Journey Through the Bible in a Year
Reading God's Word and learning more about His plan for my life each day!
Wednesday, September 11, 2002
Introduction to Journey Through the Bible
A note about online study
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, One year ago today, our nation experienced one of the most devastating attacks on our homeland that we have ever experienced. We recognize that fallen humanity will always act out of fear, hatred, mistrust and a desire to control others. We know that those who attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and who had other targets in mind, did so out of a faith in “Allah” who they worshiped as the one true God, and that they believed that killing others was a way to assure their salvation. We pray, O God, that You will remove such thinking and living from the face of the earth. We pray that the truth of Your Son, Jesus Christ, will prevail to the ends of the earth. We pray that in our lives today, we will demonstrate the love for neighbor and for enemies that Jesus taught. Forgive us all for our sins and restore us to the fullness of Your salvation through the living power of Your Holy Spirit. Advance Your Kingdom through me and through all who bear the name of Jesus today. I know that this is the ultimate response to terrorism. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
My Journey Verses for Today
Genesis 6:1-22
1 When the human population began to grow rapidly on the earth, 2 the sons of God saw the beautiful women of the human race and took any they wanted as their wives. 3 Then the LORD said, "My Spirit will not put up with humans for such a long time, for they are only mortal flesh. In the future, they will live no more than 120 years."
4 In those days, and even afterward, giants lived on the earth, for whenever the sons of God had intercourse with human women, they gave birth to children who became the heroes mentioned in legends of old. 5 Now the LORD observed the extent of the people's wickedness, and he saw that all their thoughts were consistently and totally evil. 6 So the LORD was sorry he had ever made them. It broke his heart. 7 And the LORD said, "I will completely wipe out this human race that I have created. Yes, and I will destroy all the animals and birds, too. I am sorry I ever made them." 8 But Noah found favor with the LORD. 9 This is the history of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless man living on earth at the time. He consistently followed God's will and enjoyed a close relationship with him. 10 Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 11 Now the earth had become corrupt in God's sight, and it was filled with violence. 12 God observed all this corruption in the world, and he saw violence and depravity everywhere. 13 So God said to Noah, "I have decided to destroy all living creatures, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. Yes, I will wipe them all from the face of the earth! 14 "Make a boat from resinous wood and seal it with tar, inside and out. Then construct decks and stalls throughout its interior. 15 Make it 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. 16 Construct an opening all the way around the boat, 18 inches below the roof. Then put three decks inside the boat – bottom, middle, and upper – and put a door in the side. 17 "Look! I am about to cover the earth with a flood that will destroy every living thing. Everything on earth will die! 18 But I solemnly swear to keep you safe in the boat, with your wife and your sons and their wives. 19 Bring a pair of every kind of animal – a male and a female – into the boat with you to keep them alive during the flood. 20 Pairs of each kind of bird and each kind of animal, large and small alike, will come to you to be kept alive. 21 And remember, take enough food for your family and for all the animals." 22 So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him.
Reflecting on God's Word for My Journey
What are the similarities and differences between the world today, and the world in the time BEFORE God sent the flood in Noah’s time?
A Deeper Exploration of God's Word for My Journey
What was the condition of the world according to the Scripture you just read? (6:1-5)
What was God’s response to the condition of the world, and the state of humanity?
Understanding God's Will for My Journey
What is the most significant aspect of God’s plan to destroy evil on the earth while still preserving humanity?
How do you think you would have responded to God’s plan if you were Noah?
Applying What God's Word Tells Me to My Journey
We’re told in today’s Scripture that Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him. What do you need to do today to ensure that you do everything that God has commanded you?
My Personal Journey Thought for the Day—“The Lord Was Sorry...!”
According to today’s reading when God looked over the earth in the time of Noah, He was sorry that He had ever created humanity. People’s thoughts, words and lives were evil. They had rejected God, so God decided to destroy human beings and start over. He found one person on the entire planet who was devoted to Him—Noah. So, God started with that one person and his family, and started again. Some would say that God was judgmental or vindictive in destroying every man, woman and child on the planet with the exception of these eight, but it is in the eight whom God saved that we see His mercy and grace. Before God created Adam and Eve, He knew that we human beings would be rebellious. He knew that we would destroy the perfection of His creation, and yet He created us anyway. God shows His grace over and over again throughout the Bible by sparing a “remnant” who carry on God’s plan to live in relationship with us and for us to manage and care for His creation. We see this plan of God worked out from cover to cover in the Bible as He always spares some in order that future generations may hear the Good News of God and His love—ultimately coming through God Himself, in Jesus. May we be part of that remnant who remains faithful and carries the Good News on to future generations to God’s glory and honor!
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