I can still picture it. A boat with a bunch of cute little animals smiling, decorated in every pastel shade, with a rainbow. (Can’t forget the rainbow.) From my Sunday school classes and vacation bible school at the small Covenant Church in Marinette, Wisconsin, to the nursery I designed for our first daughter – Noah’s ark was among one of my favorite “stories” of the bible. Fast forward to today and I read the story of Noah in an entirely new way.

One of the first things that I am fascinated by is that God chose Noah and his family because they were found righteous. It’s hard for me to fathom that from the Garden of Eden until Noah lived to the ripe (young) age of 600, that sin dominated the earth. Can you imagine what it would have been like to be Noah? At least I get to plug into a bible study, call a girlfriend, listen to a “Focus on the Family” Podcast, or dial in to my favorite Christian artists on Christian Radio. Noah had to be one awesome spiritual leader for his family for all of them to have been found righteous with God. Way to go Noah!

I guess my take away from Genesis chapter 7 is that no matter how bad the world gets and how God keeps getting pushed out of our courtrooms, schools and public buildings, we have a much greater opportunity to remain connected, reminded, reassured, and confident in our relationship with God. We are so blessed.