with Elder Elico Manenji
_1️⃣Genesis 8:1-5:The waters of the rains stop and recede._
After forty days and forty nights of torrential rains, God closed the surface of the deep.and the fountains of heaven.
A strong evaporation winds swept across the earth and dried the receding waters thus bringing the judgments of God, though long and severe to endure to an end.
On the seventeenth day of the seventh month, one hundred and fifty days after the rain stopped, the Ark rested on mount Ararat.
Ararat became a solemn witness to the severity of God’s judgments upon a guilty world.
Ararat was a solemn witness to the severity of God’s judgments upon a guilty world and a display of divine grace to sinful mankind.
_Key Text_ : "And when My anger is spent and I have vented My wrath against them, I will be appeased. And when I have spent My wrath on them, they will know that I, the LORD, in My zeal have spoken." (Ezekiel 5:13)
Those who remember the Lord God will be remembered by Him. God usually works deliverance for His people gradually that the day of small things may not be despised nor the day of great things despaired. He has fixed a day for their remembrance and deliverance.
The Psalmist says, "Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him." (Psalm 50:3)
_2️⃣Genesis 8:6-12: Noah sends the raven and the dove to spy the land._
Noah sent two birds to view the land, the raven and then the dove, one unclean and the other clean.
The human carnal heart is like a raven, it takes up with the world and feeds on the filthy carrions it finds there and returns not to rest in God.
The sanctified human heart is like a dove, an emblem of a gracious soul which finding no rest for its foot and no solid peace or satisfaction in this world, seeks refuge in the Ark which is an emblem of Christ's saving power, so Christ will graciously preserve, and help, and welcome, those that fly to him for rest.
The olive-branch which was an emblem of peace was not brought by the raven, a birds that preys on dirty but by a mild, patient, humble dove. It is a dove-like disposition that brings into the soul earnest of rest and joy in the heart.
_Key Text:_ "And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
(Philippians 4:7)
Though the law reveals the sinfulness of sin, it does not bring salvation to the soul but Christ through the gospel bring to the human heart the peace of God as a dove in the likeness of the Holy Spirit descending on each soul with an olive-branch of the gospel that brings a better hope.
Luke, the gospel writer notes, "And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove on him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, You are my beloved Son; in you I am well pleased " (Luke 3:22)
_3️⃣Genesis 8:13-19: Noah comes out of the Ark_
When the waters receded and the dove brought good news of a dry ground, Noah waited patiently for seven days whilst in the Ark for it is in God’s full time and complete mercy that salvation is given to His Church.
The Lord God who had commanded Noah and his family to get into the Ark commanded him and his family to get out of the Ark and he obeyed the voice of God and he brought out all the living creatures into a dry land.
But now God did as it were to remarry them sending out Noah and his wife together, his sons and their wives together that they might be fruitful and multiply upon the face of the earth.
_Key Text:_ "Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us"(Psalm 67:6).
"And he increased his people greatly; and made them stronger than their enemies."
(Psalm 105:24).
The blessings of the Lord come as we agree to his commandments, his laws are not grievous but are for our benefit and enjoyment.
The Lord said to Moses, "And all these blessings shall come on you, and overtake you, if you shall listen to the voice of the LORD your God."
(Deuteronomy 28:2).
_4️⃣Genesis 8:20-22: Noah builds an altar of sacrifice_
Ararat became the place Noah built a sacrificial altar as faith kindled the flame of praise, prayer and worship.
Ararat became the place of the rainbow, God's covenant of mercy and place of the first code of the law, it became the foot mark of a new world with new laws, for as sins grows then the law also increases.
The sacrifice of Noah, burnt offering and peace offering were a token of his surrender into divine hands, and that worship should succeed every act of divine deliverance, and that sacrifice is the only medium through which acceptable service can be rendered to God.
_Key Text:_ "Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound, That as sin has reigned to death, even so might grace reign through righteousness to eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord."
(Romans 5:20-21)
That through sacrifice mankind vindicates God's righteousness and justice in obedience to
Christ’s death as the only means of purification and restoration.
The Psalmist says, "He restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." (Psalm 23:3).
"Restore to me the joy of your salvation; and uphold me with your free spirit"(Psalm 51:12).
Appeal
Those that have received mercy from God should be forward in returning thanks giving to Him. It should not be done by constraint, but willingly. God is pleased with free-will offerings and praises that come to Him as our sincere gratitude for His mercy and grace.
The Apostle Paul says, "Every man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7).
Elico Manenji
(+263712952704)
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