God’s Loving Preparation

There have been many moments in my life where God has prepared me for a season that was coming. For a long time, I wasn’t sure if I liked this or not. My heart would be disturbed and unsettled in the midst of some of the unknown. However, when the time came, I was prepared for the situation or season. I was much more ready to handle things in every way because God had equipped me for it.

We see this as we continue to read about Noah.

“God looked on the earth, and behold; it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth. Then God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence because of them, and behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth.” Genesis 6:12-13 (NASB)

Here we see God preparing Noah for what is to come. God is sharing His heart and His plans with Noah. He reveals what He needs to do and why. I think sometimes we read the Old Testament and we don't connect any of it to our lives today but just like God shared His heart and plans with Noah, He still shares these things with us today if we are walking with Him like Noah was. Click To Tweet

 Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; you shall make the ark with rooms, and shall cover it inside and out with pitch.  This is how you shall make it: the length of the ark three hundred cubits, its breadth fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. You shall make a window for the ark, and finish it to a cubit from the top; and set the door of the ark in the side of it; you shall make it with lower, second, and third decks. Behold, I, even I am bringing the flood of water upon the earth, to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life, from under heaven; everything that is on the earth shall perish. 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. And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every kind into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female. Of the birds after their kind, and of the animals after their kind, of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, two of every kind will come to you to keep them alive. As for you, take for yourself some of all food which is edible, and gather it to yourself; and it shall be for food for you and for them.” Genesis 6:14-21 (NASB)

Most times when God prepares us for things, there are specific instructions for what we are to do. We always have a part and a responsibility on our end. God gave Noah precise instructions. The Ark had to be big enough to fit Noah, his family, the food, and supplies, along with all the animals and creatures they were bringing along. This wasn’t a trip where you could leave behind anything you would need again. God knew the exact measurements required. Noah didn’t. This was ALL new.

God can prepare us, and He can give us the specific instructions we need to be ready for what is coming in life, but we have to be obedient to those instructions.

Thus Noah did; according to all that God had commanded him, so he did.” Genesis 6:22 (NASB)

If Noah had just blown God off when He told him what He was going to do or laughed at God when He gave the instructions He gave because they didn’t make any sense to him, then I am not sure where we would be right now or if we would be here.

Obedience is necessary. We have a part to play in it all. God can give us everything we need, but we have to choose to obey Him. Click To Tweet

Is there anything God is speaking about to you? Is there something for which God is preparing you? What are the instructions, He is giving to you?

For me, sometimes the instructions are only to pray. Other times there is a specific action in addition to prayer that is required of me. God spoke directly to Noah. We have the Holy Spirit because Jesus died and rose again to restore the relationship between God and man. The Holy Spirit prepares and instructs us,

Will we listen and obey?