Tag Archives: ILMA ARTS STUDIO

GENESIS 8 GOD’S RESPONSE TO NOAH’S OFFERING

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November 13

GENESIS 8

20 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, “I will never again cursethe ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done. 22 While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.”– Genesis 8:20-22

GENESIS 8 GOD’S RESPONSE TO NOAH’S OFFERING

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

After God delivered Noah and his family in the flood

His response was to built an altar for the Lord

He got some of every clean animal and clean bird

And he burnt them to give it as an offering to God.

God was pleased when the fragrance of the offering reached him

His heart was touched and as a response to it, he gave a promise

He made a covenant with Noah that won’t curse the ground

He won’t blot out every living thing as he had done in the flood

What a great relief it was for Noah and his family to safely come out of the ark and have their feet touch the ground once again. We could witness Noah’s faithfulness to the Lord after they were delivered from the annihilation of living things. His heart is full of thanksgiving and so he built an altar to honor and show gratitude to his Master, Creator and Deliverer. Then he picked out the clean animals and birds without being told by God to do so. He did it out of his own thankfulness.

When the fragrance of the burnt offering reached God, he was very pleased and that act of gratitude of Noah made him vow not to destroy the ground and every living thing once again as he did in the flood. This is how important thanksgiving is to the Lord. He wants to be honored and praised for everything that he has done for us. It manifests our devotion and love for him, just like Noah did.

REFLECTION

  • What could we do to honor God since we no longer burn animals as offering?

GENESIS 8 WHEN NOAH GOT OUT OF THE ARK

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November 12

GENESIS 8

13 In the six hundred and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried from off the earth. And Noah removed the covering of the ark and looked, and behold, the face of the ground was dry. 14 In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth had dried out. 15 Then God said to Noah, 16 “Go out from the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons’ wives with you. 17 Bring out with you every living thing that is with you of all flesh—birds and animals and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth—that they may swarm on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth.” 18 So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him. 19 Every beast, every creeping thing, and every bird, everything that moves on the earth, went out by families from the ark.

                                                                    – Genesis 8:13-19

GENESIS 8 WHEN NOAH GOT OUT OF THE ARK

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

It was the first day of the first month of the six-hundred and first year

That the Lord God dried out the waters from off the earth

It took the second month of that year that it totally dried out

Noah was instructed by God that they can now come out of the ark.

He was to lead his entire family and every living thing to come out

And they all came out so that they can be fruitful and multiply

What a glorious day that was when they finally are back on earth

No more isolation in the ark amidst all that was destroyed by the flood.

That big flood that swept the entire mankind apart from Noah and his family finally ended and now they can come out of that ark that protected them from being blotted out on earth. It must have been a joyful day for Noah’s family to be out from that containment and isolation. But at the same time, that ark was also their sanctuary and shield against the destruction of evil on earth. I could imagine that they were also honored that the Lord God had chosen them to begin a new world with evil erased in the world and that design of the ark which God planned himself was for their safety and comfort.

REFLECTION

  • What would have happened if Noah didn’t follow all of God’s instructions?

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GENESIS 8 NOAH WITNESSES SIGNS OF LIFE ON EARTH AFTER FLOOD

November 11

GENESIS 8

6 At the end of forty days Noah opened the window of the ark that he had made 7 and sent forth a raven. It went to and fro until the waters were dried up from the earth. 8 Then he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters had subsided from the face of the ground. 9 But the dove found no place to set her foot, and she returned to him to the ark, for the waters were still on the face of the whole earth. So he put out his hand and took her and brought her into the ark with him. 10 He waited another seven days, and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark. 11 And the dove came back to him in the evening, and behold, in her mouth was a freshly plucked olive leaf. So Noah knew that the waters had subsided from the earth. 12 Then he waited another seven days and sent forth the dove, and she did not return to him anymore.  – Genesis 8:6-12

GENESIS 8 NOAH WITNESSES SIGNS OF LIFE ON EARTH AFTER FLOOD

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

After forty days, Noah opened the ark as he was instructed

He sent forth a raven to see if the waters have retreated

But unfortunately, it went back and forth so he knew it wasn’t dried yet

Then he sent a dove as well, and it returned to him in the ark again.

