I wrote 42 pages of notes while reading last week’s chapters! I may need to start writing ebooks!

Noah

God told Noah to get some of all kinds of food. He didn’t say to take a year’s supply of their favorite food on the ark.

Genesis 6:21, “As for you, take for yourself some of all food which is edible, and gather it to yourself; and it shall be food for you and for them.” NASB

I need to eat all foods in their season at the peak of freshness. My pantry should have a variety, not just my favorites.

Ezekiel 2:8, “…Open your mouth and eat what I give you!” NASB

The Beasts and Cattle

The order of who God remembered struck me: People, beasts (wild animals), and cattle (domestic animals).

Genesis 8:1, “But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the cattle that were with him in the ark; …” NASB

***

We are living in the days when good is called evil and evil is called good. Domestic animals are treated like children. Wild animals are protected and great fines are incurred if you damage one of their eggs. But human babies are aborted.

Plants are protected for wild animals to live in. Dogs are offered the best meats, fruits, vegetables, and grains. But humans are supposed to live off of chemical concoctions for protein and plants to replace meat. The dog gets the beef and the kids get pink slime with the feet and beak from a fast food joint. (Guilty. My kids ate chicken nuggets.)

***

We are on the earth to take care of it. We have a responsibility to wild animals but that doesn’t mean we let them live in our homes.

They establish boundaries in the wild by marking trees and urination. We establish boundaries with doors on the houses, and fences in the backyard.

I’m grateful for the deer who favor my backyard. I love waking up early to see the rabbits feeding on the clover.

We are to care for our domesticated animals, Proverbs 12:10; 27:23. I don’t farm or have pets but I recycle and set out birdseed.

***

David and I supported children through World Vision and Feed the Children. I still pray for them. Chandrakant is 30; Jimmy and Vitumbiko are 11.

When Jimmy’s family moved away, we happily adopted Vitumbiko. This month we asked Feed the Children to give us a second child. #goals

We support “Cradle of Hope” which helps all mothers, married and unmarried. They are raising funds to buy a mother’s home for girls who find themselves homeless. And a survivor’s home for girls rescued from human trafficking.

These are the things I am doing to remember people, beasts, and cattle.

The Ark

Genesis 8:4, “In the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, the ark rested upon the mountains of Ararat.” NASB

It didn’t get stuck on top of a mountain. God directed it to a place where the water receded and it settled on the land. It was a place where the ark would remain level to allow the people and animals to disembark safely, (Genesis 8:14-16).

God moves slowly and safely. I want out of “my ark” right away! He makes small adjustments.

Noah couldn’t leave the ark until the vegetation had grown and produced food for his family and the animals. That took over 6 months! I have to be patient, knowing that God is moving.

***

Genesis 8:19, “Every beast, every creeping thing, and every bird, everything that moves on the earth, went out by their families from the ark.” NASB

You are not dormant while you are in “your ark.” You are reproducing. The animals went into the ark as a couple and came out as families.

Defender of Life

Genesis 9:5, “Surely, I will require your lifeblood; from every beast, I will require it. And from every man, from every man’s brother, I will require the life of man.” NASB

God requires the lifeblood of every man or animal that takes a life. God is the defender of preborn babies.

“God himself is the great defender of human life (see 4:9-12), which is precious to him because people were created in his image (v. 6) and because they are the earthly representatives and focal point of God’s kingdom. In the theocracy (kingdom of God) established at Sinai, a domestic animal that had taken human life was to be stoned to death (Exodus 21:28-32).”

New International Version Study Bible Notes on Genesis 9:5

***

I learned to eat a variety of foods, to help where I can, and to remember that slowly, God is moving.

Join me in reading this month’s chapters. I would love to hear what you learned in the comments section below!

©2009-2022 thisyearsbiblereadingguide.com. All Rights Reserved.