Genesis 7:18 "And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters."
"And the waters prevailed." I look at that word,
"prevailed," and think about a force behind it that caused it to have
the upper hand against anything that would go against it. I can only imagine
how fervently the people fought against the waters. I can almost hear the cries
for help and the splashing of water as they would try to escape to high ground.
"And the waters prevailed." I can see the running to the tops
of hills to try to escape, but the waters prevailed. I see them climbing the
highest mountains, but the waters prevailed. "Fifteen cubits upward
did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered." (Genesis 7:20)
If my math is correct, the waters were 22.5 feet above the highest
mountain on the face of the earth. "And the waters prevailed."
"And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty
days." (Genesis 7:24) For five months, the waters were upon the face
of the earth and we are told in Genesis 7:22, "All in whose nostrils was
the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died." The
waters prevailed because it was the power of the Lord and His determinate will
that this destruction would take place.
The waters prevailed, but the ark withstood every ounce of power that was
pressed against it. How was it able to do this? I go back to yesterday's
devotion where we saw that God shut Noah and his family inside the ark. It was
not the work of Noah, but rather the protective hedge that the Lord had placed
around them that enabled them to withstand. Let us look at one other instance
of a power prevailing against forces that came against it. I highly
recommend that you take time to read the 5th Chapter of Revelation. John was
weeping because a book of condemnation had been sealed against him and every
other human that has ever lived. No one was able to escape this condemnation.
We were condemned because of the force of our sin nature that is within each of
us. No one could loosen the seal; therefore; great sadness and weeping took
place. "And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the
Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, HATH PREVAILED to open the book,
and to loose the seven seals thereof." (Revelation 5:5)
Every blood bought, Spirit-born child of God has been "shut in" the
ark of protection that is sealed by the blood of Jesus Christ. Christ
loosed those seals and keeps us in protection because He prevailed over every evil
power that was thrown at Him as He hung upon the cross. He prevailed over every
sin of every one of His children when He took our sins upon Himself and paid
that debt of death. In Christ, we have eternal life. In Christ, we are saved
from the power of Satan and all the demons of hell. In Christ, and through His
blood, we shall prevail. Praise His Holy Name!