GOD’S JUDGMENT AND PROMISE
For many people today, Noah and the ark are just a story for children’s colouring books. To accept it as genuine history is naďve and ridiculous. Right? WRONG! Later writers of the Bible didn’t ridicule the ark and the flood.
Isaiah 54: 9 - 9"For this is like the
days of Noah to Me, when I swore that the waters of Noah would not flood the
earth again; So I have sworn that I will not be angry
with you Nor will I rebuke you.
Ezekiel
20 even though Noah, Daniel and Job were in its
midst, as I live," declares the Lord GOD, "they could not deliver
either their son or their daughter. They would deliver only themselves by their
righteousness."
Luke – Includes Noah in the genealogy of Christ – Luke 3:36
Peter – See Noah as a strategic figure of history –
II Peter 2:5 - 5 and
did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a preacher of
righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the
ungodly; - see also I Peter 3:20
Lord Jesus Christ sees Noah and the ark as genuine history – Luke
I GOD’S SORROW - Genesis 6:6
6 The LORD was sorry that He had made man
on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
The sorrow of God was tempered with His incredible patience – Genesis 6:3
3 Then the LORD said, "My Spirit
shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his
days shall be one hundred and twenty years."
II GOD’S SEEKING
This has been a part of God’s nature all throughout recorded history – II Peter 3: 9
9The Lord is not slow about His promise, as
some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish
but for all to come to repentance.
III GOD’S SURE JUDGMENT – Genesis 6:7 - 7The LORD said, "I will blot out man whom I have created
from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds
of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them."
What exactly were things like on the earth before the Flood?
1. Perspective # 1 – SINFUL thoughts and attitudes
* Gross materialism * Devotion to pleasure
* No concern for GOD * Rejection of the WORD of God
* Man’s inward imaginations were completely and always evil.
2. Perspective #2 – SEX
* Widespread disregard for the sacredness of MARRIAGE - Lamech
3. Perspective # 3 – SATAN
* Organized satanic activity
IV GOD’S SELECTION OF NAOH – Genesis 6:9
9 These are the records of the
generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah
walked with God.
· Increasing spiritual quality before God
· Righteousness – live by God’s standards
· Blameless – set apart from his contemporaries
· Walked with God – Like ENOCH – Genesis 5:24
· Genesis 6:8 -But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. Favor = GRACE
· Noah was not spared (saved) because of his good works!
· Noah – SINNER, SAVED by grace
· Selection of Noah – glorious GIFT of grace
V GOD’S SURE REWARDS AND PROMISES
Hebrews 11:7 – 7 By faith Noah, being warned by God about things
not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household,
by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which
is according to faith.
It was not the STRENGTH of Noah’s faith, but the OBEDIENCE of Noah’s faith.
With each step of obedience to God’s Word, Noah’s faith was strengthened and grew.
“ Lord, my faith doesn’t feel very strong right now, but just show me one step, one thing you want me to do today, and help me to be obedient.” – PRAY THIS EACH DAY!
God will HONOUR your obedient, one step at a time faith!!