Montgomery County sentinel., 1942-07-23

His promises now just as He did in
the days of Noah. Since our lesson
of last Sunday, long period Of time
had elapsed. Generation after gem
Grafton had come and gone, and all
the while man grew more and more
wicked. Finally, God saw that He
must put an end to the corruption Of
the human race, saving just one
righteous family, that of Noah, with
which to begin anew.
He warned Noah of the judgment
of the flood, and he in turn doubt
less warned others, but finally the
day came when God shut him in the
ark and poured forth the waters Of
judgment upon the then inhabited
earth. But the same God who shut
Noah in Gen. It'd, in due time
called him out Gen. 8:15, 16).
Noah had obeyed God. and He
now rewarded him. The man who
had borne the ridicule was now hon.
ored by Him. The experience of
Noah brings before US
Gods Three Gifts to Believing
Man:
1. Power (vv. 1-4).
Man is the 'lord Of creation"
not because he has brought about
its subsection, but because God gave
him that power. 1t was first given
to Adam Gen. 1920, and it is re-
newed here, with the additional
promise of the animal as food. This
was not to be, however, after the
manner of wild beasts ". A..
No man ever lost anything by
obeying the commands of God, even
though appearances may seem to so
indicate. The ridicule of those who
called Noah foolish for obeying God,
had now been silenced by the judg- I
ment of the flood, and he stood forth
vindicated, empowered by God, with
authority over the whole earth.
Faith is still the victory. Men
who put their hopes in the kings
and empires of this earth have seen
them rise and wane," and even un-
believers are beginning to talk about
the necessity of a spiritual anchor
age for the souls of men. 1t is
found only in Christ, but in Him is
found both peace and power for
victorious living.
But we see second gift of Cod
(x,x, (
Human life is not as cheap as
men would have us think. Their
estimate based on greed and lust
for power makes man but unit in
a machine designed to build up po-
litical power. The blood of those
who are not profitable to such an
enterprise, is shed in utter callous-
ness.
Those who do such things, need
to read the words of God, Whose
sheddeth mans blood, by man shall
his blood be shed: for in the image
of God made he man" ". g.. What
a tremendous bill some men will
have to pay when they stand before
the seat of judgment of our God.
Even the animals who kill men are
to be slain ". 81. How much great
er shall be the condemnation of the
man who violates Gods command.
But we see third gift of God, de-
signed to remove deep fear from
his heart, namely Gods
III. Promise WV. 8-16.
God made a covenant with Noah
and with his descendants and every
living creature wv. 9, 1O. This is
the third of Gods eight covenants
with man, beginning with the one to
Adam in the Garden of Eden (Gen.
1920. and closing with the new COW
enant CHeb. 8:8.
This was promise Of Gods grace
that there should be no more judg-
ment by flood, and as a sign He
chose the rainbow, which, appear
ing in the very time when rain
should fall, would reassure men that
a new flood was not coming upon
them. What beautiful symbol!
II will remember" said God, and
He has not forgotten. Though thou
sands of years have passed, there
has never since been such a cata-
clysm of judgment. How unspeaka-
bly, precious it is to recall that God
has not forgotten single one Of
us; that He remembers every prom
Use He has ever made; that He keeps
every covenant And on the con-
trary, how disturbing it must be to
the unbeliever to realize that God
has not forgotten his sin and unbe-
lief, nor the judgment which is sure
to come.
The story of Noah should stimu-
late our faith. causing us to trust
God, to obey His every command,
and to look to Him for His power
in our lives, His protection over us.
His promise Of grace to all who be- :
heve.
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Faithful in Small Thiu0a