The Genesis Flood The Judgment of God I. Introduction and review A. Last week we saw how the wickedness of man had spiraled out of control 1. The thoughts of his heart were on evil contiually 2. Violence was heavy and oppressive throughout the whole world 3. Sexual immorality and perversion were widespread 4. And fallen angels began to intermarry with the human race B. God could stand it no longer and dedcided to destroy the entire race of human beings and the half angel, half human nephilim II. Now we come to the story of Noah A. There are many liberal or moderate scholars, who believe that Noah was not a real person, but just a fictional character, or more of a legendary figure B. Could that be true? C. If it is true it destroys the Bible and our Savior D. Old Testament references: 1. 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. 2. Ezekiel 14:13-14 13 "Son of man, if a country sins against Me by committing unfaithfulness, and I stretch out My hand against it, destroy its supply of bread, send famine against it and cut off from it both man and beast, 14 even though these three men, Noah, Daniel and Job were in its midst, by their own righteousness they could only deliver themselves," declares the Lord GOD. Page 1 of 7
E. The genealogy of Jesus in Luke 3:36 1. Supported by I Chr. 1-4 F. In the New Testament 1. 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. 2. 1 Peter 3:18-20 18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; 19 in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, 20 who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. 3. 2 Peter 2:4-5 4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment; 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; G. Jesus himself confirmed the reality of Noah s existence 1. Matthew 24:37-39 37 "For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. 38 "For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 2. See also Luke 17:26-27 H. Once we conclude that Noah was a real man who lived and died, then we must accept his story and the the fact of the flood for the same reasons, this is Page 2 of 7
Scriptural confirmation III. The Judgment of the Flood [Gen. 6:14 8:14] A. We will consider the flood narrative by asking five questions 1. How extensive was the flood? 2. How could there have been that much water? 3. How was the ark built? 4. How were the animals gathered? 5. How long did the flood last? B. How extensive was the flood, in other words was the flood local or universal? 1. There are many Christians who believe in the inerrancy of the Scriptures, who believe that the flood was localized 2. They will admit that the words used to describe the flood appear to be universal but that they are not 3. They will direct you to passages such as these a. Genesis 41:56-57 56 When the famine was spread over all the face of the earth, then Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold to the Egyptians; and the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. 57 The people of all the earth came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe in all the earth. b. Deuteronomy 2:25 25 'This day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you upon the peoples everywhere under the heavens, who, when they hear the report of you, will tremble and be in anguish because of you.' c. 1 Kings 18:10 10 "As the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my master has not sent to search for you; and when they said, 'He is not here,' he made the kingdom or nation swear that they could not find you. Page 3 of 7
4. Therefor the flood occurred in a small area of the world such as the Tigris and Euphrates valley, but where all of the people were located so that everyone was destroyed. 5. Therefore in Gen. 7:19 where it says all of the high mountains of the earth were covered with water, they would respond that that means the hills and high areas in the localized community where everyone lived, such as the Mesopotamian valley formed by the Tigris and Euphrates rivers 6. Why do they adopt this view, because they believe that it makes the Bible and its accounts of history easier to accept and defend 7. Questions raised a. If so, why spend the time to build the boat, why not just take Noah and his family along with the animals to an unaffected part of the world and let them remain there until the flood had subsided b. The fact that God instructed Noah to safeguard all of the animals in the world would indicate that the entire world was going to be destroyed C. What does the Scripture really say 1. Consider first the narrative itself a. Genesis 7:4 4 "For after seven more days, I will send rain on the earth forty days and forty nights; and I will blot out from the face of the land every living thing that I have made." b. Genesis 7:18-20 18 The water prevailed and increased greatly upon the earth, and the ark floated on the surface of the water. 19 The water prevailed more and Page 4 of 7
more upon the earth, so that all the high mountains everywhere under the heavens were covered. 20 The water prevailed fifteen cubits higher, and the mountains were covered. c. Genesis 8:21 21 The LORD smelled the soothing aroma; and the LORD said to Himself, "I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done. 2. The ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat a. Two peaks b. 17,000+ feet tall 3. Consider also other accounts in the Scriptures: a. Matthew 24:37-39 37 "For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. 38 "For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. b. 2 Peter 3:5-10 5 For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, 6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. 7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The 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. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar Page 5 of 7
and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. IV. How could there have been that much water? A. Was the world before the flood the same as the world that we now know? 1. Consider again II Peter 3:5-7 a. Compare the world at that time with the present heavens and earth b. What about the statement the earth was formed out of water and by water B. Consider our earth s beginning 1. Genesis 1:1-2 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. 2. Genesis 1:6-7 6 Then God said, "Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters." 7 God made the expanse, and separated the waters which were below the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so. 3. Genesis 1:9-10 9 Then God said, "Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear"; and it was so. 10 God called the dry land earth, and the gathering of the waters He called seas; and God saw that it was good. 4. Proverbs 8:24-30 24 "When there were no depths I was brought forth, When there were no springs abounding with water. 25 "Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills I was brought forth; 26 While He had not yet made the earth and the fields, Nor the first dust of the world. 27 "When He established the heavens, I was there, When He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep, 28 When He made firm the skies above, When the springs Page 6 of 7
of the deep became fixed, 29 When He set for the sea its boundary So that the water would not transgress His command, When He marked out the foundations of the earth; 30 Then I was beside Him, as a master workman; And I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him, C. So what are the waters above the atmosphere V. Final thoughts 1. Could be water in a gaseous form 2. If there was a vapor canopy surrounding the earth, then this would be a source of water to supply the windows of heaven or the floodgates of the sky [see A. Before the destruction would come, God decided to wait 120 years [6:3] 1. For what purpose did He withhold that His judgment for 120 years? 2. To give man an oppotunity to turn to Him and repent 3. But He knew that no one would repent, so why do that? 4. God does not structure His plan upon what man does or fails to do, as far as sin is concerned Page 7 of 7