The animals going in were male and female of every living thing, as God had commanded Noah. Then the LORD shut him in. Genesis 7:16
Freedom to be able to move about and come and go is the desire of most people. They do not want to be boxed in a small space. Some are even very scared of small, crowded spaces. This fear is even greater when there are no open windows to see out. The space is made to feel even smaller than it really is.
Having freedom to be able to move, to come and go as one desires, gives one a sense of control and power. When a person does not have that sense of control and power, there is usually fear. It is a fear of the unknown on the other side of the walls. It is a fear that one cannot control what may or may not happen. There is no escape.
In this passage, God had Noah load all the animals onto the ark. Once all of the animals were loaded, God closed them in. They were closed in for a purpose. God was getting ready to destroy the earth, and all who were on it, by a flood. The closing in was to protect Noah, his family and all the animals from destruction.
For forty days it would rain day and night. Then they would sit on the ark for nearly another eleven months, before they were able to open the door and get off the ark. Yet, when the waters were to go away, God would open the door and they were given their freedom back.
God will sometimes enclose the believer in a box or an ark for a time. They cannot get out of the closed space. They cannot seem to move beyond the horizon. It appears as though nothing is happening. Yet, God is still there.
Storms will arise all around you at times. During some of those times, God will close you in to protect you from that storm. You may see or hear the storm raging, but you are not destroyed by it. God is inside that closed space with you until it is time to be released to move on to the next thing in life.
Do not fear when God shuts you in for a time. Trust that He knows what is best and wait for Him.
I pray today that you will know God’s work in your life; that you will not fear the storms in life; that God will reveal how He is protecting you; and that God will close you in to carry you to a new place in life.
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