Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – April 24, 2020
By Guest Writers: Wahid and Laila Wahba
And the Lord closed the door behind him (Noah). Genesis 7:16
Social distancing; new normal; lockdown; words that we hear everywhere we turn: social media, news, friends, and relatives. There is not a conversation or a phone call that is devoid of those words. Americans are not used to being locked in. We cherish our freedom, our eating out, our socializing, and shopping.
Laila and I have experienced lockdown three times in our lives:
The first time was in 1967 during the war in Egypt. We were locked in for months at a time. We could not even go out to the grocery store or to the pharmacy. At night we had to put off all the lights by 5 pm. My father, an officer in the military, was on the front lines. Laila’s father had to go down to the TV station daily to read the evening news.
The second time we were locked in for close to six weeks was during the Arab Spring (I honestly don’t understand why it is called Arab Spring!). There was no internet. We could hear riots and gunshots all around us as Islamists were trying to take over the country, which they eventually did for 18 months, the worst 18 months in the history of Egypt. People running around with machine guns was the norm. It was scary.
The COVID-19 pandemic is our third lockdown.
And honestly, this is heaven compared to the last two times. We are staying in our air conditioned homes, with our dogs and well-stocked pantries. The weather is generally good, and we can go out for walks or sit on our deck. What more can we ask for? We are so blessed to be locked down under such conditions. All we hear is birds chirping.
Did you notice in Genesis that it says that it was God who locked the door behind Noah and his family? For 370 days and 370 nights in the Ark (and for you who prefer numbers https://answersingenesis.org/bible-timeline/biblical-overview-of-the-flood-timeline/), Noah’s family is locked in. No windows, decks, internet, cell phones, TV, Youtube, Facebook, or Netflix. Mrs. Noah could not go out for walks or go to the store. They could not take the animals for their daily walk.
All they heard was the sound of rain for forty days and forty nights. They spent their time fellowshipping, praying, loving on one other, and caring for the animals. God provided for them. I wonder if Noah fretted that maybe the amount of food he took with him would not be enough for eight people and hundreds of animals, especially that he did not know how long it would be before they would disembark the Ark. Can you imagine that Noah did not think of opening the window of the Ark except after 264 days? That is over nine months!!
I am not against you watching the news, but if you are surfing from one channel to another 24/7, you are leaving the window open for far too long. The rain can flood your Ark with anxiety, fear, doubt, and disbelief.
Even though there is an ocean of viruses and life seems chaotic, God is watching over you! God is in control.
Do not be afraid!
Be faithful to Him and wait patiently. The rain will stop, and the rainbow will shine again.
Don’t let the coronavirus shake your Faith. Don’t panic, don’t fear.
Pray and believe that it is God who locked you in to save you from the raging storm of COVID-19.
As my daughter in law Lauren told me yesterday, “Crisis takes us either to the pinnacle of faith or the abyss of disbelief.”
Hold on to Jesus because all your provision comes from the Lamb.
“In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise” (Revelation 5:12)!
Prayer
Dear Lord, I praise though I am more isolated than ever, but I can ever be in your presence and grow in our intimacy, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Application
How can I use this time of isolation to grow my relational intimacy with those who love me most?
Related Reading
Psalm 16:8; Isaiah 49:1; Acts 2:25; 1 Timothy 1:14
Here is a helpful resource during these days of grief, sorrow and uncertainty: A Little Book of Comfort
Post/Tweet today
Even though there is an ocean of viruses and life seems chaotic, God is still captain over your circumstance. #lookup #WisdomHunters #truth #Jesus
Worship Resource
4 minute video: Rend Collective:
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