And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.” (9:1)
Note that God repeats the above commandment that he had given Noah and his sons in verse one again in verse seven, “Be fruitful and multiply, teem on the earth and multiply on it.” We will see the disobedience to this when we read Genesis 11.
The Hebrew word for “bless” has to do with having the potential for life. So, when God blesses Noah and his sons, God actually is giving them the ability to fulfill his command to be fruitful and multiply. God gives us the power to do that which He wants us to do.
I have experienced this so often in my own life. When I had one child, God gave me what I needed to take care of her. I certainly didn’t have what I needed to take care of two or eventually, ten children! But when our second daughter was born, God gave me what I needed to take care of the two. And so on.
Another situation that was beyond my natural capabilites and comfort zone, was visiting my elderly uncle in a nursing home. I was the only relative besides his daughter, who lived in the same city, and I thought I should visit him weekly. But as I did not grow up with grandparents (two died before I was born and two died when I was very young) relating to the elderly was something foreign to me. Each time I went, I would look to God for help to be a blessing to my uncle. And God did help me. (And now I am very comfortable relating to the elderly.)
For everything that God has directed me to do, He has supplied what I need when I am in the situation (but not necessarily before.)
Prayer: Thank you, God, that You will always enable me to do what you want me to do. I can always look to you for your empowerment to obey you— whether for daily things such as taking care of my home and children or new and uncomfortable situations.
