The waters prevailed above the mountains, covering them fifteen cubits deep. Genesis 7:20 ESV
If God decides to cover the entire earth with water, thousands and thousands of feet of water, enough to cover the likes of Mt. Everest, what does a few inches matter? Apparently, a lot. God knew exactly how much water He would allow and no more.
Once the water reached the mountaintops, twenty-two and a half feet more were allowed, just enough to make sure the ark didn’t collide with something underwater. It was just enough to keep the boat from grounding. If Mt. Everest (not yet named) was the tallest peak in the world, the water would have been 29,051.5 feet deep. This is not a meaningless detail. I serve a God of precision, a God who orders all things well in my life, down to increments of inches. He controls the floods down to the last water drop. He controls disease on a cellular level. He holds the king’s heart in his hands and can bend his will without effort.
Life is one series of temptations. I will face periods where it feels like I’m going to drown in the floodwaters. Temptations to fear, to distrust God, to chuck my faith, to quit waiting on God and embrace some counterfeit comfort instead. One of these might appeal to me. But God knows how much pressure to allow in order to grow my faith. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
Floodwaters make a man’s heart faint but God created me and knows the exact breaking point of my faith. The One who covered the mountains with twenty-two feet of water is also micro-managing my life with a power to save, preserve, and cause me to triumph in the love of God.
Don’t let me forget that though I hear the sound of floodwaters, I’m in You, Jesus, my Ark of safety. Amen
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