All devotions are written by our Founding Pastor Bill Elliff. More blogs and books from Bill at billelliff.com.

Genesis 8-9 | God's Memory

 But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the cattle that were with him in the ark; and God caused a wind to pass over the earth, and the water subsided (Genesis 8:1).

 
God’s memory is perfect because God is perfect. But the most beautiful thing about His memory is that He chooses to remember us, and in His remembering, to help us.
 
God had flooded the earth as a discipline for the hideous sin and rebellion of man. But he spared Noah and his family. On the ark for 40 days, God remembered, i.e., looked with affection, at Noah and began the process of removing the water and preparing a place for Noah, his family, and the animals He had created and spared.
 
As they left the ark, Noah built an altar and worshiped the Lord, which was a blessing to God. Then notice the conversation between Noah and God:
 
“And God blessed Noah and his sons ...” (Genesis 9:1)
 
“I Myself do establish My covenant with you, and with your descendants after you (Genesis 9:9)
 
“I establish My covenant with you; and all flesh shall never again be cut off by the water of the flood, neither shall there again be a flood to destroy the earth” (Genesis 9:11)
 
“I set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth” (Genesis 9:13)
 
“When the bow will be seen in the cloud, and I will remember My covenant … (I will) remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth” (Genesis 9:16-17)
 
God could blot us from His memory. He could choose to never bless us again. But that is not our God.
 
  • He remembered Noah and blessed Him.
  • He remembered the Israelites in bondage and sent a deliverer to them.
  • He remembered Jonah and delivered Him.
  • He always remembered His people and heard and responded to their cries.
  • He remembered us by sending His only begotten Son to save us.
  • He remembers, now, His new covenant, made through the blood of His Son on the cross, to forgive and cleanse us continually by His grace.
  • He remembers us, even as Christ ascended to heaven to prepare a place for us that where He was, we may be also.
  • And, He will remember to return and take us to Himself.
 
In His mercy, He remembers you and every promise He has ever made to you. The question is, do you remember Him? Will you remember His grace and return to Him? Will you remember, this year, to love, serve, and worship Him with all your heart, and mind, and soul, and strength.
 
God remembers.



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