Tag Archives: Poem devotional

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?

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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 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?

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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

GENESIS 6 GOD’S REGRET & GRIEF OVER MAN’S WICKEDNESS

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November 3

GENESIS 6

When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them,

2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose. 3 Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not abide inman forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” 4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown. 5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

6 And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. 7 So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. – Genesis 6:1-8

GENESIS 6 GOD’S REGRET & GRIEF OVER MAN’S WICKEDNESS

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

As humans grew after the fall of Adam and Eve, the curse continues

The Lord God regretted creating man for he progressed in wickedness

But He was also grieving over the image he placed on them that was defiled

Sin changed that make that God created and corrupted his mind and heart.

The Lord couldn’t bear living with man as he watched them wallow in sin

He created them so that he can walk with them, but they never did

Except for one man named Noah, who found favor in God’s eyes

The Lord decided to annihilate mankind and cleanse the world of evil.

In verses 7, we hear a God who regrets and grieves over his own creation. It is beyond my mind how a God who is in control can be affected by man’s wickedness. It only shows God’s righteousness and hatred for evil. Only someone who loves can grieve over the death of righteousness and the proliferation of evil. Can you imagine how you would feel if you created something and that thing tried to destroy your original purpose for making them? I think, we would go berserk and mad and destroy that thing we made, wouldn’t you?

REFLECTION

  • What are your thoughts on God’s decision to blot out mankind in this chapter?

GENESIS 4 MORE DESCENDANTS FOR ADAM & EVE

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October 31

GENESIS 4

17 Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. When he built a city, he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch. 18 To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech. 19 And Lamech took two wives. The name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. 20 Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. 22 Zillah also bore Tubal-cain; he was the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.23 Lamech said to his wives: “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say: I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me.24 If Cain’s revenge is sevenfold, then Lamech’s is seventy-sevenfold.”25 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.” 26 To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord. – Genesis 4:17-26

GENESIS 4 MORE DESCENDANTS FOR ADAM & EVE

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

When Cain left Eden and settled in the land of Nod

He bore Enoch and also built a city which ha named after his son

Enoch bore Irad and then Mehujael fathered Methushael

Lamech was born from Methushael and his wife

Lamech had two wives and one of them gave him Jabal and Jubal

While the other wife gave birth to Tubal-cain and daughter, Naamah

At this time Eve gave birth to another son, Seth who also bore Enosh

This was the beginning of people calling upon the name of the Lord.

It is interesting to hear an account of the first people after Cain and Abel and what the aftermath of Cain’s murder brought about.  Humans were multiplying in number and yet the aftermath of Cain’s murder of Abel is being carried out to his descendants. The sinful nature is passed on to his children.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think genealogies are included in the bible?
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GENESIS 4 THE FIRST OFFSPRINGS

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October 29

GENESIS 4

Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gottena man with the help of the Lord.” 2 And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. 3 In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. 6 The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted?  And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”  – Genesis 4:1-7

GENESIS 4 THE FIRST OFFSPRINGS

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

After Adam and Eve were oust in the garden of Eden

They bore their first offsprings: Cain and Abel

Abel was a shepherd and Cain worked tending the land in agriculture

They both gave God an offering from the fruit of their labor.

Abel chose the best of his sheep to offer to the Lord

But Cain just took his harvest without even selecting the best

As a result, the Lord rejected Cain’s offering which made him mad

But God received Abel’s well selected the first born of his flock.

In the following account, we witness the birth of Eve and Adam’s first children, Cain and Abel. One tended sheep and the other cultivated the field. They both gave an offering to the Lord, but interestingly, God only accepted Abel’s offering. If you don’t know the character of God, you will not understand why God had preference as to which offering to accept. But if you know that God is the Creator and Maker of all things and deserves all the honor and the best of what you have received from him, then you will understand why the Lord rejected Cain’s offering. When Cain didn’t care to give the best to God, he didn’t honor the Lord with what he received. God doesn’t need anything, but Abel’s act of selecting the best for the offering manifests his love and honor and praise for God.

REFLECTION

  • Why is it important for us to offer to the Lord our best harvest from our work?