I will never read the story of the flood account in Genesis 7-8 the same again. Over the past several weeks of sheltering in place, I feel as if I have new insights into how Noah and his family might have felt during their time in the ark. If Noah had kept a journal, he might have captured some of the following thoughts:

• What day is it?


• My life consists of eating, sleeping, feeding animals and cleaning up the mess made by others.


• The same people, every day, all the time ...


• What day is it again? Blurrsday?


• Wow, these animals smell bad!


• Will this ever end?


• I miss other people.


• What will the world be like once this is over?


• What day is it again?

Sound familiar? Yeah ... it did for me too! But Noah’s wait was so much more difficult than mine.

• His family and the animals were in the boat for a week before the rain started.


• They experienced 40 days and nights of rain.


• 150 days after the flooding began, the ark rested on Mount Ararat.


• Two and a half months later, mountain peaks appeared.


• 40 days later, Noah released a raven.


• He also released a dove who returned to the ark.


• Seven days later, he released the dove again. This time the bird returned with a green leaf.


• Seven days later, he released a dove that did not return.


• Ten and a half months after the flood started, Noah opened the top of the boat.


• Two months later, Noah and the animals finally left the ark.

Each of these steps required waiting, patience, uncertainty, persevering, disappointment and more waiting. Even when they were able to exit the boat, uncertainty was still a reality — and would be for the foreseeable future.

What was constant throughout Noah’s experience? His faith! We don’t know if his faith wavered in the midst of this season of difficulty. I suspect it did at times. However, he finished well. We know this because he is mentioned in the Faith Hall of Fame in Hebrews 11:7.

Much like Noah during the time of the flood, we are in a season of uncertainty. Yet, our hope is found in our faith in God who is unshakable. Nothing catches him by surprise. He has got this. We are his kids and he’s got us!

So, like Noah, in our own season of uncertainty, we can have full confidence and rest in him! May our lives be a faithful testimony to a world that needs hope!

Until all the nations worship,

Dr. John Chesnut
President/CEO
Wycliffe Bible Translators USA