Walking With God Straight Into Rain (Part 2
Scripture — Genesis 6:6-9 (NRSV)
And the Lord was sorry that he had made humans on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the Lord said, “I will blot out from the earth the humans I have created—people together with animals and creeping things and birds of the air—for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the sight of the Lord. These are the descendants of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation; Noah walked with God.
Focus
Some rain and storms can be handled if you know when they’re coming or how much rain they’ll bring. But what happens when you do not know what a storm is or when it is coming? God has a better priority, an absolute purpose, a flawless process, and gracious promises. Noah demonstrates that walking with God enables disciples to lead in the things they do not have the capacity to handle. God can prepare you to walk into a storm that has not come yet. And out of God’s great love, God will sustain you through it.
Devotion
In the last devotion, we learned that God graciously forms leaders. We see in Scripture that when God forms Noah, God sets him apart for his purpose. Noah then walks honestly, repentant, and wholly with God. Our post-modern cultural lens permits the notion that it is possible to walk alone and be successful. Physical or spiritual rain comes, and we believe we have a fix. Our capacities to do the things we think we can do are inadequate. And God calls image bearers to God’s priorities, purposes, progress, and promises that we do not have the capacity to achieve. Our questions as leaders tell on us also:
- Are we changing too fast? Too slow?
- Do we adopt new technology? Will we be left behind if we don’t?
- How do I lead change while I’m changing and I’m not sure what the change needs to look like?
- How do you lead people with no credibility because none of us have seen it?
Leading toward good things is difficult. Leading through destruction is not easy either. Noah had a plan because he walked with God into the rain. Because God first formed him, he was able to adhere to God’s request:
Make yourself an ark of cypress wood;
make rooms in the ark,
and cover it inside and out with pitch (6:14).
Noah heard God’s purposes (Gen. 6:3-7) and embraced his priorities (Gen. 6:8,13). Noah walked with God, and God gave him the capacity to handle his processes (Gen. 6:9,14-16), and God reminded Noah of God’s promises (6:18; 7:23; 8:1, 21-22; 9:8-12).
Some rain and storms can be handled if you know when they’re coming or how much rain they’ll bring. But what happens when you do not know what a storm is or when it is coming? God has a better priority, an absolute purpose, a flawless process, and gracious promises. Noah demonstrates that walking with God enables disciples to lead in the things they do not have the capacity to handle. God can prepare you to walk into a storm that has not come yet. And out of God’s great love, God will sustain you through it.
Reflect
What are some questions and actions that originate from a human-centered origin you might have asked if you were in Noah’s circumstance?
What storms are you attempting to mitigate using primarily data, strategy, instinct, or assumptions about others?
How might you be striving against God’s will to form you in those storms? What do you see about Noah’s response each step of the way in Genesis 6-9 that aligns with Genesis 6:6-9?
Act
Walk with God Practice: Take a walk down the street or in your mind; try to see God walking with you. Think about one specific circumstance or person you are leading. Talk (pray) to God about the prayer below.
Pray
God, I see clearly through Scripture that all I need to do is walk with you, and you will help me to make sense of things before they come. So help me see how to be the “Noah did all that God commanded him” type of person. Help me remember that you know better, see better, and plan better, and to respond to that. Amen.
Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: God’s Covenant with Noah (Genesis 9:1-19).
DeLano Sheffield, DMin
Author & Employer Engagement Manager
Dr. DeLano J. Sheffield is a senior pastor and Employer Engagement Manager for Great Jobs KC (formerly KC Scholars) where he fosters connections between people on the fringes and employers in the Kansas City Metro. He advocates for the hiring of people who would not normally have opportunities...