Abate

When I first saw this topic - I honestly wondered why it was included. It only had one reference, Genesis 8:3 where it talks about the waters abating from off the face of the Earth after the flood. Then I tried to think - maybe there is some symbolism in here that I could learn from. I mean, the Old Testament is pretty much filled with nothing but types and shadows of Christ - and the flood is a pretty big story as far as defining God and his relationship with us.

There seems to be two camps in Christianity - one that believes that most of the stuff in the beginning of Genesis was symbolic, and one that believes that it literally happened word for word. I'm more in a third camp that really doesn't care if it happened exactly how it said aslong as I can draw something from it that can help me get back to Heaven. Right now I believe the flood really did happen - I've heard that ancient civilizations from all over the place talk about a great flood - but I'm really not interested in scientific particulars as far as this matter goes. I don't base my faith on non-faith based sources.

If I was to look a the story of the flood symbolically and apply it to me taking particular interest in this idea of the waters abating - I guess it would go something like this: There is stuff happening in my life that is less than wholesome, it is all washed away, and when it is fully gone or abated all that is left is a new and clean me ready for a whole new world to begin on. The story of the flood is suppose to be like the Earth's baptism by water, and when I was eight years old I got that baptism. But every week I get to partake of the sacrament and renew the covenants I made at my baptism and be "washed clean" of the sins I did that week if I repented of them.

What I've really taken from this is a new outlook on repentance and staying safe. Noah waited to step out into the world until the waters had gone down enough for it to be safe for him to exit the ark. If I'm having a really hard time with something - something that would pretty much drown and kill me if I were to go into it - then maybe I should wait and avoid whatever it is for a while. Life happens, situations change, flood waters get abated. Patients keeps us safe from spiritually and physically harmful dangers, and as I use to be told constantly while growing up - Timing is Everything.