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Press In To Press On #5
Mark Geppert
Noah had a Rhema. In fact, Noah had several Rhema’s which brought the ark, flood, animals, birds, and the redemption of fallen mankind into physical reality. God spoke to Noah because He knew the man would listen.
Noah’s Rhema had details. In fact, Noah’s Rhema spoke of things that had not been seen before. There was going to be rain and a flood. Imagine receiving the word of the Lord to build an ark, which had never been built before, because it was going to rain, which had never happened before, and there would be a great flood that would destroy the earth. Now who would ever believe that?
Noah was a righteous man. In Genesis, Moses, another man with a Rhema, records that “Noah was a just man, perfect in all his generations, who feared God. Noah walked with God.” (Gen. 6:9) In a world given over to sin, Noah walked with God and taught his family to walk with God. When his grandfather, Enoch spoke of God and the importance of walking with Him, Noah chose to raise his family to follow in God’s way. Though all around him in the world enticed the young ones, Noah stood firm in his generations.
Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. (Gen. 6:8)
At the time of God’s great judgement, eliminating man made in His image, destroying all that He had done because of corruption, there was a man with a Rhema. There was a man who walked with God. There was a man who believed that God is and that he is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. And, as the world became more and more corrupt, as sin became the standard and the light of righteousness was about to be snuffed out, God spoke to that man.
Not only was Noah the only one in his family who pressed in to the Lord, he was the only one in all humanity who did so. God did not speak to a group, He spoke to a man. When God has a work to do, He finds a person to do it. He walks with them and talks with them and as they press in to hear Him more clearly, He shows them the detail necessary to "float their boat".
It is estimated that it took Noah 45-75 years to build that boat. How often did he wonder if he was really hearing from God? How often was he challenged by a reprobate people and made a mockery of? How many splinters did he get? How much resource did he need? Yet, he pressed on as the reality of the Rhema became more real than the negativity around him.
“Divinely warned of things not seen, moved with godly fear, he prepared an ark for the saving of his family.” (Hebrews 11:7)
How is your promise coming? You have a Rhema, a promise from God that if you believe in Him, you will be saved—you and your household. (Acts 16:31) The Philippian jailer moved into the boat that Paul and Silas built for him. Verse 32 says that they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. The apostles built a wood boat for the man. Noah proclaimed the Rhema to his family.
Noah finished the job God had given him when he loaded Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and their wives, onto the ark. By demonstrating faithfulness to the word God had given him, Noah saved his house and the future of nations.
Be encouraged—you are doing the same thing as you press in to God to press on in the word He has given you. Do not allow wickedness to distract you from your Rhema.
Press in to Press on.
Mark
