so, the transcription continues. beth’s cartridge pens don’t work, so i’m ink bottle bound for the time being…but i still enjoy the feel of it, and the time it takes to do it right. it forces me to look at each word, and you cannot go solely by memory, or try to multitask when doing this. i had one instance of it today where i was trying to get my music started back up, and wrote a line out twice…so, lesson learned.

today, in genesis 9, God makes His covenant not to flood the earth again. and i really felt the attitude of a parent who knew they had to discipline their children, but really was hurt in the process themselves, as well. God tells noah and his family about the terms and conditions of this covenant in a way that sounds like a parent talking to a scared child. “now, when it clouds up again next time, or if it starts to rain, don’t get scared. I’ll put my sign up for you to remind you and Me both that there won’t be any more global floods.”

God doesn’t say this to patronize, but to soothe, comfort and reassure. These 8 people just survived the biggest natural catyclysm ever in human history. this is their debriefing, and counseling. they are being brought back to some sense of normalcy, and God is taking the time to love them back to that point. His covenant isn’t just for show, He didn’t make it just to help them feel better for the moment. In other words, this wasn’t a sucker on the left to distract from the shot in the arm on the right. God’s covenant is based in truth and love for His people. He did not enjoy the flood, but justice dictated that it take place. In His kindness, much like in the Garden of Eden, He would not allow us to wallow forever in our own filth.

So, the earth is cleansed. those who now populate it are dedicated to Him and His purposes, and have witnessed firsthand God’s desire for personal purity. the cornerstone to build from has been set. but then noah doesn’t take long to knock it off from square. i doubt many of us would fare much better or much longer. but as if to remind us taht noah was indeed human, God rrecounts to Moses the incedent that followed after the first crop of grapes. noah’s weakness shows through, and his humanity is exposed to us, just as his nakedness was to his son, Ham.

we are kept from sticking him up on some pedestal of near-diety or of unattainable piety. noah is a dude like me, and even though he was counted as righteous when no one else was, he still faltered from time to time, and lashed out in anger. that isn’t to comfort us in our sin, but to spur us on to stand out from the world as he did. knowing full well that our stumbling times will come, and our pride will be stemmed if we don’t remember.

as i sit here and listen to brian setzer sing jingle bells, i’m reminded that this is a prime time of year to remember our humanity and shame. God sent his Son to save us from a greater destructive force than all the power of the great flood. our own sin. it was the cause of the flood and the banishment from paradise in the first place. so today, i will continue my thankful attitude from last week, but this time for the salvation of my very life.