphor for the calm after the storm. It is a comforting illustration that God remembers us even when we may feel like He is not there.

Verse 1 says that God remembered Noah. The word remembered here does not imply that God had previously forgotten about Noah. It is the Hebrew word zāḵar, which means to be reminded of or to think of one again. The Lord had sustained and preserved Noah, his family, and all of the animals during the flood, but here, He thinks of them again as those with whom He will make His covenant. They are brought to His mind because of His love for them, His grace for them, and His plan for their future. In Verses 16-17, God tells them to come out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and their wives. Bring out every living creature so they can multiply on the earth and be fruitful. This moment illustrates the Lord’s enduring heart for us. He remembers.

God remembers us when we stray and don’t always act according to his will for our lives. He remembers when we’re obedient to His word and faithful to what He asks us to do. He remembers when we’re hurting and longing for relief, understanding, and comfort. He remembers when we’re exhausted with life, feeling defeated and unsure where to turn next. He remembers when things are going well, and the blessings are abundant. He remembers us in our successes and losses and at our highest and lowest moments. He is always abounding, and He responds to us with His truth, love, kindness, and mercy. He remembers, and we worship Him as we live in His promises just like Noah did (v. 20-21).

6 Comments

  1. Javaid Ahmed on September 6, 2023 at 4:59 pm

    God wanted me to focus on verse 11 in Genesis 8:
    11 When the dove returned to him in the evening, there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf! Then Noah knew that the water had receded from the earth.

    He said:
    “Just as sending an olive branch is reaching out and connecting with you, to bring you into My tree, there is an olive leaf that shows we are always connected, even in the harshest scenario.”

    Even in the most brutal of life’s situations, we realize that God will always be there, extending an olive branch, awaiting us.

  2. Trina on September 7, 2023 at 11:22 am

    Genesis Chapter 8 Verse 7
    And sent forth a raven, which kept going to and fro until the waters were dried up from the land.

    Genesis Chapter 8 Verse 111
    And the dove came back to him in the evening, and behold, in her mouth was a newly sprouted and freshly plucked olive leaf! So Noah knew that the wates had subsided from the land.

    ~The New Ressurection~

    God Is Saying To Me:
    Noah sent forth the raven to see if the land was resurrected and whether life on the earth was sustainable. The raven never returned and spent its days feasting and roaming everywhere on the unclean. The dove returned with an Olive Leaf signifying that life was sustainable and man can come out of the Ark. The behavior of the raven represents the needs of the world and the desire to self-satisfy. The dove and the Olive Leaf represent a new beginning of hope, harmony, peace and comfort with Me for a newly transformed earthly Heaven made by Me.

    What This Means To Me:
    Got instructed. Noah to be obedient and go into the ark, so he did so but did not know when he may be able to come out. This represents true faith and belief in Father God. We as Christians must believe in faith and exhibit patience to wait upon the Lord for directions too. So Noah sent out a raven to survey signs for life. The raven doesn’t return just like unbelievers and those that do not know God feast off of the world and things of the world to get what they need. Once the dove was sent, upon return to the ark, the Olive Leaf was a sign that life was returning to normal and that hope was once again available for those that trust God and have believed by faith Keep in mind, that Noah did not leave the Ark until God instructed him to do so. We too, must wait upon the Lord to clear our paths before we move forward with decisions. Thank you God that you will always give us instructions and wisdom to move forward so that we do not have to be scavengers of the world. ❤️❤️❤️

  3. Heidi on September 10, 2023 at 8:38 am

    Genesis 8:20 And Noah built an altar to the Lord, and took of every [ceremonially] clean animal and of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

    God was saying to me
    You see how much I loved Noah and how much He loved Me, His life was a offering that’s worship to Me,
    Doing life together, every day is a new day with Me, there will be ups and downs going on around you, always remember I have you in my ark, I’m covering you with My Love.
    and you can have My peace in your heart that I will always take care of you because I love you ❤️

    What this means to me is God loves me and I love Him!
    I’m so thankful for His Holy Spirt that helps me and guides me. When I worship My Father that blesses His Heart when I trust Him that blesses His heart, when I listen to Him and obey that blesses His Heart
    I’m learning every day to trust Him even if I can’t see it, I have to believe it that He knows what’s going on out there I’m His servant to help Him and I’m thankful that I get too!
    Thank you Father God that there’s new beginnings new possibilities in Your presence every day!
    The dove and the olive branch served to tell Noah it’s a time of peace, a new start, Hope for our life with You every day,
    Thank you for Your peace and that you have given us Your Holy Spirt to help us every day! I want my life to always be a offering to you.
    Love you so much Father God, Jesus and Your Holy Spirt ❤️

