Chaplain (Maj.) Kil Chung
Oahu North Community Chaplain
We cannot imagine the trauma and confusion Noah and his family experienced during this time.
They lived on a boat with animals for more than 10 months. It was not a modern cruise ship, which accommodates our every need; there weren’t any side windows or air conditioners. It was very warm and smelly inside the cabins.
According to Genesis 8:16, God said to Noah, “Come out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and their wives.”
Hearing these words must have ranked as one of the most wonderful moments in Noah’s life.
A praise-party probably followed Noah‘s announcement that it was time to leave behind the ark and step again on dry land.
However, the first thing Noah did, once his family and the animals had left the ark, was build an altar to worship God.
How many levels of appreciation he must have felt: first, for the safety of him, his family and the animals; then, gratitude that they could finally leave what, by then, must have been a smelly, noisy place.
How Noah and family must have looked forward to their new life.
When we come to a happy turning point in our lives, do we rush to thank God? Or do we assume that our own abilities have brought us this far and take the credit for ourselves?
We have never stepped foot on an ark, but God is surely caring for us and bears our burdens every day.
The Bible commands us to thank God always, regardless of our circumstances. This command can be seen in Psalms 68:19: “Praise be to the Lord, to our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.” It’s also in 2 Thessalonians 5:18: “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Can you count God’s blessings to you and your family? Try.
Thank you, Lord, for every time you’ve saved me and kept me from harm. I praise you for being the compassionate one who guides my life each day.