The Global Flood and the Morality of God

Open: video clip of pro lifer who cannot answer question regarding the Global Flood.

Transition: The secular broadcaster is correct: either you believe the Bible or you do not. Make no mistake, these pagans are mocking God and they will answer for that! What I want to emphasize, however, is the non-answer the pro-life gave, not the ridicule from the unbelievers.

If you were the guy on camera, what would you say? Would you have a response? Have you ever thought about the apparent contradiction that reporter is trying to create? Is God a moral monster for killing off the global population, including babies and children?

Today’s text of Genesis Chapter 7 presents the Flood account. As we look at this text together, I want you realize that this historical account is much more than a history lesson. There are principles contained in this chapter that will assist you in living out your faith in the public square.

Read the Text: Genesis 7:1-22

1st Observation: God is Sovereignly responsible for the Flood (Gen 7:4)

Explanation: This verse is very clear as to the One responsible for the Flood. God says, “I will send rain,” and in v. 23 the text declares, “He blotted out every living thing that was on the face of the ground.” This leaves no uncertainty - God was indeed responsible for the death of the global population, less 8 individuals (Noah and his immediate family)

The reason for the Flood is found in Genesis 6 and those issues were dealt with in sermons in October and early November. But just to summarize: God decreed the Flood as judgment against widespread wickedness and rebellion (cf Gen 6:11-13). In His holiness, God judged the sin of Noah’s day through the agency of a Global Flood.

Question: How can a God who destroyed life be considered pro-life? God is the One who gave the 10 commandments and #6 declares, “thou shalt not kill.” (Ex. 20:13)

Answer: The question involves different categories. The 6th commandment deals with murder - the deliberate ending of the life of an image-bearer by another image-bearer. The commandment is given by God (the Creator) to humans (the created).

As the Righteous and Holy Creator, God has the right and the power to end life through judgment when He sees fit. Humans, as creations, do not have the moral right to end a life - hence, abortion is murder.

God’s judgment on the wicked through the Flood was moral and righteous. His future judgment on the wicked will also be moral and righteous.

Application: Accept the limitations of being a created being who is part of a world that is ravaged by sin. God is in a separate category and He acts for His glory through His righteous deeds. We do not understand the scope of His judgment due to our limitations (we cannot see the Big Picture), but we can accept that whatever God does is Righteous because He is the definition of holiness and Righteousness.

2nd Observation: The size of the Ark was sufficient to hold all of the kinds of land animals and birds. (Genesis 7:2-3)

Explanation: The dimensions of the Ark are given in Genesis 6:14-16, and results in a boat (depending on the length of a cubit) that is between 450 - 500 feet long, 75 - 90 feet wide, and 45 - 60 feet high. (I highly recommend taking a trip to the Ark Encounter in the Cincinnati area to explore the replica of Noah’s Ark by the Answers in Genesis organization). The Ark was massive and had sufficient room to hold all of those animals.

Note: Only the parent “kinds” needed to be on the Ark. For instance, only a pair of the “cat kind” needed to be on board. From that pair we now have lions, tigers, panthers, house cats, cheetahs, etc. Ken Ham, founder of AIG states, “Answers in Genesis believes that there were slightly less than 7,000 animals on the Ark, representing slightly less than 1,400 kinds.” (Creation to Babel, A Commentary for Families, by Ken Ham, p. 183)

Dinosaurs would have been included on the Ark. Don’t be taken in by those who ridicule the Ark by placing a pair of full size adult brontosaurs next to the Ark. Noah would have taken a juvenile pair of each of the dinosaur kinds on the boat.

Observation #3 The Flood was global in Scope (Genesis 7: 11-12, 17-20)

Explanation: The text of Genesis 6 - 8 clearly states that the flood was a world-wide catastrophe and it impacted all regions of the globe. Against the biblical account of a global flood are a multitude of opposing voices. Scientists ridicule the idea of a flood because it does not agree with their evolutionary models. There are even many Christians who believe in a old earth model and they contend the flood was only a localized event. I don’t want to confuse or bore anyone with a lot of detail, but I do want you to know there is a great deal of evidence that supports a global flood. I simply want to give you several concepts to consider

Worldview is crucial. Creation Scientists and Evolutionary scientists are looking at the same exact data - the differing conclusions are the result of interpreting the data according to worldview. [for further study go to answersingenesis.org for a wealth of information]

The text states that the “all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened” (Gen 7:11). The waters from the underground basins along with a torrential downpour of 40 days and nights put a great deal of water on the land.

Some claim that even 40 days and nights of rain would not have produced enough water to cover Mt. Everest, K-2, etc. (29,000 plus feet). Yet the text states that the mountains (high hills) were covered under 15 cubits of water (Gen 7:18-19). The answer is that the mountains were not that high at the beginning of the flood. The bursting of the fountains of the deep caused a shift in the base plates of the earth and resulted in separation of the continents. The current high peaks were only formed at the final stages (or after ) the flood.

Conclusion - What is the importance of the Flood account for today?

The Flood Account means the Bible is trustworthy. I do not want any of you to get confused with details that can be confusing at first mention. I do want you to be aware that evidence DOES exist that verifies and supports the biblical account.

2. God’s past Judgment on sin is in accordance with His holiness and His righteousness. This truth has tremendous bearing on His future judgment (Read the text of Matt 24:37-39)

3. In closing I draw your attention to v.16 of our text: “and the LORD shut him in.” God is the only One who had the authority to close the door, and He did close it. Just as He closed the door of opportunity for repentance in Noah’s Day, so He will also be the One who closes the door of salvation in the future. Jesus is the Door - John 10:9