Warnings: By Faith: Prayers and Poetry

Warnings

Warnings rumbled

through words spoken

in language inaccessible.

Illustrations not bound

to known reality. In a

world devoid of rain

a flood would come.

Build an ark. One man

listened. Obeyed. Followed an

imaginative process through

new images. Ancient crackpot

castigated and scorned for

fancy visions. Received inheritance

as a man of righteousness.

Psalm 104: 8, “The mountains rose; the valleys sank down To the place which thou didst establish for them.”

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Warnings

Warnings rumbled

through words spoken

in language inaccessible.

Illustrations not bound

to known reality. In a

world devoid of rain

a flood would come.

Build an ark. One man

listened. Obeyed. Followed an

imaginative process through

new images. Ancient crackpot

castigated and scorned for

fancy visions. Received inheritance

as a man of righteousness.

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     Do you trust God to carry you through any crisis that comes?

2.     Under what situations do you find fear taking hold in your life?

3.     How do you respond to nudges or impressions of change coming—with anticipation or anxiety? What makes the difference?

Share: What scripture ‘ark’ has God given you when you need to ride out personal storms?

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Hebrews 11:7, “By faith, Noah, warned by God about events as yet unseen, respected the warning and built an ark to save his household; by this he condemned the world and became an heir to the righteousness that is in accordance with faith.”

Often we have a tendency not to put imagination and faith in the same context. Yet Noah’s story has the makings of an epic fantasy or science fiction journey. In a time when rain was not a reality, a flood an unknown concept and perhaps even a boat unheard of, Noah was asked to stake everything on God’s request to build an ark. Did he struggle to find a way to ask God for a translation?  A reality check?

With our technology on super speed this era, it has not been considered odd to ask what is an ipad or an SEO or a webinar. Yet all these new means of communication have been built from previous science now constantly evolving and refining. Not only did Noah have no concepts to draw from, he also had the additional tension of worldwide catastrophe. Perhaps another indefinable concept.

Yet he trusted God’s word without question and set to follow His pattern in trust.

Too often I have pushed aside warnings or opportunities as impossible or too unlikely to be taken seriously. Either I outright ignore or water down the implications, instead of asking God for confirmation—first, and then wisdom next. And wonder why my day, my life, dissolves into chaos.

And we have centuries of scripture evidence to stand on—thousands of faith stories as reminders of God’s saving refuge in times of struggle and in times of new beginnings.

Lord, help us to distinguish Your voice above the jeers and naysayers. Give us courage to follow all Your directions and Your truth that we stay connected to You. That we may walk in obedience, safe in Your will. Help us to remember that nothing is impossible with You.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 46:1-3

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, and

though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;

Though its water roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride.”

Kingdom Manna

Hour

Matthew 4:17, From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

“Detour Ahead.” The sign looms large interrupting our journey home. We groan and join in the snail-paced line curving away from the main route. No explanations. No idea for how long. And, as we crane our necks, no indication that anything is amiss.

Secure in our plans, succinct in our purposes we forge through our days and months. Alternately content or stoic we drive steadily, unless we hit a bump or experience a flat—or are told to repent.

Doesn’t that sound a little strange? Or Harsh? Repent! Repent from what? We simply live our lives as best we can, as good citizens and caring families.

“Storm eroded highway,” we discover later. The familiar stretch of roadway hid a loosened sinkhole. “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that lead to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that lead to life, and there are few who find it.”

Dissolve my reluctance to repent, Lord. Direct me to watch Your warnings. To turn away from my ways to travel my roads and instead to follow Your path.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 85:8

Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people,

to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.

Leaving Egypt Behind

Scripture: Exodus 20:20, And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin.”

When the people of Israel saw the mountain smoke and perceived the thunder and lightening, they trembled.

Trembled in fear, in awe, in anxiety.

They remembered Egypt’s end. What if they could not keep these commandments? They drew back, begging Moses to speak for them.

He comes that you may not sin, Moses explains. He comes to set a spirit of watchfulness. He comes to designate His path.

How many loving parents prepare stern voices and serious faces when explaining fire to young children? How to explain harsh consequences to a child who knows only care and nurture? How to protect against hurt?

Therefore we strike a match a fear, protective fear.

Witness this message, witness these commandments, witness this memory; that you may not sin, not forget, not know.

Thank you Lord for words of warning. Thank you for love that instills prevention. Thank you for Your paths through hot lava.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 111:10

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;

A good understanding have all those who do His commandments;

His praise endures forever.

Leaving Egypt Behind

Scripture: Exodus 9:20, The one among the servants of Pharaoh who feared the word of the Lord made his servants and his livestock flee into the houses; but he who paid no regard to the word of the Lord left his servants and his livestock in the field.

The signposts were clearly marked and the speed limits progressively became slower. Our amusement turned to appreciation as we wove along an ever narrowing, wooded coastal road. When we spotted the five mile per hour sign though, we couldn’t believe it, even though the guidelines until then had been acutely accurate. We chuckled. Someone must have a sense of humor. Then as we turned the narrow corner, we instinctively braked and slowed to two miles per hour for the incredibly steep downward curve. A diligent county official had placed a precise warning. We wondered if the swath of broken trees and crushed foliage on the right were evidence of accidents for those who also didn’t believe the caution.

God gave the Egyptians clear notice. The approaching hail would be unlike any ever seen. Those who brought in people and livestock would be safe. Anyone left in the fields would perish. God gave everyone the opportunity to live, to accept His protection.

Belief-disbelief. Obedience-defiance.

The previous plagues bore true witness to God’s words. Pharaoh’s population split. Many chose to listen. Many chose to ignore. Many innocent servants and animals died because of their owner’s denial.

Lord, keep me aware of the warning signs of disbelief in my life. Instead remind me to seek Your protection and Your safety when the road becomes treacherous.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 12:6

The words of the Lord are pure words;

As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times.