Rhythm is the beat and tempo of a song. Drums, bass guitar, and the strum of a guitar set the rhythm while the chords or individual notes establish the melody. Rhythm provides us with a sense of continuity—we know the form of the song. Musical rhythms get us up on our feet to dance; they can encourage or inspire us, or cause us to feel mellow and relaxed. Such is the power of rhythm in our lives. Like music, our lives need rhythm and routine—otherwise we can lose track of our purpose, get bogged down and even depressed.
Gen. 6:5-8 says: “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the LORD said, ‘I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.’ But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” God told Noah to build the ark to preserve a remnant of mankind and to save the animals. Once the ark was finished it began to rain—40 days and nights of constant rain. Can you imagine endless rain, so much that it covered everything? Life came to a halt for all of mankind.
Only eight souls were aboard the ark, and for them, everything they’d known was gone. But it lasted more than 40 days. They had to remain while the water slowly receded. It was a year before they were able to leave the ark. Once on dry ground, Noah offered up a sacrifice of thanksgiving and God established a promise. Gen. 8:22: "While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, day and night, shall not cease." God established the covenant, and would preserve the rhythm of the seasons and the days so that mankind could thrive.
This year, nearly all of our normal rhythms have been disrupted—going to work, school, and church; when and how we get groceries; going to restaurants and coffee shops; enjoying friends and family; and now the holidays. The rhythms of our lives have been shaken. This has been difficult for all, and for some overwhelming. But there is hope in the story of the Flood. “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD” is the first time grace is mentioned in scripture. It was grace that enabled Noah and his family to endure the flood. And the very same grace is available to you and me to endure this pandemic and the disruptions associated with it. I encourage you to look to God and find grace as Noah did. Let God’s amazing grace carry you through each day, and continue to offer up the sacrifice of thanksgiving!