Relief

Daily Reading: Genesis 5

Scripture Focus: When Lamech had lived 182 years, he fathered a son and called his name Noah, saying, “Out of the ground that the Lord has cursed, this one shall bring us relief from our work and from the painful toil of our hands.” (Genesis 5.28-29)

Devotional Thought: There are many chapters in the Bible like Genesis 5 – chapters of names and genealogies, or chapters of tribes, clans, and numbers. It is tempting, as we read such chapters, to "just get through it." But, if we read carefully and thoughtfully – and most importantly if we ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate our thinking – we will almost always find something inspirational and helpful. The story about Lamech, the father of Noah, is like that.

Apart from his longevity, Lamech’s story is inspirational because God gave him a son and with that son a vision. As we read in Genesis 3, the "ground" had been cursed because of Adam and Eve's sin. But with the birth of Noah, God promised relief was on the way. Noah’s name sounded very similar to the word for "rest." Lamech named his son Noah, because he believed God was bringing “relief from our work and from the painful toil of our hands.” Later, Noah was called by God to build an ark and to rescue not only his family but posterity as well.

Noah was a sign of One to come: Jesus! Out of the “ground” of human flesh, God brought a savior. The curse of sin reached its worst when Jesus, the Son of God, hung on the cross. The waters of death closed in on him, but he came forth from the grave! Once again, “out of the ground” of the tomb, God brought forth “relief from our work and from the painful toil of our hands!”

Thanks be to God!

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for coming to redeem us from the burden – the power and penalty – of sin. Help us to share that good news with joy and with love so that others may join us in the ‘ark of safety.’ Amen.

Psalm of the Day: 1 In the Lord I take refuge; how can you say to my soul, “Flee like a bird to your mountain, 2 for behold, the wicked bend the bow; they have fitted their arrow to the string to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart; 3 if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” 4 The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord's throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man. 5 The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence. 6 Let him rain coals on the wicked; fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup. 7 For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face. (Psalm 11.1-7)