The Flood (Genesis 6-7)

In Genesis 6, we learn that in addition to the sins we have read about thus far, adultery and promiscuous sex have become an evil that controls mankind.  Disappointed with the behavior of the ones who bear His image, God determines that man's life-span will be decreased to 120 years.  Apparently 800-900 years of watching a man misbehave was more than the Almighty would tolerate.

"The LORD saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time." (Gen. 6:5)  As Michael pointed out in his message on Sunday, the saddest statement in all of Scripture is made in the next verse:  "The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain." (Gen. 6:6)  Our sin filled God's heart with pain.  That is almost more than I can bear!  It is statements like this in the Bible that make me want to fall on my face in repentance.

But there is a glimmer of hope.  One man still pleased God--Noah.   "But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.  This is the account of Noah.  Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God." (Gen. 6:8-9)  His father Lamech's prophecy is beginning to come to pass (see Gen. 5:29).

For those of us that think of "Noah's Ark" as a cute, preschool children's story, let's think again.  I'm guessing you will never look at it the same after today's readings.  Here are the statements regarding the condition of mankind during Noah's day:
¹¹ Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence.
¹² God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways.
¹³ So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth."
¹⁷ "I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish." 

Heavy stuff, isn't it?  Not just a bunch of cute animals on a big boat with a rainbow in the sky.  Those are part of the story, all right, but so is mass destruction of the human race and every creature ever created.  Picture the people drowing in the waters as they rise, dead bodies floating everywhere.  It is a drama you would never forget if you were Noah and his family watching it take place.  And you would be humbly grateful to the gracious God who saved you in the midst of great destruction, just as all followers of Christ will be on the Last Day.

Did you notice the intricate details with which God gave Noah the plans for building the ark?  We will see the LORD do this again with Moses when He gives such detailed plans for the builing of the tabernacle and all that went with it.  The LORD was faithful to Noah, giving him everything he needed to do God's will.  He does the same for us today, dear one.  We just need to open His Word and receive His instruction.  Remember those words, "Noah walked with God."  Pray daily for these words to be true of you and me as well.

God is so pleased with what He sees in Noah's heart that He says, "But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you." (Gen. 6:18)  The Almighty tells Noah exactly who to bring upon the ark with him (notice the difference in the numbers of animals given in chapter 7...we'll talk about this on Sunday). 

What was Noah's response to God's directions?  "Noah did everything just as God commanded him." (Gen. 6:22)  Wow.  That had to be hard among people who had no idea a flood was coming, had never seen rain like that before, and likely thought Noah was out of his mind.  Try to picture it.  But God commends the faith of Noah in the "hall of faith" chapter of Hebrewss 11:  "By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith." (Heb. 11:7)

Read through chapter 7 and find all the examples you can of how orderly and precise is our God.  Share yours in the comment section, if you like.  I'd love to hear what you gals discover!  When I read sections of Scripture like this, I am reminded anew that our God is not random whatsoever in His ways, but rather He is intentional and precise in His plan for all of time.  He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End!  I am just a little blip on His Kingdom calendar, grateful to be a teeny, tiny part of the Greatest Story--HIStory!

When it comes to this fallen world in which we live, I don't know about you, but I sure want to be on the side of the Almighty God who runs the show.  I pray that for you and me both it would be written, "But [insert your name]  found favor in the eyes of the LORD.  [Your name] was a righteous woman, blameless among the people of her time, and she walked with God." (adapted from Gen. 6:8-9)  Let's encourage one another to let God work this beautiful description into each of our hearts!