Movin' With the Noah Family

I often reflect on the many moves that define my life. Recently I read the story of Noah and, in a strange sort of way, began to compare some of my moves with the incredibly miraculous move made by the Noah family.

You might want to take a few minutes to read the story of how Mr. and Mrs. Noah and family made a move like none other ever recorded in history! Their story begins in Genesis. Read chapters 6 - 9:17

I wonder if Mrs. Noah’s reaction could have been compred to my reacions when my husband announced that moving day was on its way. After his evaluation he had been given a new assignment. The higher ups told him to prepare for a move. I wonder if Mrs. Noah was surprised when she found out that God was evaluating the human race and her husband had been given a new assignment? Who did she blame for the unexpected and unwelcome relocation? Did she encourage Noah to discuss the issues or did she deny that changes were on the way? Did she have to defend Noah’s actions to her extended family and neighbors? Did she run to her mother crying and grumbling? Was she convinced that he was making the right decision or did she doubt his new-found passion? How did she prepare for a move that would change the course of human history forever?

Did Mrs. Noah know that her husband was being offered a promotion? Did she congratulate him for being the most righteous? Did she set her concerns and emotions aside and celebrate her husband's standing with the Lord and within the community? Did she ask to stay behind for awhile until she was ready to move? Did she realize that this move was God's provision--a sea rescue like none other?

I've learned that God's moves in my life came at just the right time. He's taken me out of situations that would have compromised me. He has kept me from having to make uncomfortable choices. He has removed me from unhappny circumstances. Looking back and talking with friends helped me realize, "God's plans are indeed best."

It seems to me that Noah’s wife had no say in this move. What was she doing while her husband was preparing for this massive move? I know how I have reacted as I faced certain relocations. I have supported and discouraged. I have doubted and anticipated. I have led the way and followed. There have been times when I was completely involved in the moving decisions. Other times I had no say. There were no options.

One of the greatest mistakes my husband and I ever made was to consider a move, interview, and accept a new position without ever discussing the future possibilities with our sons. They were stunned, shocked, and saddened when we shared the news with them. They were also hurt. Although we invited them to help find a house and tried to include them in other decisions, it was too late. They had been left out of the most important phase of the move.

When Mrs. Noah knew it was time to pack, did she trust her husband’s judgment? Everyone must have ridiculed him. The questions they asked would have been difficult to answer. “What is this thing your husband is building? What is its purpose? Why is he wasting his time doing this when he should be planting? Your family has become strange, Mrs. Noah. What are you going to do about it? ” Did the neighbors ask her if her husband was crazy. Did his family ask why she was encouraging him?

I have had to answer similar questions. "Why do you move so much. I wouldn't put up with it! Tell him to get a new job. Tell him to say, 'no'!"

I’ll bet Mrs. Noah knew her husband walked with the Lord. She trusted her husband. She came along side him and together the family prepared for the move of the millennium.

Did Noah’s family have any idea what their move was going to be like? Did they realize the disaster they were facing?

I often compare a move to a disaster. The flood waters rise, taking everything away. I panic, knowing I am facing an unknown future. I fear what I cannot control and the dam breaks. Suddenly everything I knew to be stable is gone. I lose my house, my possessions, my neighbors. Depending on the distance of the move, I spend days in a daze. When I “land” nothing is familiar. Praise God I still have a husband and my children are with me.

The last time we moved, our older son didn't join us. He had graduated from high school and chose to stay behind. It seems we lost him in the moving disaster! It was like a death in the family. Our new friends didn’t know him so he was a non-existent entity in our new community. He wasn’t a member in our new church. Now there were three places set at the taable instead of four. It took a long time to adjust after the disaster.

After floating for weeks the Noah family finally landed where God had preordained. The door opened and everyone filed out to begin a new existence. Noah went to work and the family set up housekeeping. I am sure they never forgot their experience. God had picked up this family of eight and changed their lives radically.

My family is a lot like Noah's. We pack. We move. We land. My husband goes to work. I stay behind to get the house in order. After one such move in the spring, I spent a rainy day inside unpacking boxes. After a break for lunch my toddler and I took a long cozy nap. Bright sunshine met us as we yawned and welcomed the afternoon. Looking out the window to admire the long awaited sunshine we noticed a huge rainbow in our front yard. There we stood side by side, mother and son, taking in the miracle of the rainbow.

We had survived the upheaval. Now it was time to step out onto new territory.

Where ever God has brought you, take comfort. He has a plan. He is in the business of moving us, moving us because He doesn't want us to get too comfortable!

Want to be entertained by Noah's story, Cosby, and God? Go to this site: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zyc1315KawQ
Prepare to laugh until your belly hurts! Enjoy...