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Daily Devotion: Genesis 7:16

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Genesis 7:16    "And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in."

"And the LORD shut him in." Noah had followed all of God's directions in building the ark. The animals had been brought into the ark with all provisions having been made for them. Noah and his family had now entered the ark. The rain had begun. Everything had been accomplished according to orders. But now there had to be one more finishing touch. Without this final touch, all would be in vain. What was that which was needed in order for the ark to be a successful haven of protection and rest? The Lord had to complete the work.  Yes, the Lord shut Noah and his family inside the ark.

Not only did the Lord shut him inside the ark; but, He also shut them away from the raging waters. He shut them away from the wickedness of man. We saw in Genesis 6:5, "And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." That wickedness had not changed in the 120 years that it took to prepare the ark. Wickedness still prevailed and Noah was committed and consistent in following the directions of the Lord. Now when the destructive force was beginning, God "shut him in" and away from all the terror that was outside the ark. If God had not shut him in, the ark would not have held the water out. The ark would have been crushed by the weight of the windows of heaven opening and pouring out a deluge of water. It would have been crushed by the dashing against rocks and mountains. But God shut him in.

What is our lesson for today? Even as we walk in the counsel of the Lord, we are dependent upon God's mercy and grace. When we are following the directions of the Lord, we are still dependent upon His redemptive power to keep us safe from the world's influence. I am so thankful that when God saved us from our sins, He also sealed us unto the day of redemption.  In Ephesians 1:13, Paul writes that we "... were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise."   Praise God He sealed us and nothing can destroy the work that He has begun in our hearts.  "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:6)

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