"Preach the Word,

I was with my wife at a public auction a while back when I saw a man that I had not seen in some time. I knew I knew the man, but I could not remember his name or from where I knew him.  As a pastor this is often very frustrating because I don't want to not seem forgetful or uncaring. I leaned over to my wife and asked, "Where do I know him from?" She didn't remember either. It kept bugging me throughout the whole auction and occassionally this man and I would make eye contact and it would seem that we both had the same frustation at recognizing each other but not certain why or from where. We all know how it feels to forget someone's name, and we all probably know how it feels to have our names forgotten! Neither one is a very good feeling-no one likes to be forgotten.

Here in Genesis, we read about the epic Flood that covered the entire earth and spared only one man and his family. Genesis 7:23 says, "And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark." So here was Noah and his family, alone with the animals in the ark, with nothing but water in sight. Verse 24 says the water covered the earth for 150 days (that's roughly 5 months!). Can you imagine being cooped up with the same people (even if it's your family) for that long? Keep in mind that Noah hadn't read the story of "Noah and the Ark"-he didn't know when this flood would end!

It would have been easy for Noah to think that God had forgotten him in this vast expanse of water. But then we read Genesis 8:1, "And God remembered Noah, and every living thing...." God had not forgotten his servant!

To remember someone implies that you knew them in the first place. God didn't just know Noah because He is omniscient; God knew Noah because the Bible says that "Noah walked with God." Walking with God, either literally or figuratively, means spending time with Him and having fellowship with Him. God knew Noah, and Noah knew God. So when the time of testing came, God "remembered" him. God was faithful.

What can we learn from this story? First, we can learn to be patient. When it seems that God's answer is nowhere to be seen, we must be patient. The Bible says in Hebrews 6:10, "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love...." Throughout the Scriptures, we are told to "wait on the Lord." God has not forgotten you. His character does not change, and He will be faithful, just as He has always been. So wait on Him.

Secondly, we can learn to trust in God. "Trusting in God" is an easy act when we know how He will work and how He will answer. It's easy to say, "I'm walking by faith," when you can see the steps plainly laid out. But, like Noah, when we cannot see God's plan, we must trust the Lord to do what we cannot.

Walking by faith is truly putting God's Word to the test when we cannot see the path before us. I believe Noah was able to trust God fully because he had spent time in fellowship with Him. He knew the faithful character of God, and he waited for God to work (more than 150 days!). Trust in God-He will remember you.   Oh, if you're wondering I did remember the man from having played basketball with him at the local YMCA last year.  We talked for awhile the next day when I had to pick-up the $46 worth of items I "won" (is it winning if you are the one who has to pay out?).  Anyway, we enjoyed a good chuckle at our temporary amnesia.  May God help us to remember that He always remembers!