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You’ve heard of Noah, right?

In Genesis 6, God “was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.” (Genesis 6:6).  So He “determined to make an end of all flesh.”  All flesh!  Gone. Washed away (pun intended).  Except for Noah and his family.

So, God was going to destroy everything and start all over…but decided to let Noah “ride it out.” (pun intended again…sorry, I’ll stop now)  Of all the people on the earth, all the animals, all plants…every living thing, God chose Noah to live. What was so special about Noah?  “Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord…Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation.  Noah walked with God.” (Genesis 6:8-9)

So Noah, our great, great, great (x200) grandfather survived the worst rain storm ever.  Thankfully, God saw fit to save him.

But that’s not the only thing I’m thankful for when it comes to Noah.  Read this little doozie:

“Noah began to be a man of the soil, and he planted a vineyard.  He drank of the wine and became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent.”  Then it goes on to say that Noah’s youngest son, Ham (who has an awesome name, by the way), stumbled upon his naked, drunk father, and instead of honoring him by covering him up, Ham made a spectacle of the whole ordeal, going outside and making fun of his dad to his two brothers, Shem and Japheth.  (see Genesis 9:20-24) Way to go, Ham.  Way to go, Noah.

So Noah didn’t hold his alcohol all that well.  And Ham didn’t hold his tongue all that well.

Welcome to life after the flood.

But even though Noah had this indiscretion (to put it mildly), God chose to use him.  Why?  Because…

God uses imperfect, messed up people.

God uses messy families.

God uses people who make stupid decisions.

God uses people who have brought shame on themselves and their family.

God uses people who have returned to the same sins they struggled with in the past.

God uses people who aren’t perfect parents.

If God can use you and me, even though we’re messed up, just like He used Noah.

How have you let your past failures determine what you think God can use you to do in the future?

How has the fear of future failure paralyzed you from doing what God is calling you to do right now?

I’m reading through the Bible in a year, using the Chronological Plan.  Care to join me?