The Jesse Tree Series: The Flood: Wednesday of the first week of Advent

THE JESSE TREE SERIES:

What does Wednesday of the first week of Advent entail for our Jesse Tree:

THE FLOOD.

SCRIPTURE: Gen 6:11-22,7:17-8:12,20-9:17

Chapter 6-8 of Genesis is the story of flood

Chapters 6-8 which are parallel accounts of the flood, teach us of man’s wickedness and God’s mercy. God destroys sin, but in His mercy, He saves all that that is good, and has pity on all who repent. ‘Noah was found perfectly virtuous; in the time of wrath he became the scion: because of him a remnant was preserved for the earth at the coming of the Flood.  Everlasting covenants were made with him that never again should every living creature perish by flood.’ (Eccles 44).

There are references to the flood in the New Testament also.   Christ, in Matthew 24: 37-39 referred to the episode of the flood when he spoke of his coming and the last judgment. In I Peter 3, the early Church saw there a clear symbol of Christian baptism, in which guilty humanity is judged from which is born a new humanity of ‘water and the Spirit’.  Also, Hebrews 11 exalts the faith of Noah.

The Fathers of the Church saw in the ark an image of the Church.

So what about us? Are we being swept away in the flood of life? Are we like Noah obedient to the voice of God, follow the order He gives us and find favour with the Lord?

At times, Chapter 6:1-2 may resonate with us.

We may feel like we are drowning in the flood of life, with so much disaster and wickedness around us. Let us take heart in the mercy of God, endeavour in the ways God calls us to build the ark of God around us and find favour with our God.   

Genesis 9: God’s covenant with Noah and his descendants.

Chapter 9 is a beautiful chapter in that God in His mercy sets His covenant with Noah and his descendants. The words used in some of the verses are reminiscent of the ‘conversation’ that God had with Adam and Eve in the garden. For example: God reminds Noah to ‘Multiply, fill the earth and subdue it’, God gives Noah everything on the earth, but he reminds him that ‘He who sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for in the image of God was man created.’ (Vs 6).

With these similarities, there is a feeling of starting afresh.  In His abounding generosity, God goes even further. God also sets a covenant with Noah and his descendants, (and us), and promises never to destroy the earth again, of which the rainbow will be the sign. (Vs 9-17). 

In these days of drought, we have not privileged to see the sign of the covenant, which God established with Noah very often lately.  Yet, we need to call to mind that relationship with our God and His abundant generosity.

Another couple of aspects also can be reflected upon from this chapter. Verse 6 reminds us of the sanctity of life, and how we are created in the image and likeness of God.  How does this tally with our recent law of abortion on demand or any other law, which does not respect life?

Also, later in the chapter, we see the effect of alcohol has on human behaviour on Noah and his sons.  We may wish to ponder about our behavioural patterns when alcohol is present.  What is our response to someone who has had ‘one too many’? Perhaps the writer is prompting us to remember that we are made in the image and likeness of God.

What are your thoughts on this chapter?  
                         

THE PERSON: Noah

Noah and the story of the flood shows us that unlike Adam and Eve, Noah was obedient to the voice of God, followed the order He gave him and found favour with the Lord.  

THE EVENT/THEME: THE FLOOD: During our reflection time today, let us ponder on  this event/theme of the Flood.  We may wish to

1.            Offer a prayer of: Thanksgiving for the gift of water.

2.            Rediscover: Reflect on the grief of those who experience a flood and rediscover the warmth of humanity who assist other people in the tragedy of floods.

3.            Make a practical commitment: As today's theme is the flood, we may wish to ponder on the gift of abundant water and make a commitment during this day to use water wisely by seeking out the ways we are 'wallies with water' (e.g. leave a tap dripping, use a full flush when a half flush is appropriate, have longer than necessary showers). A practical commitment may also be to research an organisation who assists other people in times of floods or provide finance to assist poorer countries have the basics of life. Giving a donation to this cause may also be appropriate in keeping with today's theme.

SYMBOL 4: RAINBOW, ARC OR DOVE

The Rainbow and arc is the sign of the covenant that God has between himself and man, whilst the dove is the symbol of peace and the covenant between God and His people.  Let us remember that God is a faithful God who will never abandon us in whatever situation we find ourselves.

Let us remember the Holy man Noah and the flood as we prepare our fourth  symbol ( third cut out symbol) and place it on the tree.
Choose one of these three alternatives or if you have more family members, then you may wish to include all three symbols of the rainbow, arc and dove.