Our last night in the canyon there was a terrible or incredible (however you want to look at it) storm. Let me say that our guides said over and over that it "never" rains in the canyon...for any of us on the trip, that is hard to believe...because it rained the majority of the trip. Whether we were being drenched in the rapids, misted by sprinkles of rain, or just saturated with a down pour, we stayed wet most of the trip.
As I mentioned before, we talked a lot about the global flood during our trip. We talked about how it was powerful, catastrophic, and world changing...literally, it left behind this great and grand canyon.
As we discussed the flood we also discussed the brave few who followed God's command to enter into the Ark and receive salvation from the powerful waters. Noah...ever heard of him? I am sure you have. When I think about Noah's ark, I always think about the puzzle I had when I was a child. It was a colorful and fun scene filled with lots of animals (2 of a kind of course) entering into the archway of the Ark. I can vividly remember Noah in the picture as well as a few raindrops, dark clouds, and a rainbow that went from top corner to top corner in the puzzle. I loved that puzzle....while somewhat accurate, I am certain now that it was not entirely like that...
When I learned of the bible story as a child, what I remember most is Noah's faithfulness to follow God's command and build this giant boat and fill it with animals and his family. I remember learning that he had probably never seen rain and didn't know what to expect, just that he blindly followed God's word. I learned that the people who didn't listen to Noah and believe that a flood was coming perished. I learned that after the flood, God put a rainbow, turned upward toward himself, in the sky to signify His promise to never flood the entire earth again...that was the story I learned...sound familiar? I still believe all of those events to be biblical and true, but now, after experience this trip, my heart is gripped for the others in that story...the ones who were not the main characters...the ones who perished.
Like I said, our last night in the canyon a great storm came upon us. It was in the middle of the night and there was no sleeping through it. It was loud and it rained hard...really really hard. As if the rain alone didn't wake us all, the thunder and lightening really put on a show. As the thunder boomed and the lightening bounced around the canyon walls I became a little frightened. Did I mention we were in little tents on the bank of the mighty river? My mind began to race....I could see the water levels rising or worse, our metal framed nylon tent being struck by lightening. I remember looking out the mesh window of our tent thinking "we have no control over this..." I began to pray for our safety. I prayed that God would protect us and keep the water level down and the lightening far away. At one point I looked over and Chris was awake too. I reached across the tent and grabbed his hand. I kept praying and telling myself "it will all be over in a while, when morning comes, this storm will have passed over us."
Guess what?? It did. The storm will always pass over those who are in God's embrace. But for the first time in forever, God reminded me of the people in the great flood and how it didn't pass them by. I thought about how scared I was and wondered if that is how they felt. I am sure it was. I had a sense of relief thinking that the storm would pass, but did they? Maybe at first...when the waters started to rise, maybe they too thought it would pass. At what point did that change for them? When did they start to think "what if this doesn't stop?" At what point did they become fearful and realize the waters would keep rising, the storm wouldn't cease? At what point did they realize that the storm would take their life? I get chill bumps just thinking about it. I think about Noah and his great faith. Was he ever scared? Not for himself maybe, but for those he cared about around him? Could he hear their cries, their pleas? What about when the waves picked up and the storm was at its worst? Was he scared then? He didn't know how long he would be upon the rough seas...did he cry out "how long of Lord?"...I don't know...maybe.
I think back to the beauty of the clear skies after the storm in the canyon. God said he would never again flood the entire earth. He said that a second judgement would come but not by water. He even took a bow, turned it toward himself, as a promise that He would make a way for His chosen ones, for His children...and oh how He came through on that promise. I am so thankful that He didn't leave it up to me to save myself or find my own way, but He made the way, through Christ, for us.
Even if the waters of the river had risen and our situation turned dangerous, I would have been scared for sure, but because I am covered by Christ, death has forever lost its victory over me....praise God!
As I walk the rough waters of this life, and when the seas may rise, I pray for the faith of Noah. I pray for faith to walk humbly and fearfully with my great God, never forgetting his holiness and might...I thank God He has made a way of salvation for me. I can walk knowing that in any storm, a good and sovereign God holds me in his tight embrace, never letting me go, and I can take a deep breath and let out an eternal sigh of relief.
Oh to be a child of God...there is no greater thing to be.
But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters; I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, you Savior." Isaiah 43: 2-3
"Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?"
1 Corinthians 15:55
I love this song...favorite line "your grace abounds in deepest waters, your sovereign hand will be my guide."
*This is not my picture, I can't take credit...although there was a rainbow that night, my picture just didn't do it justice.
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