Day Three: Genesis 7-9; Psalm 3; Matthew 3

Did you notice the interweaving of the two stories of the Great Flood?  It is especially noticeable at 7:6-16.  Were there seven pairs of each animal, clean and unclean, or two of each kind?  Guess what!  It doesn't matter.  The Great Flood is a prominent story in several cultures.

Here's what struck me this morning.  The flood lasted 40 days.  Jesus is in the wilderness 40 days before he begins his ministry.  We spend 40 days in Lent, preparing to turn/return to God as our center.  There's something about cleansing, restoring, and renewing in a 40 day timeframe.

Also, in Chapter 8:1-2, the same steps used to create in Chapter 1 (the wind blew, the waters drew back) happen here when flood is finally over---God is a God of Creation and Re-Creation.  What a hope-filled Truth!  As the Psalmist says, "the Lord sustains me."  So often I need God's re-creation in my life to sustain me....to help me to endure, to help me to go on and keep trying.

In Matthew, we have water opening as well---when Jesus comes up from the water---and the Holy Spirit descending.  Spirit in Greek and Hebrew also means "wind" or "breath"...so the same word would be used to describe a wind blowing over the water as the Holy Spirit descending.  Same elements here.  Re-creation/repentance/re-turning requires water to cleanse and the Holy Spirit to move and descend.  Hmmm, I'm going to chew on that today.