Flood of the whole world pt 4 Gen 8:1-22;9:8-17

Introduction

Noah had just built an ark and gone through the first rain storm on earth. It rained for 40 days and 40 nights and the whole earth was flooded, and the destruction of the water lasted 150 days. The waters reached 20 ft higher than the tallest mountain in the world. God had protected Noah and his family plus all the animals while the world around them had been destroyed. God had shut them in and kept them safe.

Tonight we are going to look at the final part in our study of the flood of the whole world and see God give a promise that he will never break.

The rain stops vs. 1-5

God remember Noah vs.1a

Obviously God didn’t forget Noah on the ark as he is there with him .

Even in English, “remember” does not necessarily refer to bringing something to mind that had been forgotten. It can also apply to something that has been kept in mind, like a birthday card that states, “remembering you on your special day.” The Hebrew word zakar can have similar connotations.

The Bible frequently speaks of God remembering His people. God remembered Abraham (Genesis 19:29), Rachel (Genesis 30:22), and Hannah (1 Samuel 1:19). Before freeing the Israelites from their bondage in Egypt, the Lord “remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob” (Exodus 2:24). Also, many Old Testament figures prayed that God would remember them, such as Samson (Judges 16:28), David (Psalm 25:7), and Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:3).

This verse isn’t telling us that God forgot about Noah, his family, and the animals. Genesis 8:1 teaches an important truth in the Flood account: God’s attention was focused on Noah and those with him on the Ark.

What a great thought!

God sent a wind to pass over the earth vs. 1b

As the wind was passing on the earth the waters asswaged.

Asswaged- to abate or subside

The fountains of the deep that were turned on at the beginning of the flood are now closed. vs. 2a

The windows of heaven that were opened are now stopped and the rain is restrained. vs. 2b

The waters returned from off the earth continually. vs. 3

They were running off in streams, creeks and rivers into the ocean and lakes.

Everything was going back to its proper place, the dry ground was getting separated from the waters again.

After the end of 150 days the waters were abated vs. 3

Abated- Lessened; decreased;

The ark rested on top of Mount Ararat on the 17th day of the 7th month. vs. 4

On the first day of the 10th month they could finally see the mountain tops.

They had been on the ark for about 224 days from the time the flood started until this time.

The sign for Noah vs 6-12

After another 40 days Noah opened the window of the ark vs. 6

This would have been day 264 of being on the ark.

The reason for opening the window was to send out a raven to go out until the waters were dried up from the earth

Another 7 days pass and Noah sends out a dove to see if there was dry ground for them vs. 8-9

The dove goes out and comes back because there is no dry ground ,Noah brought the dove back into the ark.

Noah sent the dove back out after 7 more days and the dove came back in the evening with an olive leaf and Noah knew the waters were drying up vs 10-11

After 7 more days Noah sent the dove back out and this time the dove didn’t come back. This would have been day 285 on the ark.

The family leaves the ark with the animals vs. 13-19

On the 1st day of the 1st month of the 601st year of Noahs life, the waters were dried up from off the earth. vs. 13

On that day Noah removed the covering of the ark and the waters had receded enough to see the earths surfaces

Almost two months later the earth is completely dry. vs. 14

After 370 days the earth had finally returned to the new normal.

One commentary said this “Then, finally, by day 370 the earth’s continental land surfaces were dry. Thus, it can be noted that the recessional stage of the Flood (when the waters were retreating) lasted about five and half months, while the Flood’s inundatory stage (when the waters were rising) lasted exactly five months. The recessional stage lasted almost the same length of time as it took for the water to overtake the earth globally. The Flood event finished with another two months needed to complete the drying process.”

All of this would not be possible with a Local Flood, the flood had to be worldwide.

God speaks to Noah and tells him to get off the ark vs. 15-16

Noah was to get his family off the ark.

Everything is taken off the ark.

Once the flood is over the only things left are 8 people and two of every unclean animal and 7 of every clean animal.

When the animals got off the ark the we told to be fruitful and multiply upon the earth.

The first sacrifice after the flood vs. 20-22

After getting all the animals and his family off the ark Noah set up an altar unto the Lord.

He took of every clean beast and every clean fowl and mad a burnt offering to the Lord.

I think its important to note the priority of worship in Noahs life, he could of run off and done anything after being on an ark for 370 days, but the first thing he did was worship God through sacrifice.

We must place the same priority on worship in our own life and the life of our family. Just as Noahs family would have seen him worship, our family should see us worship. It should be a priority in our life as it was in Noahs.

The Offering was a sweet smelling savour to the Lord

The Lord said in his heart that he wouldn't flood the earth again.

While the earth remained God promised for seasons and day and night

Seedtime- spring

Harvest - fall

Summer

Winter

Isn’t it amazing we still have all four seasons even today (Though sometimes it feels like we miss seasons here in Texas)

The Noahic Covenant 9:8-17

He establish the covenant with Noah and his seed

He promised never to flood the earth again

The token of the Covenant

A rainbow

The token serves as a reminder to us that God promised to never flood the earth agin with water

While the world has tried to steal the rainbow from the Christian, God is the creator of the rainbow and he gave it to us as a reminder of his promise for us.

Conclusion

God flooded the earth because of sin and saved one man and his family. God is longsuffering but he is also just. There is coming a day when he will destroy the earth again, not with water but with fire.

Are you ready for that day? Have you entered through the door of Jesus Christ into safety from that judgement?