The Flood - Part 2 (Gen 6:9-7:5)

Introduction

If you have your Bible, please turn it to Genesis 6:9-7:5.

While you turn there, let me refresh your memories before we jump into the text. It’s been about five weeks since the last time we’ve been in Genesis for a sermon, so you might be a little dusty in your memory of what all we’ve covered.

So far, we’ve worked line-by-line and thought-by-thought through the first five-and-a-half chapters of Genesis and what we’ve seen as we’ve worked through these chapters has been eye-opening.

Chs. 1-2 gave us the record of creation—that all things were created by the very Word of God through no evolutionary means, but rather all things were created by God’s direct action including the planets, the stars, the plants and the animals; including the special creation of mankind formed in the image of God. Everything was created and God called all things very good.

Ch. 3 then tells us what all went wrong. That in an act of disobedience, both Adam and Eve succumbed to their temptation, ate the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and plunged all mankind and really all of creation into the depths and consequences of sin. In ch. 3, we do, however, see just a glimpse of the Gospel, that Eve will give birth to the lineage that will eventually give birth to the one who will crush the head of the serpent.

Ch. 4 shows us just how depraved mankind is after experiencing the curse of sin with the murder of Abel by his own brother, Cain. And we see the punishment of Cain for the murder of his own brother.

Ch. 5 then gave us a genealogy, which we might be tempted to skip, but remember, the purpose of that genealogy was to show us God’s ability to providentially work in the lives of His people despite their sinfulness—that even though there was great sin in mankind, God still could accomplish what He planned to do. So much so, that Noah’s father recognized that God was going to do something tremendous in and through Noah and he named him accordingly.

Where we ended five weeks ago was the start of ch. 6, which tells us that as mankind spread and continued to multiply, so did sin and wickedness. That as mankind continued to populate the earth, the wickedness of mankind was so tremendous that it grieved God to the extent that it is time for judgment.

That’s where we are as we jump back into ch. 6, God is grieved by the sins of mankind—the wickedness of mankind; and it is now time for God to send judgment upon the people, but v. 8 says something that drives the rest of ch. 6, “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.”

Despite all the sin that all of mankind had succumbed to, Noah found favor from God and the reason why is found as we continue in the passage, but before I get too ahead of myself, let’s read the text.

Genesis 6:9–7:5 ESV

9 These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. 10 And Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 11 Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. 13 And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth. 14 Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch. 15 This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark 300 cubits, its breadth 50 cubits, and its height 30 cubits. 16 Make a roof for the ark, and finish it to a cubit above, and set the door of the ark in its side. Make it with lower, second, and third decks. 17 For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die. 18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. 19 And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ark to keep them alive with you. They shall be male and female. 20 Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, of every creeping thing of the ground, according to its kind, two of every sort shall come in to you to keep them alive. 21 Also take with you every sort of food that is eaten, and store it up. It shall serve as food for you and for them.” 22 Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him. 1 Then the Lord said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation. 2 Take with you seven pairs of all clean animals, the male and his mate, and a pair of the animals that are not clean, the male and his mate, 3 and seven pairs of the birds of the heavens also, male and female, to keep their offspring alive on the face of all the earth. 4 For in seven days I will send rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and every living thing that I have made I will blot out from the face of the ground.” 5 And Noah did all that the Lord had commanded him.

As we study this passage together, we’re going to break it into three parts: (1) Noah’s Righteousness (9-10), (2) God’s Instructions (11-21), and (3) Noah’s Obedience (6:22-7:5). All three sections are used by the author of Genesis to prove a simple point—the payment for sin is death and without God, there is only destruction. You’ll see this idea reiterated throughout the text, which our application is drawn from—judgment is coming, be prepared by repenting, believing, and following Jesus. Keep this in mind as we work through the text.

Prayer for Illumination

Noah’s Righteousness (9-10)

In the first verse, we’re told two significant details—the first of which might not sound significant, but it does help us in interpreting the book of Genesis; the second has to do with Noah himself.

The first detail is from the sentence, “These are the generations of Noah.”

Remember, this isn’t the first time nor will it be the last time that the book of Genesis utilizes the term generations.

In Gen 2:4, we read about the generations of the heavens and the earth.

We’ve read about the generations of Adam in ch. 5.

We have the generations of Noah in this chapter.

And you’ll see the concept of generations in chs. 10, 11, 25, 36, and 37.

We’ve chosen to subtitle our series in Genesis as “the book of beginnings,” some have called it the book of generations for this very purpose.

