THE L.I.F.E. PLAN STARTING OVER THEME 8 - THE FLOOD LESSON 4 (32 of 216)
THEME 8: THE FLOOD LESSON 4 (32 OF 216): STARTING OVER LESSON AIM: The flood was an act of judgement for the sin of man and a cleaning of the slate to preserve the purpose of God. SCRIPTURE: (Genesis 9:11-17) 11 And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth. 12 And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: 13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. 14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: 15 And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. 17 And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth. The flood was a great catastrophe. While there are those who argue that the flood was local in extent, the Bible gives indication that it was a global event. The waters covered the earth under the whole heaven, rising some twenty-two feet above the tallest mountain. Water has a force for great destruction. Moving water is even more dangerous and destructive. That much water upon the earth would make severe and drastic changes. God sent the flood for two reasons: as a judgement for the sin of man, and as a chance to start over in filling the earth with those who could enjoy fellowship with God. In this lesson we will learn of some things that the flood changed and some things that it did not change. In a previous lesson in this theme, we touched on the fact that the earth s climate was different after the flood. Before the flood, there was a vapor canopy above the earth, set in place on the second day of reconstruction. Rain was not a part of man s experience before the flood. Whatever other purpose the vapor canopy served, it was there for God to use for such an event like the flood. The canopy was part of the water source of the flood waters. After the flood, the atmosphere was fixed to move the waters around the earth as we know it today. We live in a time when much is being said about climate change. Depending upon the agenda of the groups that report on the climate, we are told that the earth is getting warmer, or colder, depending on how they can use their theory to their advantage. Man has made millions, perhaps billions of dollars, on the hoax of climate change. A good reading of the Bible could settle this matter altogether. It is a fact that there will be drastic changes in the earth s climate at the very end of the age. These changes come however at a specific time in God s plans. For now, the Bible tells us that while the earth remains, there will always be seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night. This is one of the reasons man chooses to reject the Bible. It tells the truth and exposes those who try to sell a lie to the general public. Don t be fooled by the narrative of climate change. God has set the
seasons of the earth and he controls the weather. Man is a fool who thinks he can do this. An earth completely covered by water and drained of it in a short period of time would see changes in its landscape. No doubt, the flood changed the lay and look of the surface of the earth. Islands were formed, sediment filled in cracks and crannies, coastlines were carved, canals and canyons were plowed into the crust of the earth by the moving and receding waters of the flood. Take a look at a place like the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Note what water can do either in a short period of time or over a long period of time. Either way, water changes the landscape of the earth. The relationship between man and animals was different after the flood of Noah s day. When Noah and the animals came out of the ark, God said things are going to be different. Going forward, animals would have a fear of man. Who has not experienced this? A stray dog or cat shows up at your home. You try to pet it but it is afraid of you. It takes time to assuage that fear and get the animal to trust and love you. This is the reason we are so amazed when a wild animal will come close enough to us to allow us to see it up close, and touch it. It has a fear of man upon it that was put there by God after the flood. Another change in the relationship between man and animals after the flood is that now, man would use the animal for food. Maybe this adds to the fear the animal has of man. We also see that the heart of God was changed in some way toward his creation after the flood. He decided that he would never again punish the ground or the other living creatures of the earth because of man s sin. He put his bow, the rainbow, in the clouds as a token of his decision to never do this again. Most people love to see a rainbow in the sky. The next time you see one, remember that while you are looking at its beauty and brilliance, at the same time, God is remembering his promise to never again destroy his creation by a flood of this magnitude. The flood changed many things in the earth, in man, in creation, and in God. There are also some things which were not changed by the flood. Let s mention three of them. First, the sinful condition of the heart of man was not changed by the flood. While Noah and his family were saved, the fallen nature of man was brought through the flood in these eight people. They began the repopulation process of the earth. As Adam had done, they passed the sin nature on to every one of their offspring. We continue to do this today. As a note of interest, the world s population today can be traced back to the three sons of Noah whom God used to start over on the earth after the flood. A second thing that the flood did not change is the covenant of God. The covenant of God is simply his purpose to bring his deliverer to the earth. Bringing this deliverer was God s response to the fall. He was to come, redeem fallen man, and destroy the works of the devil. Noah was a link in the chain of God bringing his purpose to pass. The deliverer who came was Jesus, the messiah, and Son of God. He accomplished what God sent him here to do. The third thing that was not changed by the flood is the commission of God. When God created Adam, he told him to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth with others like himself who could enjoy fellowship with God. Even though man since Adam had strayed far from this purpose and was killed in the flood, God kept the commission alive, giving it to Noah when he disembarked the ark. Three times God repeated his commission to Noah. The commission has not changed. Jesus gave it again to his followers before he returned to heaven. It is our marching orders today. God needed and got a new start through the flood. Do you need a new start today? You can have one if you will go to God, submit to him on his terms, and surrender your life to his purpose to fill the earth with reproducing followers of Christ.
LESSON OUTLINE THEME 8: THE FLOOD LESSON 4 (32 OF 216): STARTING OVER I THINGS THAT WERE CHANGED BY THE FLOOD A. The earth s climate B. The earth s landscape C. Man s relationship with animals D. God s heart toward his creation II THINGS THAT WERE NOT CHANGED BY THE FLOOD A. Man s heart condition B. God s covenant C. God s commission SCRIPTURES TO BROADEN YOUR UNDERSTANDING 1. The flood Genesis 6-9 Psalm 29:10; 104:6-9 Isaiah 54:9 Matthew 24:37-39 Luke 17:26-27 Hebrews 11:7 1 Peter 3:20 2 Peter 2:5; 3:3-7 2. God s promise of the rainbow Genesis 9:11-17 LINES OF THEOLOGICAL CONNECTION 1. THE DOCTRINE OF GOD God s covenant The immutability of God The great commission The judgement of God The sovereignty of God 2. CHRISTOLOGY The person of Christ The work of Christ 3. ANTHROPOLOGY Starting over Staying on task
QUESTIONS ANSWER KEY 1. Does the Bible indicate that the flood of Noah s day was local or global? Global 2. How high did the flood waters ascend? 22 feet above the tallest mountain 3. List four things that were different after the flood? The earth s climate; the landscape of the earth, man s relationship with animals; God s heart toward his creation 4. What things were not changed by the flood? Man s sinful condition; God s covenant; God s commission 5. What is the covenant of God? His purpose to bring the Messiah to the earth 6. What is the commission of God? To fill the earth with God-followers 7. What two things did the flood do for God? Kept his promise alive; gave him a new start 8. Is there an area in your life where you need a new start? Student response
THEME 8: THE FLOOD LESSON 4 (32 OF 216): STARTING OVER QUESTIONS TO INSPIRE THOUGHT 1. Does the Bible indicate that the flood of Noah s day was local or global? 2. How high did the flood waters ascend? 3. List four things that were different after the flood? 4. What things were not changed by the flood? 5. What is the covenant of God? 6. What is the commission of God? 7. What two things did the flood do for God? 8. Is there an area in your life where you need a new start?