Faith, Expectation, and Divine Guidance: Lessons from Noah

 

Summary

In reflecting on the story of Noah and the dove from Genesis 8:9, we are reminded of the profound lessons of faith, expectation, and divine guidance. Noah's unwavering faith in God's promise is a testament to the power of expectation. He believed that God would not leave him and the creatures in the ark to perish, and this belief led him to actively look for signs of God's fulfillment of His promise. This teaches us that true faith is not passive; it actively looks for God's hand at work in our lives. Just as Noah sent out the dove to find dry land, we too must send out our "doves" of faith, looking for the blessings and answers to our prayers.

The narrative also highlights the importance of waiting on God's timing. Even when Noah had evidence that the earth was drying, he did not leave the ark until God opened the door. This is a powerful reminder that while we gather information and make plans, we must ultimately wait for God's guidance and timing. Trusting in God's providence means allowing Him to lead us, even when the path seems unclear.

Furthermore, the story of the dove returning to the ark symbolizes the restlessness of our souls when we stray from God. Like the dove, we find no true rest in the world until we return to our divine source. This return is always met with open arms, as God is ever ready to receive us back, no matter how far we have wandered.

Lastly, the call to action is clear: as followers of Christ, we are to look out for others, extending a hand to those who are lost or weary. Just as Noah reached out to the dove, we are to reach out to those around us, offering them the hope and rest found in Christ.

Key Takeaways:

1. Active Faith and Expectation: True faith is characterized by an active expectation of God's promises. Like Noah, we must look for signs of God's work in our lives, believing that He will fulfill His promises. Faith is not passive; it requires us to open the windows of our lives and look out for God's blessings. [01:40]

2. Waiting on God's Timing: Even when we have evidence that our circumstances are changing, we must wait for God's timing. Noah did not leave the ark until God opened the door, teaching us the importance of patience and trust in divine timing. [03:41]

3. Restlessness Without God: Our souls find no true rest in the world until we return to God. Like the dove, we may wander, but we will always be restless until we find our way back to our divine source. God's arms are always open to receive us back. [08:57]

4. God's Readiness to Receive Us: No matter how far we have strayed, God is always ready to receive us back. The story of the dove returning to the ark is a powerful reminder of God's infinite mercy and willingness to welcome us home. [09:14]

5. Reaching Out to Others: As followers of Christ, we are called to reach out to those who are lost or weary. Just as Noah reached out to the dove, we must extend a hand to those around us, offering them the hope and rest found in Christ. [25:55]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:12] - The Weary Dove's Return
- [00:35] - Noah's Faith and Expectation
- [01:08] - The Story of Expectant Faith
- [01:58] - The Importance of Expectation
- [02:34] - Sending Out the Dove
- [03:10] - Waiting on God's Timing
- [03:58] - Trusting in Divine Guidance
- [05:08] - The Raven and the Dove
- [06:28] - God Receives His Servants
- [07:18] - Restlessness Without God
- [08:57] - Returning to God
- [10:23] - The World's Inadequacy
- [12:08] - Resting in Christ
- [25:55] - Reaching Out to Others

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Genesis 8:9

Observation Questions:
1. What actions did Noah take to demonstrate his faith and expectation in God's promise? [00:35]
2. How did Noah respond when the dove returned without finding a resting place? [05:58]
3. What does the dove's return to the ark symbolize in the context of the sermon? [08:57]
4. How does the sermon describe the way God receives those who return to Him? [09:14]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Noah's act of sending out the dove reflect the nature of active faith and expectation? [01:40]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that waiting on God's timing can be challenging, yet necessary? [03:41]
3. What does the sermon imply about the restlessness of our souls when we stray from God? [08:57]
4. How does the sermon illustrate God's readiness to receive us back, regardless of how far we have strayed? [09:14]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you actively looked for signs of God's work in your life. How did that experience shape your faith? [01:40]
2. Are there areas in your life where you find it difficult to wait for God's timing? How can you practice patience and trust in those situations? [03:41]
3. When have you felt restless or unfulfilled in your spiritual journey? What steps can you take to return to God and find true rest? [08:57]
4. How can you extend a hand to someone who is lost or weary, offering them hope and rest in Christ? [25:55]
5. Consider a person in your life who may have strayed from their faith. How can you be a source of encouragement and support for their return to God? [09:14]
6. What practical steps can you take to ensure that your faith remains active and expectant, rather than passive? [01:40]
7. How can you create a habit of looking out for others in your community, similar to how Noah reached out to the dove? [25:55]

Devotional

Day 1: Active Faith in Action
True faith is not a passive state of belief but an active engagement with God's promises. Noah's story exemplifies this as he sent out the dove, actively seeking signs of God's fulfillment of His promise. This act of sending out the dove was not just a test of the environment but a demonstration of Noah's expectation that God would act. In our lives, we are called to open the windows of our hearts and look for God's blessings, trusting that He is at work even when we cannot see the full picture. This active faith requires us to be vigilant and hopeful, expecting God's hand to move in our circumstances. [01:40]

Hebrews 11:7 (ESV): "By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith."

