Wed.’s Devo - Rest

Read: Genesis 8:1-10:32; Matthew 4:12-25; Psalm 4:1-8; Proverbs 1:20-23
Noah’s name means “rest”. Jesus is to be our rest in the midst of all our storms and trials. When the storm was over, the ark rested on the mountains of Ararat. Ararat means “the curse reversed”. That is what resting in the Lord will do. It will reverse our curse. The curse on man and woman was toil and labor; Jesus came to bring us grace and rest. The ark rested in the 7th month on the 17th day of the 1st month. Seven means to rest and one means a new beginning. This year is a new year with a new beginning so let’s rest in the Lord to bring our curses into blessings.
When Noah exited the ark, the first thing he did was to sacrifice the extra birds God had told him to bring for that purpose. He was acknowledging his thankfulness and dependence on God. How incredibly awesome to think that you have been spared to begin a new posterity and legacy on the earth. But, just like Noah, our lives are just that important to God’s plan.
God gave Noah several promises. The first one was that
while the earth remained there would always be planting and reaping, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night. In other word, there will always be trials and God’s work to be done. The next one was that he would never destroy the earth by a flood. He set the rainbow in the sky as a reminder.
He then told Noah that before, the animals were tame and friendly but God was putting fear in their hearts toward man because now man could eat animals. Before, all they ate were plants. They were like a baby being taken off of baby food and now could eat meat. They were warned not to eat meat with blood still in it because the blood was its life. God was trying to teach them that blood was powerful and would one day either save them or condemn them.
Jesus began his preaching ministry preaching “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” It was the same message John the Baptist was preaching. He chose two sets of brothers to be of his close followers: Peter and Andrew, James and John. They were all fishermen who were about to learn how to fish for a new kind of fish. What made them just leave their livelihood to follow Jesus? The Holy Spirit.
When a rabbi moved into his office, he alway chose followers to mentor. It was a great honor to be chosen for this and Jesus was a rabbi from heaven. He didn’t choose like the Pharisees and Sadducees. He didn’t get the men with the greatest degrees or greatest worldly esteem. He chose hearts that could be taught and melted into his image. Psalms says that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself. He tells us in Proverbs that if the religious leaders would have responded correctly to His rebuke, then He would have poured out his heart to them and made his thoughts known to them. But they chose to reject Jesus.
Lord, thank you for choosing us to carry your Word and grace into a world that desperately needs you. May we rest today in your presence.