But God remembered… (8:1)
God always remembers and does what he says. His plans will come to pass. He made a wind blow over the earth and the waters subsided, so that Noah, his family, and the animals were able to leave the ark. But it did take time. They were in the ark a whole year and ten days (Genesis 7:11, Genesis 8:14)!
Noah removed the covering of the ark, but it wasn’t until a month and twenty-six days after that when God said to Noah, “Go out from the ark, you and your wife and…” (Genesis 8:16). We would do well to learn to wait patiently for God’s timing! This goes contrary to our fast-paced society, where we have fast food, instant information, and we tend to want things as soon as possible. But God isn’t in a rush and his timing is perfect.
I wrote a picture book in 1992 (Daniel’s Dilemma), and I sent it off to several publishers but got no response. It wasn’t until 2021 that it was finally published – I had to wait twenty-nine years! But God’s timing is perfect. If I had had it published in 1992, the book would not have had the wonderful illustrations of the extremely talented Alexandra Gilman (now my daughter-in-law) as she hadn’t even been born yet! God was not in a rush. And as always, He knows what He is doing.
The chapter ends with a promise from God to never again curse the ground and strike down every living creature as He had done. Also, “while the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease” (8:22).
Prayer: Lord, Thank You that You are so trustworthy! Help me to be patient and to be led by You rather than rushing ahead! You do know best!
