14 So make yourself an ark of cypress [c] wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out. 15 This is how you are to build it: The ark is to be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high. [d] 16 Make a roof for it and finish [e] the ark to within 18 inches [f] of the top. Put a door in the side of the ark and make lower, middle and upper decks. (Genesis 6:14-16 NIV)
I've been reading the story of Noah for the past few days, and I've been surprised with the many insights these chapters offer.
The first surprise: the precise instructions that God gives Noah when he builds the ark. God dictated the kind of wood, and the exact measurement for each ark part that Noah had to build. If you're like me, you would've wondered why the writer bothered to list down those numbers. You might have skimmed over those irrelevant bits of information and instead pondered on the types of animal species that existed during Noah's time.
But wait, maybe there is something to those numbers. Have you ever tried baking a cake intuitively? Did you feel like maybe putting a dash of baking soda would have the same effect on your cake as a teaspoon would? Have you ever taken your cake with the dash-of-baking-soda out of the oven and discovered that your teeth weren't created to chew on hard rocks of flour?
Sometimes, we can't help but put on a dash of baking soda when it comes to our relationship with God. He tells us that we need to watch our words when we speak about others, but we rationalize that we're just venting, we have every right to do so and there are no morsels of malice in our hearts. He tells us to think twice about the beggar tapping on our car window, but we tell ourselves that this is not our responsibility. Where the hell are these kids' parents anyway?, we whisper in our minds as we turn away. Where's that Christian NGO that's supposed to take care of them?
He knocks on our door and whispers gently into our hearts. Sacha, see these people from my perspective. Even if there is hostility in their hearts towards you, with my love, you can forgive. You can also go beyond forgiveness, you can bless them. Sacha, think twice about those street children. That's all I want you to do. I'm not asking you to save the world. Just think twice.
Remember the cypress wood? The measurements of 50 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high? The door and lower, middle and upper decks?
God is whispering into our ears, into our hearts. He's telling us the precise materials we need to live abundant lives. He's giving us specific measurements so his blessings will be able to fit. He's requesting that he be our architect because he already knows how to design our lives and where to place his blessings.
He doesn't want us to chew on hard rocks of flour. Our teeth weren't created for that.
Can you hear God whispering into your heart today? What is your response?
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