Tonight’s sermon is a very different tone from this morning’s. This morning, we discussed the judgment of God and the destruction of the world. This evening, we return to Noah, but for a surprising lesson.

There are four chapters about Noah.

• Genesis 6 tells about the wicked world and God’s commitment to destroying it. He notices Noah and commissions him to construct an ark.
• In Genesis 7, Noah enters the ark with his family and God actually destroys the world, along with the wicked people.
• Then in Genesis 8, we zoom in to Noah’s time on the ark and then his disembarkment.
• The rest of Noah’s life and the rest of his story is covered in Genesis 9.

We’re going to read chapter eight tonight, which I believe teaches us about overcoming difficult situations and circumstances. Noah and his family have been through a horrible and traumatic series of events. God destroyed entire world around them, killing every single person they knew. These memories will haunt them for many years, and possibly for the rest of their lives.

While on the ark, however, Noah has a chance to recover somewhat. I think there are some valuable lessons to learn from him. Let’s read together:

“Then 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. Also the fountains of the deep and the floodgates of the sky were closed, and the rain from the sky was restrained; and the water receded from the earth, going forth and returning, and at the end of 150 days the water decreased. In the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, the ark rested upon the mountains of Ararat. Now the water decreased steadily until the tenth month; in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains appeared.

Then it happened at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made; and he sent out a raven, and it went out flying back and forth until the water was dried up from the earth. Then he sent out a dove from him, to see if the water was abated from the face of the land; but the dove found no resting place for the sole of its foot, so it returned to him into the ark, for the water was on the surface of all the earth. Then he stretched out his hand and took it and brought it into the ark to himself. Then he waited yet another seven days; and again he sent out the dove from the ark. And the dove came to him toward evening, and behold, in its beak was a freshly picked olive leaf. So Noah knew that the water was abated from the earth. Then he waited yet another seven days and sent out the dove; but it did not return to him again.

Now it happened in the six hundred and first year, in the first month, on the first of the month, the water was dried up from the earth. Then Noah removed the covering of the ark and looked, and behold, the surface of the ground was dried up. In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dry. Then God spoke to Noah, saying, ‘Go out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and your sons’ wives with you. Bring out with you every living thing of all flesh that is with you, birds and animals and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, that they may swarm on the earth, and that they may be fruitful and multiply on the earth.’ So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him. Every beast, every creeping thing, and every bird, everything that moves on the earth, went out by their families from the ark.

Then Noah built an altar to Yahweh and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And Yahweh smelled the soothing aroma; and Yahweh said to Himself, ‘I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again strike down every living thing as I have done.

While all the days of the earth remain,
Seedtime and harvest,
And cold and heat,
And summer and winter,
And day and night
Shall not cease.'” (Gen 8:1–22)

Know that God hasn’t forgotten you.

“Then God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the cattle that were with him in the ark.” (Gen 8:1)

When God “remembers” someone, it is—of course—not because He had previously forgotten anyone or because He was walking through the pantry and suddenly thought of them. While I frequently forget my keys, my phone, or my driver license, God has never forgotten anything.

God “remembering” Noah means that He is preparing to fulfill a promise that He made. The word is used this way throughout the Old Testament. Here, God “remembers” the promise from 6:18.

“But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you.” (Gen 6:18)

Noah and his family entered the ark, but God has not yet formed this covenant with him. God has made promises to Noah and He intends to keep them.

In the same way, God has made “precious and magnificent promises” (2 Pet 1:3–4) to us. Although sometimes we feel forgotten, we aren’t. God loves you and He remembers you.

Be patient while bad circumstances fade away.

“God caused a wind to pass over the earth, and the water subsided. Also the fountains of the deep and the floodgates of the sky were closed, and the rain from the sky was restrained; and the water receded from the earth, going forth and returning, and at the end of 150 days the water decreased. In the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, the ark rested upon the mountains of Ararat.” (Gen 8:1–4)

Before God can take Noah off the ark, the world has to be dry. Before that, the water has to recede. And before that, God has to turn off the heavenly faucets.

This whole process just takes time, though. Noah can’t rush the process. Perhaps you can relate to the agony of a miserable situation that seems to persist on and on. Have patience.

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Rom 5:3–4 NIV)

God uses difficult times and situation to build endurance and patience so we will be stronger and more faithful.

Take note of small progress.

