Good Morning.
And it came to pass after seven days that the waters of the flood were on the earth. In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. And the rain was on the earth forty days and forty nights. (Genesis 7:10-12)
As we observed yesterday, God gave Noah a specific time to tend to last minute details in preparation of going into the ark. On that seventh day, his family entered the ark even as the flood waters begin to move upon the earth. But notice it wasn’t just water falling out of the sky; the fountains of the deep were broken up. In other words, the deluge came as a result of what was happening in the heavens and in the earth. I can’t help but think that this fact connects to what God told the prophet Haggai:
“For thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; and I will shake all nations.” (Haggai 2:6-7)
The writer of Hebrews, quoting this, said:
“Now this, ‘Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.” (Hebrews 12:27)
The rain that fell was upon the earth for forty days and nights. In the Bible we can see that “forty” is often associated with testing and trials. In other words, there is soon coming a day when the entire world will be tested; everything will be shaken in order to distinguish those things that are worthy to stand from those things that are not. I believe that is happening now.
But be encouraged; God told the congregation of Philadelphia that, because they had been faithful to His Word and authority and had persevered, He would keep them from “the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” If we follow the example that Philadelphia set, we too can hold fast to the promise that He will keep us (literally guard us) during the trial that is coming upon the whole world. In this life we are certain to experience trials and tribulations but our King has overcome the world. In Him and through Him, we can and will overcome the world as well.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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