This pandemic is creating a mixed bag of emotions and attitudes. Today I hope to encourage you based on a sidetracked study my Bible study partner, Kris, and I are doing over the next couple of weeks. We will get back to 2 Kings, but for now we both needed some refreshing and found it in unexpected passages of Scripture.
Our topic stems from thoughts and ideas I’ve been having stemming from my emotions as my bipolar symptoms progress as our isolation continues. I can summarize the emotionally based thought this way:
“This good thing is happening, but catastrophe is coming fast.”
I was challenged by Kris to turn that around using the phrase “but God.” Instead of turning it into a negative, she said to turn the negative into a focus on God:
“Catastrophe is all around me, but God will work to make sure His perfect plan for me comes about.”
Even better is to take the positive thought and add “but God”:
“Our camping trailer (that we ordered in 2017) is finally being built, but God has His perfect plan and timing.”
We decided to investigate where and how the phrase “but God” is used in the Bible. This week we made it through most of such verses in the Old Testament. Some were not relevant for our purposes, but we came up with so many and so many good lessons, that I’m only going to talk about one case early in Genesis.
Genesis 8:1 says,
“But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the cattle that were with him in the ark; and God caused a wind to pass over the earth, and the water subsided” (NASB, Emphasis added).
After a long period of waiting – probably a troublesome time holed up in the stinky ark with the same people – Noah and his family had several issues with which to deal. First, modern translations (NLT, for instance) give us the elapsed time in number of months. Noah and his family were in the ark for 12 ½ months, and they were dealing with many of the same issues we’ve been dealing with for only 4 months. Many of us gave up a long time ago and just said, “No more.” For Noah, there were no realistic differences of opinion, no skepticism about what the “real and honest” situation is, or each person aboard the ark doing whatever they please or felt was right. They could argue, but the end result would be the same. Their only realistic choice was to stay in the ark together, or drown in the waters all around the ark. And for 12 ½ months!
Also, similar to us, Noah and his family had lots of unknowns to trouble them. They had no social media, cable television, or instant alerts on their phones to give them updates. They didn’t even have the Bible to search for answers or ideas. I guess, like us, even with our advantages, they were probably wondering and trying to sort out things. How long? Will our food supplies last? What if we, or the animals, get sick? Do we have enough patience? What is going on outside our place of safety?
We can also speculate on several unmentioned traumas Noah’s family was dealing with. They probably heard people dying outside, and heard their cries for help, without being able to do anything about it. They may have been suffering from survivor’s guilt for being safe. What about the isolation, interpersonal relationship issues, and the severe losses of extended family and friends? All of these things can create trauma that changes brain chemistry and moods for years or a lifetime.
Finally, we wondered what Noah and his family did with all their time. Of course, they were doing the obvious, things like caring for the animals and each other. We don’t know if they were given any further commands for their time in the ark. There is a statement in Genesis 6:22 that tells us what Noah did at the beginning of this whole ordeal, as he was building the ark.
“Thus Noah did; according to all that God had commanded him, so he did.”
I believe that Noah continued this pattern and was doing exactly what God had instructed him to do. Genesis 8:1 starts with, “But God.” Basically, this was setting up a situation where God was saying He was going to continue to keep His covenant, in spite of the situation in which Noah found himself. In other words, all Noah had to do was recognize God’s in control and there’s nothing for him to do but trust Him.
Our current situation is a lot like the times of Noah. Isolation with and from our families. Lack of connection to other people. People dying all around us. Nothing we can do to change the trajectory of the pandemic (except we can social distance and wear masks). So while I ask, “What did God command Noah to do during his long stay on the ark” (remember 12 ½ months!), we can be asking ourselves if we are doing the things we know God is asking us to do as we wait and trust in Him. Things are out of our control on so many levels, but we know the One who has things under control and He hasn’t left us without things to be doing. Love others, be wise, take care of my needs (spiritually, physically, emotionally, and mentally), and the needs of my family while doing my best to share Christ with as many people as possible. Studying His Word, talking about His Word, using the gifts He’s given me, fellowshipping with like-minded people, and obeying His Word in all things (not just the things I choose) are the commands we need to be doing.