“Then God blessed Noah and his sons and told them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth.’”
Genesis 9:1 NLT
Noah and his family had just been through the most difficult years of their lives. The decades leading up to the Flood had been full of ridicule and shame. Following that, they spent another year in extremely tight quarters shepherding all the animals of the world. Can we even begin to imagine the conflict management lessons this family learned! No doubt, these individuals were significantly different people when they disembarked that boat then when they had entered.
Noah and his family were given just one assignment upon leaving the ark, multiply! When Noah’s family was commanded to multiply, the expectation was they would birth other physical forms like themselves. However, they most likely rebirthed the intangible part of themselves as well, those heart attitudes that were formed during this difficult season of their lives. The lessons of the ark that shaped their inner souls, were also multiplied!
Likewise, as we go through difficult seasons, the unseen part of us is being shaped. It is our choice whether we leave our ark better or bitter. And without a doubt, what we take from the ark will be transmitted to those around us. So, as we multiply, let’s make sure we are filling the earth with the better not bitter!
