May 26: Food in Due Season
“Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Matthew 24:44
Near the end of His earthly ministry, Jesus spoke in ways that would lead His followers deep into the Scriptures. Having pointed us back to the days of Noah (v.37), He makes the vivid point that history will repeat itself. In the midst of daily activities such as marrying and giving in marriage (v.38), we also know that, just as in Noah’s day, today’s world is corrupted with self-worship; and it is filled with violence (Genesis 6:11). The present-day application is clear: the world is spiraling downward in sin, yet a heavenly invitation to come out and be separate continues to be issued (2 Corinthians 6:17). Sadly, billions of people will reject the message, and when the end comes, they will not have seen it coming (see Matthew 24:39).
And the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever.” Genesis 6:3a
Yahweh’s patience, while extreme, is not without limit. Jesus directs our attention to the days of Noah, to show us that Noah’s epic story is a prophecy. The very nature and essence of God is love. His governing principle—which is His law—is descriptive of His loving character. From the tiniest one-celled organism to the complex human brain, and from the undersea world to the far reaches of outer space, all are expressions of His unfathomable love. In the days before the flood, the profusion of beauty and the abundance of food were accompanied by pleasant weather, gentle breezes, and a mist that served as the perfect ‘sprinkler system.’ All of this and more allowed humans and animals to flourish.
In this setting of incredible beauty, the sin of man begot more sin, multiplying and growing worse and worse. Because God Is Love, He had to put a stop to it. His longsuffering provided the 120-year-long invitation to everyone through the gospel message of salvation preached by Noah. The message was that the world would be destroyed by a flood, but a way of escape would be provided in the ark.
Rain had never come upon the earth. To enter the ark would require a spirit of humility and obedience. Everyone was invited. Most openly mocked and scorned the invitation. There may have been many who were almost persuaded to come aboard, but the loud voices of the mockers propagated a spirit of derision even to those. Human pride overcame the inclination to believe Noah’s message of the one true God.
“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?” Matthew 24:45
The distribution of food in due season is an expression that means present truth, another way of saying the time is at hand (Revelation 22:10). This is what Noah was doing through his preaching (clearly supported by his building of the ark). When Jesus was restoring Peter from his ‘triple blunder’ He commanded him to “Feed My lambs,” “Tend My sheep,” and “Feed My sheep” (John 21:15-17). Peter went on to write these things, regarding the end of the age:
For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth . . . . the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 2 Peter 1:12; 3:10