LESSONS FROM THE SHUT-IN

If you are reading this blog, you probably also read the story of Noah but have you stopped to consider the many lessons that can be learned from Noah’s time in the ark. Let me first remind you of his story and then share some things that I noted about his time in the ark.

The story of Noah is found in Genesis 6 – Genesis 9, and it opens, revealing that God was not pleased with His creation. Genesis 6:5-7 states, “ And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.” Just reading these verses makes me wonder in the present lawless, corrupt state that our world is in, how is God feeling toward us?

Fortunately, there was a man named Noah that had a relationship with God, and God decided to save this man and his family from the destruction that He was going to mete out on the earth. God gave Noah specific instructions on building an ark of gopher wood. He gave him the length and width of it, which is equivalent to 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. There were to be rooms, three stories, one window, and one side door. It took Noah over 100 years to complete this task, but he did it according to all that God commanded.

God told Noah the purpose of the ark was to save him, his family, animals, fowls, and creeping things that would accompany him from the floods that would destroy all of the earth inhabitants. Additionally, God told Noah to gather food and take on the ark to feed his family and all the animals that accompanied them.

After the completion of the ark and seven days before the flood started Noah took of every kind: seven clean male and female beast, two unclean male and female beast, seven male and female fowls, and two of every creeping creature into the ark. When all was securely in the ark, God shut the door and caused it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights, and every living thing that He made that was not in the ark were destroyed from off the face of the earth.

The Bible informs us the waters prevailed upon the earth a hundred and fifty days, and then it began to decrease on the earth. Furthermore, Genesis 8:13-17 states, “And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry. And in the second month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, was the earth dried. And God spake unto Noah, saying, Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons’ wives with thee. Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth” So Noah and the inhabitants of the ark had remained in it for one year and seventeen days because Genesis 7:11 previously stated, “In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.”

Now that I recapitulated the story of Noah let me share with you lessons on the shut-in, but allow me to begin by stressing obedience to God’s instruction is vital for your survival. No matter how detailed or long it might be, follow God’s instruction. Your obedience to God will not only benefit you but your family. Additionally, God will give you the strength, skills, and guidance to complete your assignment.

Now to the cruxes of this blog; lessons and expectations of a shut-in:
1. Before a shut-in God will give you the logistics.
2. God allowed Noah to build the object that saved him from pending destruction. What are you building now that will save you in the future?
3. View your shut-in as a place of refuge
4. A shut-in requires sacrifice.
5. A shut-in requires leaving people, places, and things.
6. God may place others in the shut-in with you. Noah’s family accompanied him, and at the appointed time, God sent the exact amount of animals, fowls and creeping things to go into the ark.
7. Shut-in entails a period of pressurization and obscurity.
8. In a shut-in, the conditions may not be convenient or pleasant.
9. As things are release in the shut-in, it will become stinky.
10. Things may not be smooth in the shut-in, expect movement
11. There is an atmosphere of peace in a shut-in. (There was no conflict between the humans, nor animals)
12. A shut-in provides protection from the storm which is raging on the outside.
13. As days pass in a shut-in, you will be elevated.
14. In the shut-in, God will feed you. (God did not tell Noah how long he would be in the ark nor how much food to take into the ark. God allowed the food not spoil and to last for the whole time; He is a provider.
15. Don’t leave the shut-in until God says, “Go forth.”

Finally, I want to close with these two nuggets. First, today’s preparation prepares you for tomorrow’s opportunity. Secondly, when Noah and his family came out of the ark, the first thing that he did was build an altar. When you come out of your shut-in, don’t forget to build your altar.