"Rise and Shine"
a condensed version of the sermon delivered by Rev. Kirk Moore on Sunday, June 1, 2008 at Union Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, in Somonauk, Illinois.

PODCAST of "Rise and Shine" (coming soon)

Really? We're talking about Noah? Why are we doing that? What can you do with the story of Noah’s ark? This week's Bible study covers Genesis 6:9-22; 7:24; 8:14-19.

As viewed by some, Noah's ark is a historical reality. The whole world was corrupt and then God sent a massive flood and everyone except for Noah, Noah’s family, and a pair of each of the animals that walked on the Earth was killed. Then when everything dried up they started over. And the whole world again became corrupt.

As viewed by others, it’s an ancient epic tale that recounts some kind of massive flood. We find ancient flood tales in other holy writings. The Koran recounts the story of this very same Noah. Hindu scripture tells a similar tale about one called Manu. Greek Mythology tells of Deucalion who was saved when Zeus destroyed the world by flood. The Epic of Gilgamesh tells a very similar story where Utnapishtim is saved when the world is flooded. And Utnapishtim’s story comes from another story – The Epic of Atrahasis – recounting a very similar flood epic. That epic probably comes from another – Eridu Genesis – where the hero, Ziudsura, is saved from a massive flood. There are many flood stories that come from many cultures all over the globe. Science has attempted to understand the origins and several theories, some suggesting an ancient Tsunami, others that suggest glacier melt from the ending ice age.

Both of these views try to understand the origins of the story of Noah’s Ark. How about the theological questions, though?

Why is Noah’s Ark in the Bible? What does it have to teach us? What can we learn from Noah’s Ark?

• Is it about faith and following God?
• Is it about the continuing story of the Bible where God creates, we mess up and God creates and we mess up . . . ?
• Is it about judgment for any who don’t listen to God?
• Is it only a story to provide for children’s songs and fun wallpaper for children’s rooms?
• Is it about God providing a fresh start when we’ve continually failed?

Some look at the Noah story and see how living a faithful life earns God’s favor. But that doesn’t fit well with one of the basic beliefs of Christianity – we don’t earn God’s favor. We can’t earn God’s salvation – it is only by God’s grace that we have any hope at all.

Others look at the Noah story and see God’s grace at work. Though the world was falling further and further into destruction and a flood was coming, God told Noah to build an ark. Nobody else got onto the Ark – instead they ridiculed Noah and family. But the account of any invitation from God or from Noah isn’t in the reading we had today or anywhere around it. That thought comes from a book near the end of the New Testament – 1 Peter 3:20b: God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. All we really have in this story is that God planned to "make an end of all flesh."

That brings about another perspective. Some see the Noah story as one of pure vengeance on God’s part. No grace or second chances. (Except for Noah and family) Statements like, "How could a God that would do that be a God of love?"

I can certainly see that.

I can’t do justice to all of these perspectives or even tell you which one you should believe. I do believe, from seeing the continuing pattern of the Bible – even in the Noah story (if I look at it from the saving grace perspective) that God creates. We mess things up and God finds a way to reconcile humanity. I think the Noah story fits into that overall story of God and humanity. Taken by itself, though, it is a frightening story.

But instead of leaving you with confusion, anger and other thoughts to contemplate, I want to change directions and focus on this man – called a prophet in Islam and revered as the 10trh of the ten antediluvian patriarchs in Judaism and Christianity:

The what? Antediluvian patriarchs?

That means the ancestors of the human race before the flood. All ten? Adam, Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, and Noah

Noah.

His name means: Rest or relief

I started to say a moment ago that his father was Lamech. (Whose name might mean Pauper, but it also might not) His grandfather was Methuselah (We learned that part in the children’s sermon! He was the oldest man in the Bible and his name means "older than dirt." No it doesn’t – but what it does mean is a little confusing: ‘Man of the javelin.’) And I won’t go through the rest.

Let’s go back to Noah

Rest

(Sigh)

Take a deep breath

Breathe out slowly

Experience the Noah.

Every day is stressful

Every person at one time or another has more on their plate than they can handle

In this name we can be reminded of God’s care in the worst times.

"I will take care of you." "Put everything else out of your mind – at least for a moment" "Rest."

• You don’t have to understand all of today’s Bible story.
• You don’t have to memorize the meanings of all of the names in the Old Testament.
• You don’t have to fret that you don’t have enough faith – God has given you plenty
• You don’t have to take down the Noah’s ark wallpaper- or put it up.
• You don’t have to study all the ancient flood stories.
• You don’t have to save everyone – God has that one handled.

Through all of life’s stresses, God offers Noah

Rest

Relief

The ability to start fresh

Rise and Shine!

Close with prayer.

© 2008 Union Congregational Church, All Rights Reserved