Mountain rest

Genesis 8:1-4 AMPC

And God [earnestly] remembered Noah and every living thing and all the animals that were with him in the ark; and God made a wind blow over the land, and the waters sank down and abated. [2] Also the fountains of the deep and the windows of the heavens were closed, the gushing rain from the sky was checked, [3] And the waters receded from the land continually. At the end of 150 days the waters had diminished. [4] On the seventeenth day of the seventh month the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat [in Armenia].

Going through a time of suffering and severe testing can seem endless.

Like the ark was stormed tossed on the waters of the flood for 40 days non-stop, and then for a further seven months, with no sign of land or a harbour, so we have to endure seasons like that.

God is mysteriously saving us from ourselves during those intense times, teaching us to rely on His grace and mercy and trust in His Divine purpose.

What was the atmosphere on board the ark? Most certainly it wasn't all sweetness and light.

There must have been questions and doubts: where will we live, will we run out of food, what will we do with all the animals and birds?

Finally, gloriously, the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat.

Imagine the wonderful thump of the ark going to ground on that mountain. The trial was coming to an end.

There was a new start and a new life ahead, but first "rest" - hallelujah!

The Lord knows that we need a time of peace and calm after the stormy waters of trial.

He will bring us to a mountain from where we can see His purpose and promise revealed.

Imagine the relief they all felt when the ark came to rest - no more floating or drifting without compass or GPS.

They had been saved.

So too we rejoice when the Lord has delivered us and saved us.

The ultimate consummation of our salvation awaits, but we can be sure that there is a mountain rest up ahead for us as we stay in the "ark" of the Lord Jesus.