Noah waited another seven days and sent the dove out once more

That evening, the dove returned with an olive leaf in his mouth

That was the sign for Noah to know that life on earth was restored

He waited another seven days until the dove didn’t return anymore.

It must have been challenging to be inside the ark all those forty days and forty nights and be locked in those dark walls of the ark. Although, it must be pretty noisy and busy with all those animals around them. What irony it was that inside the ark was full of life and outside there were no living things. Amidst the isolation from other people that the family of Noah felt inside the ark, there was much life in the other animals, beasts, other crawling things and birds. It was dead all around the ark, but so much life inside the ark.

After waiting for the signs of life, Noah patiently followed God’s instruction. How many of us can patiently wait in this very noisy and distracted world we live in now?

REFLECTION

  • What can you surmise from this account about Noah’s character?

GENESIS 8 GOD REMEMBERED NOAH AS HE BLOTTED OUT LIFE

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November 10

GENESIS 8

But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided. 2 The fountains of the deep and the windows of the heavens were closed, the rain from the heavens was restrained, 3 and the waters receded from the earth continually. At the end of 150 days the waters had abated, 4 and in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat. 5 And the waters continued to abate until the tenth month; in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains were seen. – Genesis 8:1-5

GENESIS 8 GOD REMEMBERED NOAH AS HE BLOTTED OUT LIFE

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

As God poured his wrath on all living things on earth

He remembered Noah and everything with him in the ark

The wind followed when God commanded it to blow

He did this so that the waters will subside and go.

The waters eventually retreated after 150 days

Noah’s Ark landed and rested on Mount Ararat

Then the waters continued to subside until the tenth month

This is how the Lord extinguished wickedness on earth.

Can you picture these following verses in your mind? Can you see God’s majestic power as he earlier opened the heavens and had the rain poured down heavily to kill all living things? And now in these following verses, he also blew over the earth to bring wind to diminish the waters. Meanwhile, while all these events were happening, Noah and his family were all inside the ark, protected very well. Because of Noah’s righteousness, God delivered Noah and his family from the extinction of the rest of life on earth.

In this narrative of the visual manifestation of God’s wrath, power and majesty, we can all dwell on God’s hatred of sin and also focus on how he is in control of everything that he made. It is also good for us to always think that he can be easily angered by sin but also merciful and patient at the same time.

REFLECTION

  • Share an experience where God showed his anger on you at a time you sinned.

GENESIS 7 THE EXTINCTION OF LIVING THINGS ON EARTH

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November 9

GENESIS 7

17 The flood continued forty days on the earth. The waters increased and bore up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. 18 The waters prevailed and increased greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the face of the waters. 19 And the waters prevailed so mightily on the earth that all the high mountains under the whole heaven were covered. 20 The waters prevailed above the mountains, covering them fifteen cubitsdeep. 21 And all flesh died that moved on the earth, birds, livestock, beasts, all swarming creatures that swarm on the earth, and all mankind. 22 Everything on the dry land in whose nostrils was the breath of life died. 23 He blotted out every living thing that was on the face of the ground, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens. They were blotted out from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those who were with him in the ark. 24 And the waters prevailed on the earth 150 days. – Genesis 7:17-24

GENESIS 7 THE EXTINCTION OF LIVING THINGS ON EARTH

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

As the wrath of God continues over the corruption of man

The flood was non-stop for forty days above the ground

The waters were so mighty that it covered the highest mountains

Every living flesh died and extinguished all creatures and mankind.

The ark was the only thing that contained life inside it

And the Lord God made sure that they were unscathed

Noah and his family were the only righteous people in the land

Every living thing and human being died in that great big flood.

Let’s go back to Genesis 1:1-2 when the earth was without form and void and darkness was over the deep where God’s face was hovering over the waters. In this flood account, I have the same feeling that the whole earth was spiritually dark from wickedness and evil. Just like in the beginning God was watching over the darkness of the waters and during this flood, I somehow see the same vision that God was watching over the darkness (evil) in his created beings. When he said “Let there be light” at the start of creation, he did the same thing here as being the light shining on earth. He flooded wickedness and corruption and saved mankind through one man’s family. It was a foreshadowing of Jesus.

