January 7, 2026 WEST

In this powerful exploration of Genesis 7, we witness God's meticulous provision for redemption even in the midst of judgment. The flood narrative reveals a stunning detail often overlooked: Noah was commanded to take seven pairs of clean animals—not just two of each as we learned in Sunday school. This distinction matters profoundly, as these clean animals would become the sacrificial offerings Noah would present to God after the flood. From the very beginning, God has been making provision for atonement, a thread that runs from Adam and Eve's covering in the garden, through Abraham's ram caught in the thicket, to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus. We're reminded that we aren't just saved from our sin—we're saved for a purpose. What if we became as obsessed with what we're saved for as we are with what we're saved from? This shift in perspective transforms everything. The story also touches Joshua 7, where Achan's hidden sin brought defeat to Israel, reminding us that what we hide from God—what we bury in our tents—affects not only ourselves but our entire community. God isn't afraid of our questions, as Job's raw honesty demonstrates, but He does call us to consecrate ourselves and remove the devoted things that compete for His place in our hearts.