Discovering Genesis, Part 7
Genesis 6:1-11
Introduction
- This morning, we saw the earliest revelation of Jesus through Ch. 5’s lineage
- Man (is) appointed mortal sorrow; (but) the Blessed God shall come down teaching (that) His death shall bring (the) despairing rest.
- This evening, we will begin to examine the flood, its purpose, and its revelations
- The flood is an interesting story because many want to spend time disputing it
- However, let’s set something out there right at the beginning:
-- If rather than a flood of water, God had rained down money – would there be as many complaints and desires to tear down the scriptures? Just food for thought …
- Tonight we will lay down the foundation for WHY God’s judgment came down
- Read Genesis 6:1-11
- Pray
Point 1 – Provoking God’s Wrath (1-7)
- Let’s look at the current status of where the earth is:
- Humans are increasing in rapid number
- They then decide that marriage is up to them (whoever, whenever, however)
-- This rebellion of telling God what they want grows in them to epic proportions
- God sent men like Enoch and Noah to preach to them; but still they rebelled
- God brought great conviction through this lineage (Gen 5); but nothing changed
- APP: God sees the wickedness of His children, and is frustrated with them
- Annoying God is not something you want to do; and yet these folks show us how
-- Wickedness of people is beyond understanding – but consider today
- Sin is committed in all places, times, locations, etc., with no regard to God
- Many will argue: “What happens in the privacy of my home is my business.”
- APP: God still knows what you are doing BTW, this wickedness is evident
- Let’s talk about sins in public, with no regard to the Lord or His Law today
PHOTOS:
1. Burning cross (the epitome of the Christian faith; set ablaze for what?)
2. The DaVinci Code (It’s just an opinion, no reason to get upset after all.)
3. Westboro Baptist Church (We can say anything in the name of God.)
- The times that these people lived in were no different today
- We’re about to see God’s answer to those who live this way; his wrath is JUST
- Matthew Henry writes, “The heart was deceitful and desperately wicked; the principles were corrupt; the habits and dispositions evil. Their designs and devices were wicked. They did evil deliberately, contriving how to do mischief. There was no good among them. God saw man's wickedness as one injured and wronged by it. He saw it as a tender father sees the folly and stubbornness of a rebellious and disobedient child, which grieves him, and makes him wish he had been childless.”
- However, I want you to see some striking here:
- (v6) God was literally regretting that He had created mankind
- However, (IMPORTANT), nowhere does He regret redeeming man … (expound)
- We saw in Ch. 5 the revelation of Jesus; provided to give rest and restoration
- And it is because of this same behavior here that we must take note of it today
- God is constantly rejected and put aside in society today
- How much longer will God continue to put up with these wicked ways?
-- Psalm 74:10 asks, “How long will the enemy mock you, O God? Will the foe revile your name forever?”
- God talks about wiping man off the earth, like a bug from your windshield
-- This is man’s punishment, and what we deserve b/c of a righteous God
-- God cannot be righteous and wink at your sin
-- God cannot be merciful and not demand your repentance
-- God cannot be holy and allow you to continue to sin in His presence
- This is what the people of this time didn’t get; and we should be warned also
- TRANS: Then, God finds one who is righteous, and gains favor with God
Point 2 – Noah Finds Grace with God (8-11)
- Noah was not a “crowd favorite”; nor was he a man that others loved
-- You think you were the last picked on a team in high school?
-- Noah didn’t even get invited to show up to the game
- He lived his life preaching repentance and the importance of focusing on God
- But, why would he decide to live this way?
- Look at His lineage – he had respect for how he was raised
-- Paul uses this as well with Timothy (I know your mother/grandmother)
- There is something to be said for living the way you were raised …
- IMP APP: If the way you were raised was to honor the Lord and live for Him
- When the rest of the world decided to have a party
- Noah was faithful; he lived his life in submission of a Holy God
- He had integrity (doing the right thing when no one is looking) in his life
- APP: Noah found favor; and God made him righteous
- Noah was a just man — Justified before God by faith in the promised seed; for he was an heir of the righteousness which is by faith
- Hebrews 11:7 “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 is in keeping with faith.”
- Even the worship of God was corrupt in this time (just as we saw earlier)
- Sin fills the Earth with destruction, viciousness, and without care
- When sin invades a life, there is a rapid path to destruction
- APP: B/C God doesn’t reprimand you immediately, doesn’t mean He didn’t see
- Regarding the worship of God: the people either had other gods before him, or worshipped him by images: or, they were corrupt and wicked in despite of God.
Conclusion
- Mankind at this time is spending its entire time turning away from God
-- There is total rebellion and indifference to the Lord’s command for living
-- It is a place that we should see ourselves in, and honestly do a gut check
- And what more could we expect at this point but a flood of anger and justice?
- We’ll see more of this next week
- Pray