REFLECTION

  • What trait of God was depicted in the annihilation of living beings in this account?

GENESIS 7 NOAH’S FAMILY SHUT IN THE ARK

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November 8

GENESIS 7

11 In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the windows of the heavens were opened. 12 And rain fell upon the earth forty days and forty nights. 13 On the very same day Noah and his sons, Shem and Ham and Japheth, and Noah’s wife and the three wives of his sons with them entered the ark, 14 they and every beast, according to its kind, and all the livestock according to their kinds, and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, according to its kind, and every bird, according to its kind, every winged creature. 15 They went into the ark with Noah, two and two of all flesh in which there was the breath of life. 16 And those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him. And the Lord shut him in.

                                                                             – Genesis 7:11-16

GENESIS 7 NOAH’S FAMILY SHUT IN THE ARK

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

It was long preparation for Noah’s family before the flood came

But the Lord God ensured that all his plans be meticulously done

What a privilege and honor for Noah to have been chosen

They were all protected by God’s love to redo his corrupted creation.

Those years of building the ark proved Noah’s obedience

His faithful devotion manifests also his total submission

As soon as the ark was ready and all the creatures were inside

God shut the door and they were all protected and covered.

Can you imagine if you were one of those members of Noah’s family? They must have been ridiculed and laughed at while they were building the ark. But because they belong to the Lord and were chosen by him, they followed faithfully what was asked of them.

The amazing thing in this account is that the Lord shut them in that ark as he destroyed everything that had life on earth. They were spared from being blotted out.  Four couples were preserved by God to start a new beginning for his people. Nothing is impossible with God. He could have just destroyed everything and work from a blank slate, but he chose one righteous man and his family to redo mankind.

REFLECTION

  • Why should we completely trust God when we don’t know what’s to happen?

GENESIS 7 THE EARTH’S PURIFICATION

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November 7

GENESIS 7

Then the Lord said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation. 2 Take with you seven pairs of all clean animals, the male and his mate, and a pair of the animals that are not clean, the male and his mate, 3 and seven pairsof the birds of the heavens also, male and female, to keep their offspring alive on the face of all the earth. 4 For in seven days I will send rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and every living thing that I have made I will blot out from the face of the ground.” 5 And Noah did all that the Lord had commanded him.6 Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters came upon the earth. 7 And Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him went into the ark to escape the waters of the flood. 8 Of clean animals, and of animals that are not clean, and of birds, and of everything that creeps on the ground, 9 two and two, male and female, went into the ark with Noah, as God had commanded Noah. 10 And after seven days the waters of the flood came upon the earth. – Genesis 7:1-10

GENESIS 7 THE EARTH’S PURIFICATION

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

The Lord God prepared the righteous family of Noah for the flood

By the time Noah got ready for the flood, he was 600 years old

Before seven days to the rain, God instructed him to take in the animals

Seven pairs of all clean and seven pairs of unclean animals as well.

Because of the corruption and wickedness of humans, God will redo mankind

It will take God forty days and forty nights to destroy these created beings

But the Lord preserved all kinds of species to go inside the ark

The earth will be purified and cleansed from sin through blameless Noah.

There is one interesting verse that kept me wondering about the story of Noah’s ark. Verse 7 says that Noah was 600 years old when they were gathering all the animals just before the flood was to happen. In Genesis 6:32, it stated that he had his sons when he was 500 years old. Since his sons had their own wives here, I would surmise that it is probably between 50-75 years that he built the ark. The point I’m making is that God gave

Humans enough time to repent before the flood, yet they all laughed at Noah’s prophecy.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think God used 40 days and 40 nights for the flood to happen?

