The Only Thing That Matters: Week 8

Once Upon a Curse STUDY

This the LAST WEEK of our Bible Study series that accompanies my new book Once Upon a Curse. Disillusionment comes from a prideful understanding of wisdom. The solution to all of the curses lies outside of ourselves: only in the safety of God’s promise.

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All generations live under the curse of a defective world: the veiled struggle of good and evil, the curse of failing children, and the fear and taunting of death. Yet, sometimes it is not clear that this is the world that exists. Or that this is the world in which we attempt to navigate. It is unbelievable, sometimes, that this creation has been poisoned by sin, along with every man, woman, and child. But it is necessary to see, to know, to understand.

READ Genesis 6:5-7

What did God see in His cursed creation?

READ Genesis Genesis 6:17-20

What was God’s solution to the wickedness in his world?

It all began with only a few tiny drops from the heavens. Water that was meant to give life, suddenly overflowed and filled the earth, smothering the life it was meant to sustain. Here in the flood, God was sorry that He created. Everything must die.

But that was not the end of the story. Noah and his family were chosen to outlive this disaster. In the terror and safety of this flood there was an Ark. God had a plan that not one of them could have imagined. Nor could they have created it on their own. They had a chance at life, when life was undeserved. For all of them.

Eight souls in all, protected from the most destructive flood storm of the world. In the Ark. Undeserving, yet chosen.

READ Genesis 8:1

What did God finally do?

God remembered Noah, and his family. For life. They were not forgotten in the sea, in the storm, in the multitude, in the depths of death. God remembered, because He promised that He would.

The flood’s kingdom of death was promised an end. Thunder and the lightening, pouring swamping overwhelming waters. Anger and justice raining down from the heavens above. For forty days, to Noah and his family, eight souls in all, they endured the rain. Yet, God remembered His promise. He remembered His people. He concluded the judgment with His sure salvation.

READ Genesis 8:15-17

What How does this look like a “new creation”?

God gives life. He wants life for His creation. So when the waters subsided, after death overtook all of creation, He made a new creation. He wants His people to live. He wants His people to multiply. He wants His people to be what He created them to be.

READ Genesis 9:12-17

What is God’s promise?

Clearly, God is in control. When He moves His hand of protection and salvation to save His people. When He builds an ark to keep His people safe. One He puts a bow in the sky so that His people will remember, that He will always remember. He will always remember them.

God remembered then. But He also remembers even today. When He says something, He will do it. And it doesn’t have much to do with the sinner who receives this blessing. The action begins and ends with God. He is the one who gives life and takes it away. And so we listen to His Word and we trust His choices instead of relying on ourselves, incomplete failing sinners who do not deserve mercy.

READ 1 Peter 3:18-22

How does the Ark correspond to baptism?

God’s people are brought safely through water. And now you can take comfort, you who are gathered in the ark of God’s salvation. You can take comfort that you were washed and cleansed in baptism, possibly before you could ever speak for yourself. You can take comfort that God touches with promises. He always remember His promises.