It might seem like a minor detail, but the concept of generations undergirds the book of Genesis, which means that the author is tying the account of Noah to the overall storyline of Genesis.

There’s a purpose for telling us of Noah, the flood, and the ark beyond it being just a helpful anecdote.

That’s what the author of Genesis is reminding us.

The second detail worth noting in v. 9 is all about Noah. We’re told that “Noah was a righteous man, [a] blameless [man] in his generation.”

This verse tells us that there was something that differentiated Noah from those around him and it had to do with the way that he lived his life.

His life was lived in such a way that the Bible tells us that he was righteous or we might say innocent or upright in heart. The Bible tells us that he was blameless or that he was unscathed by the sinfulness of mankind around him.

It’s clear that the way that Noah exemplified right living in contrast to the wrong living of those around him.

But we have to be careful with a statement like this because reading this in isolation from the rest of Scripture could give us the idea that we earn favor with God by acting righteously or blamelessly, but that isn’t what the text says: we know this for two reasons: (1) the text actually tells us what made him righteous and blameless and (2) the Bible tells us elsewhere that true righteousness and blamelessness isn’t from within, but from God through Jesus Christ.

So, that first reason, the text tells us what made him righteous in the very next phrase—“Noah walked with God.”

Noah’s righteousness and blamelessness didn’t come from his own exerted effort to live a certain way, it came as a result of him choosing to walk with God.

And that walking with God is what caused that righteous and blameless living—not vice versa. Without God it is impossible to live righteously and blamelessly.

That idea, what is the second reason is then reiterated throughout Scripture, but particularly in the New Testament:

Hebrews 11:6 tells us that the only way to live rightly is through faith. In fact, Hebrews 11:7 tells us that Noah’s approval by God was the result of his faith and not the other way around.

In 2 Cor 5:21, Paul explains that we’re made righteous not by our own ability, but because Jesus who knew no sin became sin for us.

Noah was righteous and blameless not due to his own doing, but because he chose to walk with God.

V. 10 then tells us before moving into God’s instructions about Noah’s family.

We’re not told a lot in this verse, but we do know he had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

And then we know from v. 18 that they were all adults because they brought their wives with them on the ark.

We also know that they must’ve been likeminded with their father because everyone who wasn’t righteous died outside of the ark.

But other than this, we don’t know much about them from this text and that’s alright.

The text then continues in vv. 11-21 with specific instructions from God to Noah. I’m not going to re-read the whole section because it is long, but let me point out a few details.

God’s Instructions (11-21)

Vv. 11-12 reiterate the wickedness of mankind, “Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence. And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.”

Three times in two verses, the words corrupt or corrupted are used to describe the people on earth; and we know contextually that this corruption has to concern their own moral standing.

They were morally bankrupt and in their immorality to the extent that the earth was filled with violence.

Matthew Henry, “All kinds of sin were found among men . . . Sin fills the earth with violence . . . The contagion spread. When wickedness [becomes regular], ruin is not far off; while there is a remnant of praying people in a nation, to empty the measure as it fills, judgments may be long kept off; but when all hands are at work to pull down the fences, by sin, and none stand in the gap to make up the breach, what can be expected but a flood of wrath?” (Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, 1997), Gen 6:8.)

The idea is that they were so far gone in their own sin that there needed to be a judgment or consequence for their sin; or, in other words, God, in His holiness and justice determined that it was time for His wrath to handle the issue of sin.

But again, Noah found favor in the sight of God, not because of his own doing, but because of his faithful walk with the Lord; and so, in v. 13, we see God speak to Noah—to warn him of what is to come. God says, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth.” This statement teaches us two things:

First, it shows us that the consequences of sin or the payment for sin is tremendously high—remember God’s warning to Adam and Eve that their sin would cause death. In Noah’s day, a world filled with tremendous wickedness and unrighteousness leads to the death of those who refused to repent.

Second, it shows us that God does take sin seriously—in the case of the world during Noah’s life, I’m sure the people around Noah thought that they were getting away with all their sin. Just like in today’s world, there are plenty of people who think that they’re getting away with their sin, but the reality is that every sin requires payment and judgment (even if that judgment isn’t experienced yet).

God is warning Noah that there is impending judgment coming upon the world, but remember, Noah has found favor in the sight of God. And thus, God not only warns him that something is coming, he provides a means of salvation or escape for Noah.

