A promise is a declaration or assurance that one will do a particular thing or that a particular thing will happen. The expression promises are meant to be broken come from an analogy made by Ridens on Aug 16, 1681. The context of this expression comes from politics as “He makes no more of breaking Acts of Parliaments, than if they were like Promises and Pie-crust, made to be broken.” If you’ve ever been a recipient of an empty promise, you know how frustrating it can be when careless words are spoken without any acts or actions taken.
For behold, I, even I, will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy and make putrid all flesh under the heavens in which are the breath and spirit of life; everything that is on the land shall die. 18 But I will establish My covenant (promise, pledge) with you, and you shall come into the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you, Genesis 6:17-18.
This isn’t the case for Noah who was the beneficiary of God’s pledge and promise to save his family from the earth’s first rainstorm, Genesis 2:4-5. While the rest of society was feeding their sinful nature, Galatians 5:16-21, Noah spent his time habitually walking with God, Psalm 1:3. This firm foundation prepared Noah for the bad news that God broke, “all of his earthly friends outside of his family would perish.” According to Moses, Genesis 6:22, Noah did everything that God commanded, believing in God’s pledge and promise.
And of every living thing of all flesh [found on land], you shall bring two of every sort into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female. 20 Of fowls and birds according to their kinds, of beasts according to their kinds, of every creeping thing of the ground according to its kind—two of every sort shall come in with you, that they may be kept alive. 21 Also take with you every sort of food that is eaten, and you shall collect and store it up, and it shall serve as food for you and for them, Genesis 6:19-21.
Based upon the details shared by Moses in Genesis 7, many Bible scholars believe that the flood waters lasted more than a year, 370 or 371 days to be exact. Since God told Noah to board the ark one week before the rain began to fall, Noah was onboard of the ark for 377 or 378 days. As Noah, his family and the animals finally walked upon dry land, God’s pledge and promise was sealed with the earth’s first rainbow, an amazing colorful sight to see. This sign is on display following each storm somewhere in the sky to remind modern day Christian’s of God’s pledge and promise to Noah.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 