Islington Baptist Church March 11, 2001
Sermon text: Genesis 6:9-7:24
Scripture readings: Matt. 24:36-39 I Pet. 2:5
II Pet. 3, Psalm 104:5-9, Heb. 11:7
For the next few weeks we are going to consider the Bible’s account of Noah, found in Genesis 6:9-9:28. These chapters detail God’s destroying of the earth by means of a world wide flood.
When it comes to the Bible’s assertion that God destroyed the world by means of a flood, many skeptics abound. Some of these skeptics just plain write the Bible’s account of the flood off as a myth; a colorful story that has some morals and life lessons to teach us. Other skeptics say there is some truth to the Bible’s account—but the flood was only a local event and not world wide. Then there’s a whole other batch of skeptics; those who actively seek to destroy the faith of those who believe the Bible’s account of the Flood. These ones come up with all sorts of “scientific reasons” why the Bible’s account is untrue.
When it comes to God’s destroying the world by means of a world wide flood, a good question to ask is this: Is there physical evidence to support the Bible’s claim and assertion?
The overwhelming answer is YES!
1. The geological features of this planet testify to a worldwide flood
All over the earth, there is evidence of Noah’s Flood, from sea bed to mountain tops. Whether you travel by car, train, or plane, the physical features of the earth’s terrain clearly indicate a catastrophic past. (i.e coal beds, various canyons, ocean trenches, salt domes, oil deposits, etc)
a. Sedimentary rock
As it’s name implies, water is intimately involved in the formation of sedimentary rock. Approximately 75% of the earth’s crust is sedimentary rock. Every mountain range in the whole world contains massive amounts of sedimentary rock. Marine fossils abound in sedimentary rock. In fact, millions and millions of fossils have been found in sedimentary rock. These fossils show evidences of a rapid and violent burial (read the Flood action) i.e fossilized jellyfish that were buried before they could decay. Hundreds of animals, many of different species found jumbled together in twisted and contorted positions. Multiple numbers of fossilized fish have been found with another fish sticking out of their mouths (in the process of eating them). There are even fossils that have been found that stand vertically in multiple layers of sedimentary rock. All these are evidence of rapid death and burial of animal and plant life worldwide.
b. The Grand canyon and other canyons
In the middle of the Grand canyon is this tiny little river that follows a deep vertical cut in the ground. The majority of today’s geologists agree that the only plausible explanation for the Grand canyon is that a catastrophic event occurred with water and that the canyon formed, not by the action of this tiny little river but by large scale, catastrophic, water erosion.
2. In addition to the abundance of physical evidence for the Flood there is the matter of 230 Flood stories that come from various people groups the world over. Obviously none of them are identical to the Bible’s account but this is what must be noted: These 230 flood stories agree on 4 major points. 1. A great flood covered the entire earth. 2. All people except a remnant were destroyed. 3. A great craft was used to save this remnant and some animals 4. This craft landed on a mountain.
For 230 different cultures to be all basically talking about and remembering the same event; that’s good reason to believe that there really was a world wide flood that destroyed the world.
We could spend the whole morning dealing with questions regarding the Flood that are not addressed in the Bible’s account. Rather than doing that let me recommend to you the following books…….
We need to get into our text: Read text
OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS: things that jump out at me
I. The godly character of Noah: he being a man who walked with God. v.9
Noah is a shining example of what a godly man is to look like. Our text tells us that he was man who walked with God; this is illustrated in the fact that he is here said to have been righteous and blameless.
Of course our text is not saying that Noah was perfect—for all men struggle with sin, yet Noah stood out and stands out as an example of the kind of people we ought to be.
When one is described as righteous, blameless, and as walking with God it implies a lot. It implies that not only is their heart right but also that their actions are right before the Lord. It implies a relationship with God and peace with Him. It implies that there is an active seeking of God and a desire to be close to Him. It implies and speaks of one who loves God.
Sometimes you will hear the question: what’s your walk with God like? What is being asked?
For one it’s a question that requires examination and reflection—are you walking with Him or not?. What’s being asked is this: are you staying faithful to Him, are you obeying Him in all things, are you pursuing your relationship with Him, are you experiencing the joy of your salvation?
II. The obedience of Noah to God’s commands 6:22; 7:5,9,16
If a person is going to be known for something, being known as one who obeyed the Lord has to rank real high.
Note 6:22; 7:5,9,16
Noah is not known for paying “lip service” to God, he is known as a doer of God’s will, as a man who was obedient to God.
When God told Noah to build the ark, Noah is not pictured as questioning God and his ways. He is pictured as a being willingly obedient to all that the Lord told him to do. This is why Noah is so highly spoken of in our text. This is why Noah is spoken of as righteous and blameless.
In the NT Jesus says “Why do you call me Lord, Lord and not do as I say?”. Very good question.
Noah was no hypocrite, his talk and his walk matched up. He claimed a relationship with God and he showed it with his behavior.
In I John 2:3-4 it says “We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”
In I John 5:3 it says “This is love for God, to obey his commands….”
When we think of ourselves it’s not often that we truly do not know what is the right thing to do morally. The problem is that we just want to do what we want to do.
We need to be doers of God’s word. God’s commands are not burdensome. Evidence of our being the children of God is that we have hearts that say “yes Lord, I am going to do your will, because I love you, appreciate your love, and want to please you”
III. The blessings that come to those whom find favor with God.
In Genesis 6:8 it says “But Noah found favour in the eyes of the LORD.”
Genesis 6:9-ch.9 details what God did for Noah: a man who found favor with Him.
