Graduate 80: Advent, Day 3
The Flood
Genesis 6:11-9:17
Following the sin of Adam and Eve, the state of humanity rapidly declines. In fact, the people’s wickedness becomes so great that God decides to destroy them. But he finds one righteous man, Noah, and instructs him to build an ark for the salvation of himself and his family and two of every kind of animal.
Were other people excluded from or denied this salvation? Consider that the ark probably took years (if not decades) to build; it was a massive structure, one-and-a-half football fields long and over four stories tall. (IVP Bible Background Commentary, 37) Most certainly, people knew about the ark and understood why Noah was building it. The Apostle Peter refers to Noah as a “preacher of righteousness”; (2 Peter 2:5) and what else would he preach under those circumstances except, ‘Repent of your wickedness!’? But did anyone listen? After years (if not decades) of building and preparing and preaching, God said to Noah, “Enter the ark, you and all your household; for you alone I have seen to be righteous before Me in this time.” (Genesis 7:1) Doubtless, people knew about the ark and why Noah was building it—but none of them turned from their wickedness.
We saw how God provided Adam and Eve with everything they needed—yet they rejected God’s way, disobeyed Him; and humankind has been rejecting and disobeying God ever since, even up to the present time. We must understand that God’s wrath against sin is real. Judgment is real. There will be a final day of judgment for all who have not repented of their disobedience and sin. But God is not without mercy; just as He provided for Noah’s salvation, so also salvation has been made available to us in Jesus Christ.
The gift of God’s mercy and grace has been made freely available to all who will receive it. Peter writes, “The Lord is… not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) And just as God cared for Noah and his family and all the animals during the twelve months and eleven days of the flood, so He has promised to take care of all who turn to and rely on Him. (IVP Bible Background Commentary, 38) God’s abiding love and enduring faithfulness and trustworthy promises are as true and certain today as they were in the time of Noah, when He covenanted with all flesh that He would never again destroy the earth with a flood.
--
God is in this place,
And that reality, seen and understood by the grace of God in Christ Jesus, through the work of the Holy Spirit, makes all the difference in the world.
Genesis 6:11-9:17
Following the sin of Adam and Eve, the state of humanity rapidly declines. In fact, the people’s wickedness becomes so great that God decides to destroy them. But he finds one righteous man, Noah, and instructs him to build an ark for the salvation of himself and his family and two of every kind of animal.
Were other people excluded from or denied this salvation? Consider that the ark probably took years (if not decades) to build; it was a massive structure, one-and-a-half football fields long and over four stories tall. (IVP Bible Background Commentary, 37) Most certainly, people knew about the ark and understood why Noah was building it. The Apostle Peter refers to Noah as a “preacher of righteousness”; (2 Peter 2:5) and what else would he preach under those circumstances except, ‘Repent of your wickedness!’? But did anyone listen? After years (if not decades) of building and preparing and preaching, God said to Noah, “Enter the ark, you and all your household; for you alone I have seen to be righteous before Me in this time.” (Genesis 7:1) Doubtless, people knew about the ark and why Noah was building it—but none of them turned from their wickedness.
We saw how God provided Adam and Eve with everything they needed—yet they rejected God’s way, disobeyed Him; and humankind has been rejecting and disobeying God ever since, even up to the present time. We must understand that God’s wrath against sin is real. Judgment is real. There will be a final day of judgment for all who have not repented of their disobedience and sin. But God is not without mercy; just as He provided for Noah’s salvation, so also salvation has been made available to us in Jesus Christ.
The gift of God’s mercy and grace has been made freely available to all who will receive it. Peter writes, “The Lord is… not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) And just as God cared for Noah and his family and all the animals during the twelve months and eleven days of the flood, so He has promised to take care of all who turn to and rely on Him. (IVP Bible Background Commentary, 38) God’s abiding love and enduring faithfulness and trustworthy promises are as true and certain today as they were in the time of Noah, when He covenanted with all flesh that He would never again destroy the earth with a flood.
--
God is in this place,
And that reality, seen and understood by the grace of God in Christ Jesus, through the work of the Holy Spirit, makes all the difference in the world.
posted by Metaphysician_delta | 2:00 AM
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