Reflection: What is one area in your life where you can actively look for God's work today? How can you open the "windows" of your life to see His blessings?


Day 2: Trusting in Divine Timing
The story of Noah teaches us the importance of waiting on God's timing. Even when Noah saw evidence that the earth was drying, he did not leave the ark until God instructed him to do so. This patience and trust in divine timing are crucial for our spiritual journey. We often gather information and make plans, but true faith requires us to wait for God's guidance. Trusting in God's providence means allowing Him to lead us, even when the path seems unclear. It is a reminder that God's timing is perfect, and our role is to be patient and trust in His plan. [03:41]

Ecclesiastes 3:11 (ESV): "He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end."

Reflection: Is there a situation in your life where you are struggling to wait for God's timing? How can you practice patience and trust in His perfect plan today?


Day 3: Restlessness Without God
The narrative of the dove returning to the ark symbolizes the restlessness of our souls when we stray from God. Just as the dove found no rest until it returned to Noah, our souls find no true peace until we return to our divine source. This restlessness is a reminder that the world cannot satisfy our deepest longings. Only in God do we find true rest and fulfillment. No matter how far we wander, God's arms are always open to receive us back, offering us the peace and rest we seek. [08:57]

Psalm 62:1-2 (ESV): "For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken."

Reflection: In what ways have you experienced restlessness in your life? How can you intentionally return to God today to find the rest your soul seeks?


Day 4: God's Unfailing Welcome
No matter how far we have strayed, God is always ready to receive us back. The story of the dove returning to the ark is a powerful reminder of God's infinite mercy and willingness to welcome us home. This assurance of God's readiness to receive us should encourage us to approach Him with confidence, knowing that His love is unwavering. It is a call to return to God, no matter our past mistakes or how far we have wandered. His grace is sufficient, and His arms are always open to welcome us back into His presence. [09:14]

Isaiah 55:7 (ESV): "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."

Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you feel distant from God? How can you take a step towards returning to Him today, trusting in His unfailing welcome?


Day 5: Extending Hope to Others
As followers of Christ, we are called to reach out to those who are lost or weary, offering them the hope and rest found in Christ. Just as Noah reached out to the dove, we must extend a hand to those around us, sharing the love and grace we have received. This call to action is a reminder that our faith is not just for ourselves but is meant to be shared with others. By reaching out, we become conduits of God's love, bringing hope and encouragement to those in need. [25:55]

Galatians 6:2 (ESV): "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

Reflection: Who in your life is in need of hope and encouragement today? How can you extend a hand to them, offering the love and rest found in Christ?

Quotes

Noah knew that God would in due time let him out of the Ark he was quite sure that the Lord had not put him into the ark to make a great coffin of it that he and all those living creatures that went in with him should perish there and because he believed in God therefore he removed the covering of the Ark and looked abroad expecting by and by to see not only the tops of the mountains but also dry and green earth once more true Faith often goes to the window if your faith turns her face to the wall and expects nothing I do not think it is genuine faith faith has eyes and therefore she looks a far off and she often watches as the Watchman of the night looks for the gray dawn of the morning. [00:32:48]

Having prayed and having believed let us expect let us open the window and look out God never failed an expectant people yet but a great many of his people fail to expect and if you do not expect you are not likely to receive David said my soul wait thou only upon God for my expectation is from him and when your expectation is from him it will not be disappointed it is a great pity when we keep the shutters up so that we cannot look out of the window to see the dry land next because Noah expected the Earth to be dry he sent out the Raven and when the Raven did not answer to his purpose he sent out the dove after the Dove came back with no Tidings he waited 7 days and then sent her out again and when she returned with only an olive leaf in her mouth he waited seven days more and then sent her out again oh dear friends often send out your doves be looking out for blessings you have asked for them God has promised to give them send out your doves to see whether the blessings are not there and if you do so constantly and perseveringly verily I say unto you you shall have your reward. [01:40:32]

Still notice that Noah when he had the best evidence that he could get that the Earth was dry did not dare go out of the Ark till God opened the door so gather all the information you possibly can about your position and act according to the rules of common sense but after you have done that still wait upon God when you know from your Ravens and your doves that the Earth is getting dry do not come out till he that shut the door opens it for you dear people of God I wish that we had more of that old habit of looking to Providence we have become so wise nowadays that we do not require the fiery cloudy pillar we run without Divine guidance but Mark you we often have to run back again we are guests at the table of Providence and if we will let God carve for us our plate will always have a sufficiency on it but if we get carving for ourselves we shall cut our fingers and not cut much else and we shall have great cause to be ashamed that instead of trusting God we took to trusting ourselves do not trust your Raven do not trust your Dove trust your God and if you go where he guides you you will go the right way even if it should be a rough way and you will have to say surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. [03:12:00]

