Noah And The Flood Series

Noah’s Ark is a popular children’s story. A toy ark was one of the first children’s toys my oldest daughter received. Noah’s ark is a popular nursery theme. There is the children’s song: “Noah, he builded, he builded an Arky, Arky.” The focus for children is the safety inside the ark for the animals.

Yet in reality the story of the flood is the most horrifying judgment of our holy God, with the only exception being hell. God’s Judgment in the flood serves as a stark reminder that God is serious about his warnings. It is also a lesson in the grace of God and that God keeps his promise regarding those who are faithful to Him.

In the flood account we glimpse God’s wrath and the furry of His righteous anger. In Genesis chapter six Noah is called to faith. Noah’s obedience landed him a spot in the hall of faith (Hebrews 11:7).

In Genesis 7:6-24 we see God’s Judgment, God’s promises and his gracious mercy to save those who trust Him.

Genesis 7:6-24

6 Noah was 600 years old when the flood came on the earth. 7 He and his sons entered the ark. His wife and his sons' wives went with them. They entered the ark to escape the waters of the flood.

8 Pairs of "clean" animals and pairs of animals that were not "clean" came to Noah. So did pairs of birds and pairs of all of the creatures that move along the ground. 9 Male and female of all of them came to Noah and entered the ark.

Everything happened exactly as God had commanded Noah. 10 After seven days the flood came on the earth.

11 Noah was 600 years old. It was the 17th day of the second month of the year. On that day all of the springs at the bottom of the oceans burst open. God opened the windows of the skies. 12 Rain fell on the earth for 40 days and 40 nights.

13 On that same day Noah entered the ark together with Shem, Ham and Japheth. Noah's wife and the wives of his three sons also entered it.

14 They had every kind of wild animal with them. They had every kind of livestock. They had every kind of creature that moves along the ground. And they had every kind of bird that flies. 15 Pairs of all living creatures that breathe came to Noah and entered the ark. 16 The animals going in were male and female of every living thing.

Everything happened exactly as God had commanded Noah. Then the Lord shut him in.

17 For 40 days the flood kept coming on the earth. As the waters rose higher, they lifted the ark high above the earth. 18 The waters rose higher and higher on the earth. And the ark floated on the water.

19 The waters rose on the earth until all of the high mountains under the entire sky were covered. 20 The waters continued to rise until they covered the mountains by more than 20 feet.

21 Every living thing that moved on the earth died. The birds, the livestock and the wild animals died. All of the creatures that fill the earth also died. And so did every human being. 22 Everything on dry land that had the breath of life in it died. 23 Every living thing on the earth was wiped out. People and animals were destroyed. The creatures that move along the ground and the birds of the air were wiped out.

Everything was destroyed from the earth. Only Noah and those who were with him in the ark were left.

24 The waters flooded the earth for 150 days.

God’s Judgment in the flood (Genesis 7: 10-12)

To make a study of God’s judgment in the flood is more than an academic exercise. It is a call to be ready to meet God and stand at the Judgment seat of God. To consider what God did in the flood is to know the heart of God and to realize God’s ability to Judge.

God sent judgment on the earth. Genesis 6:11 says “Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight and was full of violence.”

Man had sunk so low in immorality; no one followed God, except Noah and his family.

God’s ability to judge rests ultimately in who God is. God is the sovereign ruler of the universe. With God is reserved the sole right to rule. God is the creator and sustainer of this world we live in. Only God has the power to create something out of nothing. Only God can bring forth the judgment described in verse 11 & 12.

It rained for forty days and forty nights. Springs of the great deep burst forth. There was a violent force so powerful that the earth’s crust was broken up. Underground water rushed from below and rain fell from above.