3.) December 1, 2020 Noah Gen 9:8-15
God said to Noah and to his sons with him: See, I am now establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you and with every living creature that was with you: the birds, the tame animals, and all the wild animals that were with you—all that came out of the ark. I will establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all creatures be destroyed by the waters of a flood; there shall not be another flood to devastate the earth. God said: This is the sign of the covenant that I am making between me and you and every living creature with you for all ages to come: I set my bow in the clouds to serve as a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth, and the bow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and every living creature—every mortal being—so that the waters will never again become a flood to destroy every mortal being.
(The flood prefigures baptism)
I was frightened by the devastation—everything as far as the eye could see was covered with mud and was dead. I could not tell where on Earth the ark had landed. For days we had been at the surging water’s mercy. My family and the animals were ready to be set free. However, when I opened the door to look out, fear seized me. How would we survive now? But I remembered the Lord God had singled us out. As the sun broke out and the bow appeared, God’s words made my heart firm, my faith solid. We would not perish.
Thought: Am I able to hold fast to my faith, even when I am fearful.