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August 10, 2025 "An Ark In A Stormy World"
We've got the end of the story of Noah and the Ark. This will be a broad, sweeping retelling of the story starting in Genesis 6. This is a conventional divine judgment story. God looks at the state of humanity and has some regrets - decides it's time to wipe the whole thing out - system reboot - clean slate. God decides to do what nearly all Near Eastern deities do - start over.
But then, in Israel's story, something amazing happens. God has a change of heart. God notices Noah and his family and gets a little worried. In the middle of this horrific story we have a brand new and radical idea emerging in the ancient world: God isn't an angry tyrant who needs to be placated. God is more like a concerned parent - a father/mother grieving for a lost child.
In order for this new emerging idea about God to persist, Noah needs to survive. So God gives him an ark. God saves Noah. God makes a promise - never again will God flood the earth. And God gives the rainbow as a symbol. A rainbow. An upside-down symbol of violence. The symbol of violence is turned into a symbol of God's promise to love and care for all the earth - every living creature, for all generations. This is a radically inclusive promise.
But this story isn't just about God. It also tells the truth about us. If left alone, we're doomed. Not much has changed in thousands of years. We're still nasty, disobedient, and violent.
There's also the truth about the ark. God gives us the ark. We have an ark in a stormy world - and there are some crazy waves out there.
Let's remember the truth of the promise and the rainbow - God's promise to love and care for all the earth - through all generations. AND there's the truth about the symbol the rainbow foreshadows - the truth about the cross. It's another symbol of violence that Jesus turned into a symbol of God's grace and unconditional love for all of humanity. God's grace covers us and then God sends us out into the world with that same grace.
Speaker: Aaron Vis
Scripture: Genesis 9:8-17
http://bible.com/events/49476084
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By ReNew Ames
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We've got the end of the story of Noah and the Ark. This will be a broad, sweeping retelling of the story starting in Genesis 6. This is a conventional divine judgment story. God looks at the state of humanity and has some regrets - decides it's time to wipe the whole thing out - system reboot - clean slate. God decides to do what nearly all Near Eastern deities do - start over.
But then, in Israel's story, something amazing happens. God has a change of heart. God notices Noah and his family and gets a little worried. In the middle of this horrific story we have a brand new and radical idea emerging in the ancient world: God isn't an angry tyrant who needs to be placated. God is more like a concerned parent - a father/mother grieving for a lost child.
In order for this new emerging idea about God to persist, Noah needs to survive. So God gives him an ark. God saves Noah. God makes a promise - never again will God flood the earth. And God gives the rainbow as a symbol. A rainbow. An upside-down symbol of violence. The symbol of violence is turned into a symbol of God's promise to love and care for all the earth - every living creature, for all generations. This is a radically inclusive promise.
But this story isn't just about God. It also tells the truth about us. If left alone, we're doomed. Not much has changed in thousands of years. We're still nasty, disobedient, and violent.
There's also the truth about the ark. God gives us the ark. We have an ark in a stormy world - and there are some crazy waves out there.
Let's remember the truth of the promise and the rainbow - God's promise to love and care for all the earth - through all generations. AND there's the truth about the symbol the rainbow foreshadows - the truth about the cross. It's another symbol of violence that Jesus turned into a symbol of God's grace and unconditional love for all of humanity. God's grace covers us and then God sends us out into the world with that same grace.
Speaker: Aaron Vis
Scripture: Genesis 9:8-17
http://bible.com/events/49476084