Why the Flood Happened and How God Helped One Family Prepare for the Flood – Genesis 6:1-7:5
Illustration:It was a stormy night in Birmingham, England, and Hudson Taylor was to speak at a meeting at the Severn Street schoolroom. His hostess assured him that nobody would attend on such a stormy night, but Taylor insisted on going. "I must go even if there is no one but the doorkeeper." Less than a dozen people showed up, but the meeting was marked with unusual spiritual power. Half of those present either became missionaries or gave their children as missionaries; and the rest were faithful supporters of the China Inland Mission for years to come.
W. Wiersbe, Wycliffe Handbook of Preaching and Preachers, p. 242.
Help the people explain how the Lord used Noah because he was a righteous man, blameless among the people and he walked with God. God uses godly people to prepare others for times of adversity.
People and adults tend to struggle with doubt, fear and feelings of uncertainty. However, when people trust and obey God’s word they will never be disappointed.
Let us learn how the Lord used a man who totally relied on God’s reliability.
When everyone else in the world neglected God, Noah walked with the Lord in simple trust, communion and obedience. Even when everyone thinks that it does not pay to stay faithful to God, remember how the Lord powerfully used Noah.
There are times when we might doubt that God will fulfill the promises given in His word. However, God is always faithful to fulfill every word of His promises.
The Lord used Noah because he was the one man who was distinguished from the rest of the world in three major ways.
1. First, Noah found favor in God’s eyes because he was righteous as compared to everyone else who had become corrupt.
God still looks for people who have trust in Him for their righteousness, power to obey and guidance in completing God’s will.
2. Second, Noah’s life was a powerful contrast to the wickedness of other men who could not be found blameless in their motives. Surely, Noah sinned, but he was a humble man who sincerely served the Lord out of pure motivations.
3. Thirdly, Noah walked with God so that he kept in intimate communications with the Lord about every aspect of his personal life. People whose walk is controlled by the power of the Holy Spirit and directed by the Bible are walking with God in close fellowship and will be blessed.
What does it means to be faithful? A faithful person is trustworthy, reliable and completely true to what they believe.
Ask the people what is means to be unfaithful? An unfaithful person is one who is false, unreliable and disloyal to what they profess to believe.
Write down the ways that the people know that the God and His word are totally faithful. List the number of ways that Noah showed himself to be faithful to God in contrast to all the other people of his day.
Describe how man’s sin caused great sorrow for the Lord. The Lord said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I created, from the face of the earth… but Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.”
Compare and contrast your own character qualities with that of Noah.
How do you think the Lord must feel about the terrible sins of people on the earth today?
Do you know of anyone who you might call faithful and true? A faithful person is trustworthy, reliable and completely true to what they believe.
What does it mean to be unfaithful? An unfaithful person is one who is false, unreliable and disloyal to what they profess to believe.
(Genesis 6:1-7:5)
There came a time on earth when people followed their human lusts rather than continue to obey God. Corruption became the normal practice in the way people carried out their social, cultural and financial dealings.
1. People throughout the world became totally depraved. As a result of man’s corruption, God became sorrowful in His heart that He had made man. God said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth… for I am grieved that I have made them. But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” (Gen. 6:7,8) God hates sin and cannot stand to see His world spoiled by its effects. As a result of our faith in Christ in our present day are we made righteous and acceptable to God. Paul once wrote, “Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness. Godliness is profitable for all things not only in this life, but also in the age to come.” (I Tim. 4:7,8)
2. God instructed Noah, the only righteous man on the earth at the time, to construct a large ark of cypress wood. Then the Lord said, “I am going to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish. But I will establish my covenant with you and you will enter the ark – you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you. You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you… Noah did everything just as God commanded him.” (Gen. 6:17-22)
When we are obedient to the Lord He not only blesses us, but uses us to multiply and carry out His purposes on the earth.
3. The Lord is eager to use people with Noah’s godly character qualities.
Noah refused to conform to corrupt practices of all the rest of the people on the earth because he chose to remain faithful and obedient to God.
We know that it is impossible to do the will of God with trust and obedience to God’s word. Furthermore, no one can walk with God without the empowering power of the Holy Spirit. It is not just enough to be a disciplined Christian since we are reliant on the Spirit to produce the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control. (Gal. 5:22,23)
4. The more we worship the Lord in spirit and truth, the more we become like Him. People who fail to worship the Lord through the study of His word will find it nearly impossible to follow Him fully with a trusting, obedient and loving heart.
5. God used Noah more than all of the other people in the world put together. When we are obedient to the Lord He will use us in accomplishing great things for the sake of His kingdom and righteousness. Do not become discouraged if you do not presently realize how the Lord is using you for His purposes. Jesus said, “People are known by their fruit.”
Since we are living in New Testament days, how do people find forgiveness for their sins today? How does Christ’s atonement satisfy the wrath of God against sin in the life of Christian?
Righteousness, reliability, steadfastness, truthfulness, conscientious, uncompromising, consistent, truthful, honest, wise, mature, obedient, reverent, faithful, upright, moral, wise, holy, pure, and hard-working. Why are these character qualities so important if we expect to be used of God? Why do some people fail to develop these godly characteristics in their lives? What are some of the consequences of failing to live a godly lifestyle?
Memory Verse: “Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time and he walked with God.” (Gen. 6:9)
Conclusion:Mark Hatfield tells of touring Calcutta with Mother Teresa and visiting the so-called "House of Dying," where sick children are cared for in their last days, and the dispensary, where the poor line up by the hundreds to receive medical attention. Watching Mother Teresa minister to these people, feeding and nursing those left by others to die, Hatfield was overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the suffering she and her co-workers face daily. "How can you bear the load without being crushed by it?" he asked. Mother Teresa replied, "My dear Senator, I am not called to be successful, I am called to be faithful."
Beyond Hunger, Beals
Response:
Song: “Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty to Christ.”
Prayer: Ask the Lord to help you grow in the godly characteristics exhibited in the life of Noah. Trust the Lord to help you spend more time with godly people and less time with ungodly people.
At Home: Share some of the godly characteristics that you studied about in the life of Noah. Ask your friends to explain how these godly traits are demonstrated in every day life.