God gives Noah plans to build and ark of gopher wood; and there are several details given to us in vv. 14-16 about what exactly the boat’s dimensions were, but if you’re like me, you can’t really picture it because you aren’t too certain on what a cubit looks like. And there are two ways to correct that problem: (1) let me read it to you in the NLT, which might help because they utilize measurements that we’re a little more familiar with:

14 “Build a large boat from cypress wood and waterproof it with tar, inside and out. Then construct decks and stalls throughout its interior. 15 Make the boat 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. 16 Leave an 18-inch opening below the roof all the way around the boat. Put the door on the side, and build three decks inside the boat—lower, middle, and upper.” (NLT)

Second, let me show you a picture of a modern replica of the ark (see image on screen)

God tells Noah to build this rather large boat (which by the way, doesn’t look like a floating bathtub like many nurseries seem to think) because, v. 17 reminds us that there is about to be destruction for the sins of mankind, “For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh . . . everything that is on the earth shall die.”

But again, remember, Noah has found favor with the Lord and God informs him of what exactly that means in v. 18, “I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you.”

There’s that covenantal language coming out again—this is a contractual promise between God and Noah not based on Noah’s actions, but rather based on the fact that God has given him favor for his faith.

Whereas, the rest of mankind in their sinfulness will be judged for their sin, Noah will be brought safely through the flood by way of the ark (and ultimately, by way of God).

God tells Noah to build this large boat, to bring two of every living creature according to their kinds for the purpose of preserving life and repopulating the earth.

Now, as a side-note, many people get distracted by the logistics of all these different details—let me encourage you in two aspects: (1) the details, though interesting and useful are not the most important parts of this passage and in the worst case can be distracting; (2) if you spend hours ironing out all the details, but don’t actually get the main point of the text, then you won’t be able to apply it the way that it is meant to be applied.

But, back to the text. God prepares Noah for what he is to face by exhorting him to take food, to store it up for the purpose of eating while on the ark.

God even prepares Noah for what is to occur after the ark, though, you might not notice that unless you carefully look at this last section. Let’s re-read the last few verses starting in v. 22 and moving into ch. 7,

Genesis 6:22–7:5 ESV

22 Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him. 1 Then the Lord said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation. 2 Take with you seven pairs of all clean animals, the male and his mate, and a pair of the animals that are not clean, the male and his mate, 3 and seven pairs of the birds of the heavens also, male and female, to keep their offspring alive on the face of all the earth. 4 For in seven days I will send rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and every living thing that I have made I will blot out from the face of the ground.” 5 And Noah did all that the Lord had commanded him.

Noah’s Obedience (6:22-7:5)

So, God gives Noah instructions concerning this ark and the preparation for the journey on the ark before giving him a few more instruction concerning certain animals. God tells Noah to bring a certain number of clean animals and a certain number of unclean animals; He tells Noah to bring a certain amount of birds.

And all that could sound like random details unless you think of what these different animals could be used for—particularly the clean animals and the birds in which he was told to bring extra of.

Think about what they could be used for particularly after the flood—and if you’re still lost, let me point out two verses in ch. 8, Genesis 8:20–21. After the flood subsides and the waters abate, “20 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done.”

God prepares Noah even before the flood to be able to worship the Lord properly after the flood—this speaks profoundly of not just God’s sovereignty and His providence, but it speaks specifically about His omniscience and His foresight—that God recognized that Noah would worship after the flood and would need the animals to be able to worship Him properly.

In His omniscience, God knows exactly what Noah needs to bring along to not just sustain himself, but also all the animals. He also knows how many animals would need to be had to repopulate the earth as well as provide a sufficient and pleasing sacrifice from Noah as part of his worship.

It’s really no wonder then that Noah would simply obey what God had commanded, which we see in vv. 22 and 5. Knowing what Noah knows about God—that God is almighty, all-knowing, and that He is about to enact judgment on the earth, you would think that anyone would listen, but thinking this way might give the impression that Noah is acting out of fear.

And I think that would be mistaken. The Bible tells us that Noah found favor in God because he was righteous and blameless, that he genuinely walked with God.

This tells us that he was already growing in his relationship with God prior to learning that there was a significant global flood coming.

More than likely, his obedience was not the result of fear of impending judgment, his obedience was the result of his already growing relationship with God who made him righteous and blameless.

Noah believed and walked with God, which is why he chose to obey all that God had commanded.

Which brings us to our application for this morning. And truthfully, application for this text isn’t too difficult to discern because we’re in a similar situation today as Noah was then.