Just think about this for a moment
a. God makes Noah privy to his plans to destroy the earth. Noah privy to a personal encounter with God.
b. God conscripts Noah and he gets to have the privilege of being the one to build the vehicle of their physical salvation (which is typological of the coming work of Christ and his making for spiritual salvation)
c. Not only does God save Noah but he saves his whole family
The Bible never speaks of his family being followers of God, only Noah, yet they get blessed because of Noah. Same principle works today: Other people around us get run off benefits of God blessing us (our culture and society, our communities, our families).
d. God establishes his covenant with Noah. From and through Noah and his descendants the promises of God will be fulfilled.
The principle of blessing for those who find favor with God continues today. He rewards and blesses those who seek to honor him.
IV. The details of the text --which communicate to us that the Flood was a real event
Another of the things that jump out at me from this text is all the specific details. Details regarding the Ark’s dimensions and how it was to be put together. Details regarding the number of animals to take. Details such as Noah’s age when the flood came. Details such as 7 days from now I will send rain on the earth for 40 days and 40 nights. Details regarding the time they were in the Ark. Details regarding how the world was flooded.
One of things all these details do is root in our minds that we are talking about an actual event. Lot’s of folks try to write off the flood as some sort of mythical event: the details given punch a hole in any “mythological story” theory.
The details help us out when it comes to certain scientific questions
i.e. how all the animals fit into the Ark, where did all the water come from to flood the whole earth to the said depth
V. The reason for the flood: the wickedness of mankind
Last week we considered Genesis 6:5 which says……
One of the things that jumps off the page in our text is this: God destroyed the world because of the wickedness of mankind.
In verses 11-13 it says…The interesting thing is this: Animals and men were supposed to fill the earth, instead violence filled the earth. Additionally, people were in the process of destroying the world and themselves and so what does God say he will do: he will finish the job: he will destroy these destroyers and the world with them: The reason: their wickedness
Sin and rebellion is not something that God overlooks. God does not destroy and judge people for no reason. God destroys and judges those who deserve it. The flood is all about justice
People are not basically good. In the sight of God, people are basically evil. Because of people’s evil, judgment and death comes. It’s because of our sin that we need a Savior; that Savior is Jesus Christ……
VI. Typological aspects in our text
a. The worldwide flood of Genesis 6-8 points to the coming and final day of destruction and as a matter of fact: so too does the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah-(certain distinctive parallels exist between Noah and Lot and the destruction that ensued)
One thing the Bible is very clear on is that a day of judgement is coming. There is coming a day when God will again destroy this world and sinful mankind. (II Peter 3). Lot’s of scoffers exist, scoffers who deliberately ignore the evidence of the world’s destruction by the Flood.
b. The ark which points to Jesus and his saving work
Just as those who were in the ark were physically saved and covered and protected from the judgment of God, so to those who are in Christ: they are spiritually saved and the protected from the coming judgment day of God.
One thing I’m sure you’ll find interesting regarding the ark is this: In the Bible there is another person whose life was saved by riding in an ark: Moses. In Exodus 2:3,5 the same word for ark is used to signify the basket of bulrushes in which baby Moses was hidden.
c. The typology of God taking Noah out of the picture before destroying the world
Think about this for a moment: Before destroying the world by the Flood, God delivered Noah. Before Jericho was destroyed, God had Rahab delivered. Before destroying Sodom and Gomorrah, God delivered Lot. Before God destroys the earth on judgment day God will take us who are his saints home to himself.
The wrath of God and judgment day is not something we as Christians need fear.
e. The typology of the water. Note I Peter 3:20-21 and how a connection is made with baptism
While talking about the typology of the water may be a little deep for us today, please note this. When God flooded the earth he returned the world to its original state (Day 2 state to be precise). God in essence washed everything away and basically decided to start again. The unfortunate thing is this: Round 2 has gone just as badly as round one.
VII. The fact that Noah had to do something to be saved from the flood
Noah had to build an ark
Lot had to leave Sodom and Gomorrah
In Egypt they had to put blood on their doorposts
Rahab had to hang a scarlet rope out of her window
Some personal step, wrapped up in faith, had to be taken by each of these individuals.
Sometimes when it comes to God and his activity in our lives, we expect him to do everything. Sometimes He does tell us to sit still but other times He expects us to do something.. i.e you want a job or a spouse, we want to see our church grow, etc
Another thing to note: In order to be physically saved from the Flood, Noah, in faith, had to build an ark. Today, the final judgment of God for sins is at hand. In order to be saved a person has to do something: they have to turn in repentance and faith to the person of Jesus Christ. Now without a doubt repentance and faith is a gracious gift to only some by God, yet it remains that the act of repenting and the act of faith in Christ is not something that God does, it’s something that is required of us.
Q How is it that a person comes to be saved today? How is it that ones sins come to be forgiven today?
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved”.
Are you right with God……
CONCLUSION
Next week we are going to continue our study of Genesis 6-9. As we begin next week I am going to begin by addressing 2 questions:
1. “How did all of those animals fit in the Ark”,
2. How was it that water came to cover all the mountains. Where did all the water come from?
REVIEW
1. The geological record overwhelmingly testifies to the Bible’s account of a world wide flood
2. The more than 230 worldwide flood stories from around the world give credence to the Biblical record
3. The godly character of Noah is something that really stands out in our text
4. The obedience of Noah to God’s commands really stands out in our text
5. Blessings come to those who find favor with God
6. The details of our text root in our minds that we are talking about an actual event
7. The wickedness of mankind, which is personally of problem for each one of us, is the reason for God’s destroying the world by the Flood
8. There are many typological features to our text. I.e
9. The fact that Noah had to do something to be saved from the Flood.
