No interruption of the cycle of nature (v. 22). The flood had interrupted the normal cycle of the seasons for a year, but that would never be repeated. Instead, God reaffirmed that the rhythm of days and weeks and seasons would continue as long as the earth endured. Without this guarantee, mankind could never be sure of having the necessities of life.

We know now that the steady cycle of days and nights, weeks and months, seasons and years, is maintained by the rotation of the earth on its axis and the orbit of the earth around the sun. God made it that way so that His universe would operate effectively. Although there were myriads of galaxies to choose from, the Lord chose to pour His love and grace down upon the inhabitants of the earth. “The earth is the Lord’s” (Ps. 24:1). The Lord so arranged the universe that the living things on earth might be maintained, and this includes men and women who too often forget God’s care.

The guarantee in Genesis 8:22 gives us hope and courage as we face an unknown future. Each time we go to bed for the night, or turn the calendar to a new month, we should be reminded that God is concerned about planet earth and its inhabitants. With the invention of the electric light and modern means of transportation and communication, our world has moved away from living by the cycles of nature established by God. We no longer go to bed at sundown and get up at sunrise, and if we don’t like the weather where we are, we can quickly travel to a different climate. But if God were to dim the sun, rearrange the seasons, or tilt the earth at a different angle, our lives would be in jeopardy.

God invites us to live a day at a time. Jesus taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matt. 6:11) and to be thankful for it. “As your days, so shall your strength be” (Deut. 33:25 nkjv; see Matt. 6:25-34). When His disciples warned Jesus not to go to Bethany, He replied, “Are there not twelve hours in the day?” (John 11:9). He obeyed the Father’s schedule and lived a day at a time, trusting the Father to care for Him.

God’s “covenant of day and night” is especially meaningful to the people of Israel, for it guarantees them His care and protection so that they will never cease to be a nation (Jer. 33:19-26). God’s promise that He will not send another flood is assurance to the Jews that His covenant with them will never be broken (Isa. 54:7-10).

We’re prone to take for granted sunrise and sunset, the changing face of the moon and the changing seasons, but all of these functions are but evidences that God is on the throne and keeping His promises. All creation preaches a constant sermon, day after day, season after season, that assures us of God’s loving care. We can trust His Word, for “there has not failed one word of all His good promise” (1 Kings 8:56 nkjv).

Questions for Personal Reflection or Group Discussion

1. Why would it be of special benefit to read Genesis 8 when you’re in one of life’s storms?
2. When is it easy to feel forsaken by God? How can you help someone who is feeling this way?
3. What can we learn from God’s example of “not remembering” our sins as we seek to forgive others?
4. How can the truth of God’s immutability help us as we travel the ups and downs of life?
5. Noah had to wait on God until the flood was over. When have you had to wait on God’s timing? Why was that necessary?
6. At what times do you find yourself, like people in Noah’s day, too occupied with the ordinary things of daily life?
7. How can we encourage one another to resist this trap of being caught up with the ordinary?
8. Genesis 8:21 says God was smelling the pleasant aroma. What other anthropomorphisms can you recall from the Bible?
9. Why did God make the promise not to send another worldwide flood?
10. What comfort can you derive from God’s promise to continue the normal cycles of seasons?