January 7 Daily Devotional

Genesis 6–7

In the early times people were healthy and strong. They learned to make use of wood, stone and some metals. They ate and drank, married and were given in marriage, but they turned away from God. They had the idea: we can help ourselves. They forgot to thank God for the many blessings he gave them, such as food, shelter and raiment. They neglected to teach their children the truths of godliness. And when the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on earth, and that every imagination of the human heart was evil continually, He said, “My Spirit shall not always strive with man, for he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.”

In those days there lived a man who found grace in the eyes of the Lord. It is said of him, “He was a just and perfect man in his generation, and walked with God.” His name was Noah. And God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them from the earth.” God told Noah to build a large boat, called an ark. It should be built of gopher wood, 300 cubits (about 450 ft.) long, three stories high. He told him to bring into the ark of every kind of beasts, of fowls, cattle and creeping things; and to take for himself and for them of all food that is eaten

Noah believed God and prepared the ark, just as God had told him. He had three sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth, that could help him. No doubt the wicked neighbors laughed at Noah while he was working at the big building He warned them that they should repent of their sins and turn to God. But they did not believe what Noah said about the great flood that was to come.

After the one hundred and twenty years had passed and the ark was completed, God called Noah and told him to bring his wife, his three sons and their wives, and come into the ark. And God caused the animals to come in. When they were all inside and plenty of food had been stored, God himself shut the door.

After a short time the rain began to fall. And what a rain! Great sheets of water poured down from the clouds, as if windows in the sky had been opened, and water was flowing through them. The fountains of the great deep were broken up. Soon the tiny brooklets became raging torrents, and the rivers were overflowing their banks. People left their homes and rushed to the hills and mountains for safety. Higher and higher the water rose. Finally it covered the tops of the hills and mountains. All the wicked people and living creatures were taken away from the face of the earth.