Do Exactly What God Tells You to Do
By Rick Warren
“Noah did all that the LORD commanded him.” Genesis 7:5 (NIV)
Noah didn’t just hear God’s Word; he acted on it. He lived life according to God’s will.
Do you try to do that? Do you ask, “Lord, what do you want me to do today? What do you want me to do in this meeting? What do you want me to do with this opportunity?” Noah always sought God’s guidance in his actions.
Now, imagine you lived in Noah’s time and God asked you to build an ark. You’d probably have some big questions. I can think of at least four:
What’s a flood? The Bible says it had never rained before Noah’s time. Genesis 2 explains that God watered the earth from below, like morning dew. When God told Noah about a flood, it was a completely unimaginable concept.
How do you build an ark? In those days, there were no hardware stores or lumberyards. Noah had to cut and prepare every single piece of timber himself. That’s why it took decades to build the ark.
How do you move a massive ark to water? Noah lived far from the ocean. The Bible says the flood came not just from rain but also from underground springs bursting forth. The waters rose long after the rain stopped, solving the problem of moving the ark.
How do you gather all the animals? If God created the universe, bringing animals to Noah wasn’t a challenge. The real miracle was Noah’s obedience. Genesis 7:5 says, “And Noah did all that the LORD commanded him” (NIV).
What can we learn from Noah? God blesses obedience, even when it doesn’t make sense. Faith means trusting God when we don’t fully understand his plan. In life, you’ll face tempting shortcuts, especially during long periods of waiting or discouragement. Noah waited 120 years to see God’s plan fulfilled. His persistence reminds us that God’s timing is perfect. Don’t take shortcuts—trust and obey him completely.
“[Noah] obeyed God and built a large boat to save his family” (Hebrews 11:7 NCV). God honors unwavering faith and total obedience. When you follow his commands without compromise, he will bless you beyond your imagination.
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This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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