Now if you are one of Christ's doves you will never rest till you go back to him time was when you could have found pleasure in the ways of sin but you cannot do so now you may try to find it but you cannot when you were a raven you might have done so but now that the Holy Spirit has made a dove of you you are spoiled for the Raven's ways when a true child of God wanders into sin at any time and goes back to the old haunts he thinks to himself I used to enjoy myself in this place of amusement I used to make Merry with such and such company the pipe and the bowl were once like heaven on Earth to me but now he says I do not know how it is but these things seem so vapid so empty there is not the life there is not the vivacity about them that I knew in my younger days it seems to be all a mere Hollow sham now ah my friend it is not those things that have altered it is you that the grace of God has changed if God means you to live in heaven you shall never find your heaven in this world if he has chosen you to be his and means you to be his and has put his Spirit within you you must be always Restless till you come back and find rest in him. [07:22:40]

Oh bird of the weary Wing he is not weary of you oh bird of the wet Wing that has been soiled in the filthy flood he will not reject you he washed you once he will wash you yet again he waiteth to be gracious Jesus loves to receive backsliders it is the joy of his heart not only to make a sheep out of a goat but to find one of his sheep that has gone astray not only to adopt a stranger into his family but to restore the prodigal son that is the meaning of that Parable it is the backsliders parable oh that you would understand it and know that the infinite mercy of God is as ready to receive a returning backslider as Noah was to receive his wandering Dove. [09:15:20]

Our report is that there is nothing in the world upon which we can rest the soul of our foot the world is said to be progressing advancing improving but we cannot Discover it the same sin the same filthiness the same universally abounding unbelief that our fathers complained of we are obliged to complain of still and we are we we with the world weary with the 19th century and all its boasted civilization there is nothing upon which the soul of our foot can rest what if the church asks one well look at the church too there is nothing to rest on there there is much for which to be thankful but there is nothing that can content a spirit that seeks after truth and Holiness I speak what I do know for with weary Wings have I fled across the waters and with anxious eye have I scanned The Horizon but there is no place of rest for the soul of my foot what then what then is the servant of God weary with his flight see what Noah did to the dove for this is what the Lord will do to his servant he put forth his hand and took her and pulled her in unto him into the ark oh dear dear child of God if thou can not rest in the church thou can rest in Christ if thou can not rest in the world thou can rest in the Lord he pulled her in unto him it is a delicious sensation to get away from all men and all things to Christ himself he never seems so sweet as when all else is bitter he never appears so substantial as when all else melts before you he pulled her in unto him she had done her work she had taken her flight she had made her investigation now she has come back and she is in his bosom he pulled her in unto him may that be the portion of all my dear friends in Christ who at this time feel heavy about the signs of the Times May the Lord draw you into nearer dearer sweeter fellowship with himself than you have ever enjoyed before and this will be your best reward. [10:39:20]

I do not know how Noah caught his Dove whether by the wings or the legs or the neck but he did catch her and pulled her into the ark now try if you can to lay hold of a soul for Christ get a firm grip on it this is not child's play he that can catch doves with his hand is a wise man and he that would win souls must be wise try to catch Souls if you can but do it gently remember that they are doves and therefore be very tender and very gentle with them but being doves they are apt to fly away therefore hold them fast and do not let them go perhaps they will not like you to touch them never mind that go on as mildly and lovingly as you can yet do seek to give them a pull and do not rest until they are with you in the ark that is to say till they are in Christ till they are trusting him till they are resting in him till his precious blood has washed them and they are saved as you trust you are. [29:05:20]

I do not think that we are half Earnest enough in dealing with our fellow men I remember a young man who when dying said to his brother I'm afraid I am lost my brother and I cannot help saying to you why were you not more Earnest about my salvation his elder brother answered John I have spoken to you once or twice about your soul once or twice replied the other you ought to have been always at me well but I did frequently speak to you about Divine things but said he if you knew that I was perishing why did you not shake me why did you not do something unusual with me why did you not weep over me why did you not force me to think my soul is lost and you have shown but very little care about it perhaps that was a very hard thing to say and an unkind thing and a self excusing thing but do you not think that some people might say that of you and of me we have never been Earnest enough in seeking the salvation of their souls. [30:18:40]

Oh that we were as Earnest about The Souls of men as we can sometimes be about their bodies do try then you who love the Lord to pull them in even as Noah pulled the dove in unto himself into the ark I leave the text with you when I cannot preach I always wish that all of you may be preaching if the preacher seems to speak feebly take up what he has said and work at it and go and do better with it and if you will do so it will be better than if I alone had done better the Lord bless you for Jesus Christ's sake amen. [32:14:00]

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Transcript
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