Jesus’ Discussion Of the Days of Noah
The L-rd never instructed us to forbid people marrying and to stop conducting business in the days of His return. But He was very explicit our reality would mirror the days of Noah, and never decried that reality.
I wonder if we were to take Him at His word, would He garner trust from us. If we just lived as He lived and were salt and light….
Consider the text of verse 37 of Matthew 24:
“As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.”
Matthew 24:37-39 NIV11
Sanctified Mindsets and Behavior Vs. Nettled Mindsets and Behavior
Messiah never indicted the usual behavior of the days of Noah. He did not and does not condemn marriage, families, and the conduct of business. Rather, what he did condemn, and His reason for flooding the earth, was due to the thoughts of man.
He was fine with business as usual moving toward a building of the kingdom. However, He was not okay with mentalities soaked in iniquity.
Father said in Genesis that the wicked thoughts and mesmerized spirit of humanity was the reason for the hydrological catastrophe. I would add that mindset was learned and bred into the culture.
The Illustration of Isaac
Isaac, by contrast, in Genesis, was not meditating on wickedness, much less continually. Rather, the text does not explicitly say what was the content of his meditation.
“Now Isaac had come from Beer Lahai Roi, for he was living in the Negev.He went out to the field one evening to meditate, and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching.”
Genesis 24:62–63 NIV11
So, what was the content of Isaac’s meditation? Given the context of the passage, I’d suggest he was meditating on the next season of his life. Abraham might have taught him how to meditate. The son likely knew of what Abraham’s servant was up to. And perhaps Isaac was wondering and wrestling with when the L-rd was going to bring his wife to him. When was that season going to start? Would Eliezar of Damascus be successful? Or would the House of Nahor be too full of iniquity to yield a suitable bride for the Son of Abraham.
Indeed, The content and the continuity of Isaac’s meditation was good, lovely, noble, lovely, praiseworthy, and of good report. It is a godly thing for those who are walking with the King to yearn for their chosen one. “Delight yourselves in the L-rd and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Righteous mindsets lead to fruit that breeds peace and fulfillment. We will be satisfied with long life.
The Punchline
Turning back to the dynamics with which Jesus was concerned, he did not care to stop our:
- Relationships,
- Marriage,
- Gestation of children, or
- Business dealings.
However, Jesus, as with the days of Noah, implied we would contend with a world and system that is compromised. Continual meditation on how we can violate principles colors many places in society. Our response to that system, now we are in the Mercy Season, is to walk in a deep and sanctifying intimacy with those who are in need to authentic relationships.
The Potential For Us
Gang, against the iniquity-baptized mindset and culture, I would challenge us to war against the spirit of the age that seeks to mesmerize us with anything that distracts us from our destiny.
While your business might not be a problem, your conduct and mindset might be.
While your desire to marry and have children might be godly, your motive and selection of a mate might cause some problems. You must choose, and that wisely.
In short, please handle your business in such a way that it turns people toward the light rather than away from it.