4/1/18 – Genesis 7, Genesis 8, Genesis 9:1-17 – Matthew 4:1-22 – Proverbs 1:1-7

Gen 8:1 – But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided.

Can you imagine what it must have been like in that ark? A storm that wipes out the world is one big storm. It must have been terrifying in there – not knowing when the storm would end. I can even imagine the doubts you must have – after seeing everything you know, everyone you’ve ever met wiped from he face of the earth… God, where are you? Even small storms can put that question in our heads. “God, where are you? God, have you forgotten me?” But even in the storm – God remembers you. He has not forsaken you. He has not left you. You may not be able to hear Him, feel Him, or see Him because of the storm… but He has not forgotten. And when the time is right… the storm will subside.

Gen 9:3-5 – Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything. But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man.

We have been given the right and authority by God to eat meat. Just as He gave us plants, He gave us everything. This is a great blessing. But it’s something we should be grateful for and not careless with – God will require a reckoning. He requires it from every beast and from man too. That means we do not mistreat, harm or kill animals on a whim or for sport. They are creatures created by God – that in His great grace towards us, He’s given us the right to eat but not the right to mistreat.

Prov 1:7 – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

What better way to start a book on wisdom? Often we look for knowledge – but to do so without the fear of the Lord… it’s foolish. Knowledge without wisdom does us no good. Intelligence without a willingness to take instruction – that leads to pride and sin. How we treat what we know hinges on how we treat our relationship with God. When we fear God – that’s the best starting point – because we will take Him seriously.