    Spirit Lead Me

    This is my worship, this is my offering
    In every moment, I withhold nothing
    I’m learning to trust You, even when I can’t see it
    And even in suffering, I have to believe it
    If You say, “It’s wrong, ” then I’ll say, “No”
    If You say “Release, ” I’m letting go
    If You’re in it with me, I’ll begin
    And when You say to jump, I’m diving in
    If You say, “Be still, ” then I will wait
    If You say to trust, I will obey
    I don’t wanna follow my own ways
    I’m done chasing feelings, Spirit lead me
    O Spirit lead me
    It felt like a burden, but once I could grasp it
    You took me further, further than I was asking
    And simply to see You
    It’s worth it all
    My life is an altar
    Let Your fire fall
    If You say, “It’s wrong, ” then I’ll say, “No”
    If You say, “Release, ” I’m letting go
    If You’re in it with me, I’ll begin
    And when You say to jump, I’m diving in
    If You say, “Be still, ” then I will wait
    If You say to trust, I will obey
    Teach me how to follow in Your way
    I’m done chasing feelings, Spirit lead me
    Holy (Spirit, Spirit lead me)
    Holy Spirit (Holy Spirit, Spirit lead me)
    (Yeah, just sing it out, yeah)
    O Spirit lead me (Holy Spirit, Spirit lead me)
    When all hope is gone and Your Word is all I’ve got
    I have to believe, You still bring water from the rock
    To satisfy my thirst, to love me at my worst
    And even when I don’t remember, You remind me of my worth
    I don’t trust my ways, I’m trading in my faults
    I lay down everything ’cause You’re all that I want
    I’ve landed on my knees
    This is the cup You have for me
    And even when it don’t make sense
    I’m gonna let Your Spirit lead (Spirit lead me)
    I’m gonna let Your Spirit lead (Spirit lead me)
    I’m gonna let Your Spirit lead (Spirit lead me)
    I wanna let Your Spirit lead (Spirit lead me)
    Spirit lead me, yeah, O
    Spirit lead me
    Spirit lead me (Holy Spirit)
    Spirit lead me
    If You say, “It’s wrong, ” then I’ll say, “No”
    If You say, “Release, ” I’m letting go
    If You’re in it with me, I’ll begin
    And when You say to jump, I’m diving in
    If You say, “Be still, ” then I will wait
    If You say to trust, I will obey
    You’re the only Truth, the Life, the Way
    I’m done chasing feelings, Spirit lead me, yeah
    Yeah, yeah
    O (Spirit lead me)
    Spirit, O Spirit lead me (Spirit lead me)
    Spirit lead me (Spirit lead me)
    Even when it don’t make sense
    Ohh (Spirit lead me)
    I’m gonna trust in You, I’m gonna trust in You (Spirit lead me)
    Oh, yeah (Holy Spirit)
    Spirit lead me

  4. reachchurch on September 10, 2023 at 12:35 pm

    This Week in the Life: Genesis 8

    For the best experience, we suggest you listen to the first song, the message, and the second song.

    1. Sunday Worship – First Song: https://reachchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/20230910Worship1.wav
    2. Sunday Message: https://reachchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/20230910Message.wav
    3. Sunday Worship – Second Song: https://reachchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/20230910Worship2.wav

    Join the Party Line Live – Schedule: https://reachchurch.org/connect

  5. Kathy on September 11, 2023 at 9:15 pm

    In Genesis 8 this is what God was saying to me. Noah had been shut up in the ark for many days and I thought of him and visited him. I had not forgotten him, just as I have not forgotten you. I told Noah when to go in the ark, but I didn’t tell him when he should come out again. I always let My people know what is for their good. Noah had genuine faith. I want you to have genuine faith. “The dove found no resting place.” Like the dove the believer finds no resting place in this world. You are weary with the world, and what is going on. The dove with the olive leaf, was a symbol of peace and goodness. The animals were unloaded, and Noah and his family came out. The whole world was before him, where to choose to go. This was a picture of the freedom of the believer, who has been “buried with Christ; and enjoys the possession of My free spirit.” Noah worshiped Me through sacrifice. His gratitude and his admiration of My greatness, led him to worship Me. The sacrifice you are called to do, should also cost you something. “You should present your body as a living sacrifice to Me.” (Romans 12:1) The giving of your resources is a sacrifice, and you should give the sacrifice of praise to Me. I want costly sacrifice from all of you, because it shows you are being conformed into the image of My son Jesus, who gave the greatest display of costly sacrifice. The promise I made to never flood the earth again, and “destroy every living thing” was a promise full of mercy. Noah showed the believers freedom, the believers faith, the believers heart, and the believers covenant of mercy.

    What this said to me was even though at times it seems I have forgotten Him, He has never forgotten me. He wants to see that I have genuine faith. He wants my sacrifices to cost me something. He wants my body to be a living sacrifice to Him, along with my resources, and with my praises to Him.

  6. Alma on September 14, 2023 at 4:14 pm

    This week in Genesis chapter 8 I got a song

    Trusting

    Let’s come together to worship our Lord let’s come together to worship our Lord trusting , and believing he is the reason our Lord loves when we come to him. He has a plan for you and me. Let’s come closer during these times helping others to show his love let’s shine bright with his light, showing other his love his joy his comfort Being faithful 24 seven let’s come together to worship our Lord let’s come together to worship our Lord. Amen.
    Let’s walk with our lord hand and hand others will see his light shining through us.

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