GENESIS 6 GOD’S COVENANT WITH NOAH

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November 6

GENESIS 6

18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. 19 And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ark to keep them alive with you. They shall be male and female. 20 Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, of every creeping thing of the ground, according to its kind, two of every sort shall come in to you to keep them alive. 21 Also take with you every sort of food that is eaten, and store it up. It shall serve as food for you and for them.” 22 Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.   – Genesis 6:18-22

GENESIS 6 GOD’S COVENANT WITH NOAH

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

After Noah finished the ark, the Lord made a covenant with him

He further gave him instructions to bring every living thing

Each of them by two of every kind and to keep them alive

They shall be male and female each of their kind.

The Lord God asked Noah to stock up food for all of them

Including all the animals and every creeping thing

And Noah followed everything that the Lord told him

It was an honor that God made a covenant with him.

It is such an amazing illustration when Noah was instructed to bring all the animals and all living creatures in pairs in the ark. In this account, we witness how obedient and faithful Noah was. He asked no questions. He trusted the Lord God even though he had no idea what and how God was going to go through with his plan. He was as meek as a lamb who followed where his shepherd took him. Noah is the epitome of blamelessness and obedience. He is a foreshadowing of Jesus, who was humble, obedient and completely trust his Father. It is very rare to find a person like Noah in our very corrupt world nowadays. Perhaps our world is almost going back to those days when everyone was so corrupt to a point where God will blot us out. But the Lord is so good that he gave us his Son, to save us from this world’s corruption and evil. Let us cling to our Lord and Savior and repent and turn away from sin.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think God chose Noah and made a covenant with him?

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GENESIS 6 GOD’S INSTRUCTION FOR THE ARK

November 5

GENESIS 6

14 Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch. 15 This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark 300 cubits, its breadth 50 cubits, and its height 30 cubits. 16 Make a rooffor the ark, and finish it to a cubit above, and set the door of the ark in its side. Make it with lower, second, and third decks. 17 For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die.

                                                                    – Genesis 6:14-17

GENESIS 6 GOD’S INSTRUCTION FOR THE ARK

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

When the Lord God saw evil surrounding the earth

He decided to blot out everything that has breath

But Noah and his family was spared of the wrath of God

Because of their blameless lives and devotion to the Lord.

Noah was given specific instructions to build the ark

It was to be made of a certain kind of wood

God also gave instructions how long and high it should be

For he wanted to ensure their safety during the big flood.

What an architect God is as depicted in this account of him giving Noah instructions for the ark! Even the material and measurements were specific and detailed. We have another glimpse of God’s creativity in his functional designing of this boat that would ensure the safety of Noah and his family and all the different animal and bird species that would go with them in the ark. Just as Moses narrates this instruction to Noah, he begins to follow through with God’s ingenious creativity from the creation account. God is a master planner and designer with utmost consideration for his masterpieces.

Can you imagine if Noah didn’t have an obedient nature and started arguing with God with the designing and building the ark? It would be a disaster just like we see in many cases when architects, clients and builders do not see eye to eye on a project they are doing. Noah was carefully selected by God to carry out his plan to blot out evil on earth.

REFLECTION

  • What amazes you with this following account on the instructions to build the ark?

GENESIS 6 BLAMELESS NOAH & HIS GENERATION

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November 4

GENESIS 6

9 These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. 10 And Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.11 Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. 13 And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth.   – Genesis 6:9-13

GENESIS 6 BLAMELESS NOAH & HIS GENERATION

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

God regretted having made man for they became so corrupt

He wanted to put an end to the evil that became so rampant

The Lord grieved over the sinfulness of those he made in his image

So, he planned to destroy this world that was so evil and twisted.

Noah was the only man who was uncorrupted and blameless

God found hope in restoring mankind through his righteous heart

The Lord will destroy the wicked world that it had become

Noah’s family would be the hope for a new world to come.

In this account, God focused on one man who was the only one who remained faithful in the original image that he created. Though Noah was not sinless, he and his family led a life of praise and worship to the Lord. Here, we are given a glimpse of the merciful nature of God. Despite all the evil going on in the world, he would use one single family to re-do what damage was done to his original plan in creation.

Like a virtuoso in art, God would not stop at doing everything to perfect and re-make whatever it takes if something goes wrong with his masterpiece. He found just one person to build up a world that has gone awry. The Lord God used one blameless person to start again his original purpose for mankind and his entire creation.

REFLECTION