“Now the water decreased steadily until the tenth month; in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains appeared.” (Gen 8:5)

Every day, the waters decreased, however subtly. When changes are slow, it’s easy to become angry or frustrated, but notice how Noah just keeps an eye on the progress.

Grief and pain are slow to abate, but you must learn to appreciate any development along the way.

Noah couldn’t see any difference in the water level until the mountaintops poked out. While you can’t necessarily observe progress and growth in the tiny increments, occasionally you will notice little markers. These indicators symbolize weeks or months of invisible growth, finally coming to fruition.

Take joy in your progress, however small.

Prepare yourself to move on.

“Then it happened at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made; and he sent out a raven, and it went out flying back and forth until the water was dried up from the earth. Then he sent out a dove from him, to see if the water was abated from the face of the land; but the dove found no resting place for the sole of its foot, so it returned to him into the ark, for the water was on the surface of all the earth. Then he stretched out his hand and took it and brought it into the ark to himself. Then he waited yet another seven days; and again he sent out the dove from the ark. And the dove came to him toward evening, and behold, in its beak was a freshly picked olive leaf. So Noah knew that the water was abated from the earth. Then he waited yet another seven days and sent out the dove; but it did not return to him again.” (Gen 8:6–12)

As the waters abate, Noah sends out birds to check the status of the sea-line. He can only do so much to get ready for disembarkment, but he does what he can. For Noah, this means sending out these birds to check the water level again.

Express love, even in small ways.

“Then he sent out a dove from him, to see if the water was abated from the face of the land; but the dove found no resting place for the sole of its foot, so it returned to him into the ark, for the water was on the surface of all the earth. Then he stretched out his hand and took it and brought it into the ark to himself.” (Gen 8:8–9)

This is a strange detail to include, but it shows us that Noah has not let all this pain and destruction corrupt his heart. He has not become cold and uncaring, but instead even shows tenderness and care toward a little dove.

Outwardly expressing love softens your heart and keeps you from becoming bitter and uncaring.

Paul encouraged the Ephesian elders to behave like this too, saying:

“In everything I showed you that by laboring in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'” (Acts 20:35)

Find ways to show you care, even if you don’t have much energy to do it, or you can only in small ways.

Other may recover more quickly; that’s ok.

“Now it happened in the six hundred and first year, in the first month, on the first of the month, the water was dried up from the earth. Then Noah removed the covering of the ark and looked, and behold, the surface of the ground was dried up. In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dry. Then God spoke to Noah, saying, ‘Go out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and your sons’ wives with you. Bring out with you every living thing of all flesh that is with you, birds and animals and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, that they may swarm on the earth, and that they may be fruitful and multiply on the earth.’ So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him. Every beast, every creeping thing, and every bird, everything that moves on the earth, went out by their families from the ark. (Gen 8:13–19)

I find it interesting that God wants the animals to get back to work in procreation, but He waits to tell Noah and his family to do the same.

I can’t imagine the nightmares Noah must have had thinking of the billions of humans, many of whom he knew himself—gone in an instant, never to be seen again. The animals recovered much more quickly from the twin traumas of the Flood and the ark, but I’m sure it took a long time for Noah.

Painful events affect different people differently. It may take you longer to recover than someone else, but it doesn’t mean you’re broken; it just means you need more time.

Always honor God.

“Then Noah built an altar to Yahweh and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar.” (Gen 8:20)

No matter what he’s been through, Noah still worships God. He recognizes the positive side of the Flood: he is free from the horrible society; he can live in peace and without fear.

Here, he reminds me of Job, who also gave glory to God in all things. Never forget to lift God up and remember the blessings He has provided for you.

Eventually, life will return to normal.

“And Yahweh smelled the soothing aroma; and Yahweh said to Himself, ‘I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again strike down every living thing as I have done.

While all the days of the earth remain,
Seedtime and harvest,
And cold and heat,
And summer and winter,
And day and night
Shall not cease.'” (Gen 8:21–22)

Noah will never again face a global flood. He will never have to address that situation again.

Unfortunately, I cannot promise you that you won’t have to deal with the same challenge twice in your life. You will have more than one loved one pass away and you may suffer from other forms of loss multiple times as well. But eventually, with God’s help, you’ll heal.

And ultimately, of course, our hope is not anywhere in this life, but in the next, when loss and pain will never again trouble you.

God loves you and He remembers you. Remember Him and stay strong.