Let me explain—we live in a world that has rejected God, that’s filled with people who choose to continue in their sin rather than repent. We live in a world that progressively sinks deeper and deeper into sin and its consequences. And the message today is similar to the message that was given by Noah as he preached repentance because judgment was at hand.

John the Baptist who prepared the way for Jesus proclaimed, “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” Jesus, likewise, preached, “Repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” There is coming a day when Jesus will bring forth His Kingdom on earth and as part of His return, He will judge all mankind for their sin. Like Noah, the message is the same—judgment is coming because Jesus is returning; thus, it’s time to repent.

Now, I know some unbelievers argue that it doesn’t seem like Jesus is returning because of the longevity of time that we’ve waited, but consider 2 Peter 3:8–10 “8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.”

The message is the same—Jesus is coming, the Kingdom will be consummated here on earth as it is in heaven. Now is the time to repent, believe, and follow Him. And that is where our application is—our application is built on a simple statement, which was seen in Noah’s day and will be seen again as we await the return of Jesus—Judgment is coming.

Application

So, friends, what we learn from Noah in Genesis 6-7 is that judgment is coming and like Noah, we need to be prepared.

Like the flood in Noah’s day, this judgment will be complete and only those who are righteous and blameless will be saved from this judgment.

And like Noah, only those who are walking with God will be found as righteous and blameless—thus, only those who know Jesus experientially (who have repented of their sins, believed in Him, and follow Him) will be saved from the judgment that is to come because only those whom Jesus has saved are righteous and blameless.

Those who refuse to repent of their sins, believe in Him, and follow Him will find themselves facing judgment and then eternal punishment and damnation for their sin.

Unlike Noah, our preparation isn’t in building an ark for our families to jump aboard—no, our preparation is found in our genuine belief in Jesus Christ.

Or, in other words—when we call people to be prepared for the judgment that is to come, the only way that they can prepare is first by repenting, believing, and following Jesus.

Judgment is coming, be prepared in the only way that you can be prepared—repent, believe, and follow Jesus.

Now, I’m making an assumption that the majority in this room and the majority listening online have already repented, believed, and are actively following Jesus; so, you’re thinking on the ark of Noah (the flood) and you’re wondering, how exactly do I apply a passage like this knowing that I’m already saved from the judgment that is to come? And that’s where your application comes in:

First, judgment is coming, but Jesus has already saved you, which means that the account of the flood reminds you of all that Jesus saves you from and it assures you that if you are His.

He will not pour out His wrath on you, His Son has already taken that wrath for you.

Unlike those who will face judgment that results in their eternal torment, you are already on the ark of salvation, which is really through Jesus Christ.

Unlike those who will face judgment as the result of their sin, your sin have already been covered by the blood of Jesus Christ.

What that means is that the account of the flood ought to cause you to celebrate.

You’re not celebrating the judgment of those around you, but rather, you’re celebrating that as a believer in Jesus Christ you’re in the ark because Jesus has saved you.

And that celebration ought to cause you to praise and give thanks and absolutely worship the God who has saved you—He has placed you in the ark, not because of anything that you’ve done, but because of Jesus’ willingness and ability to save you.

If you’re a believer this morning, an account like the flood ought to compel you to praise, give thanks, and worship simply because you know that you are on the ark of salvation because of Jesus Christ.

Second, judgment is coming, so have hope. There’s two ways to look at that:

The first is this, judgment is coming, so what appears to be unfair and unjust today, will eventually be paid for. No one sins and gets away with it—all sin requires a payment.

The psalmists speak about this a lot, that there is coming a time when God will judge those who seem to get away with everything.

In our current world, it looks like the wicked win, but that will not always be the case—Jesus is coming and He will judge those who area wicked.

Second, judgement is coming and in conjunction with the coming judgment is the coming kingdom—the kingdom in which there is no pain and suffering, no struggle, no trial, and no tribulation.

In our current world, life is rather difficult, but that will not always be the case—Jesus is coming and His Kingdom consummated will be far greater than any suffering that we could experience today.

If you’re a believer this morning, an account like the flood reminds us that things will not always be like they are right now and that should cause you to have hope.

Put simply, what Genesis 6:9-7:5 teaches us is that judgment genuinely is coming—if you’re an unbeliever, you need to repent, believe, and follow Jesus. If you’re a believer, give thanks, praise Jesus, and worship Him because He has saved you; and have hope because He is coming.

Pastoral Prayer