Judgement and Restoration

Today, we approach one of the most disturbing passages in the O.T., the account of the flood. However, if we are not careful, we will miss how, through the flood, God showed mercy and redeemed a people for himself.

Like any good story, there is always a plot structure. The first thing most stories do is set the scene. There are probably really two scenes here—a scene within a scene. Now, if you remember way back when we started this study in Genesis, I mentioned how the purpose of Genesis was to both correct a narrative and instruct the people of Israel as they had come out of the slavery of Egypt.

Now, picture with me How the nation of Israel would have interpreted this account after having wandered in the wilderness for forty years.

A time when everyone who had refused to go into the promise land died , yet God in his mercy preserved a remnant for his good Kingdom to continue on earth. Do you see the parallels?

So the theme of this passage of scripture is not that God judges sin, although we see that he does, but rather the theme is

Theme: God makes new beginnings to continue his Kingdom on earth.

So lets look at the opening scene.

Scene: The world is in darkness.

Genesis 6:5 CSB

When the Lord saw that human wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every inclination of the human mind was nothing but evil all the time,

Contrast this with Genesis 1:31

Genesis 1:31 CSB

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good indeed. Evening came and then morning: the sixth day.

I mean this paints a pretty bleak picture of humanity doesn’t it. Evil was on their minds continually. Which by the way this the reason God gave Moses the Law. Not because it purifies mankind from sin but because mans wicked heart needs restraints without it we will do only evil.

Genesis 6:6–7 CSB

the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and he was deeply grieved. Then the Lord said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I created, off the face of the earth, together with the animals, creatures that crawl, and birds of the sky—for I regret that I made them.”

But just when it seems like all hope is lost. Humanity is doomed to extinction we see this next few verses.

God preserves a Remnant.

Genesis 6:8–9 CSB

Noah, however, found favor with the Lord. These are the family records of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among his contemporaries; Noah walked with God.

The phrase walked “walked with God is only used once in describing any person coming before Noah. We see that same phrase used to describe “Enoch”.

In other words Noah and Enoch both had the same heart for the Lord. Even though the world around them would abandoned Yahweh’s ways. They continued to walk with God and in God’s ways.

God warns Noah of the Coming Judgement.

Genesis 6:11–13 CSB

Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with wickedness. God saw how corrupt the earth was, for every creature had corrupted its way on the earth. Then God said to Noah, “I have decided to put an end to every creature, for the earth is filled with wickedness because of them; therefore I am going to destroy them along with the earth.

This is interesting because many would say well why didn’t God warn the rest of the world. How is it just that God would punish the world if they didn’t know about the judgement?

Let me ask this another way.

How did Noah know to walk with God? Is it man’s responsibility to walk with God or is it God’s responsibility to chase after man’s affections.

If any others had chosen to walk with God do you think that God would have warned them as well?

Yes, absolutely. So by choosing to ignore the things of God one of the consequences is that man chooses to forget about the coming judgement and will miss out on its warnings.

Romans 1:18–21 CSB

For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse. For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened.

Death is the proof that God’s wraith has been revealed against all sin. Sin proves that God is deadly serious about sin.

But how many will respond to the warnings in this way?

On the first day teaching his class for 250 college freshmen, R. C. Sproul carefully explained the assignment of three term papers. Each paper was due on the last day of September, October, and November. Sproul clearly stated there would be no extensions (except for medical reasons). At the end of September, 225 students dutifully turned in their papers, while 25 remorseful students quaked in fear. "We're so sorry," they said. "We didn't make the proper adjustments from high school to college, but we promise to do better next time." He bowed to their pleas for mercy, gave them an extension, but warned them not to be late next month.

The end of October rolled around, and 200 students turned in their papers, while 50 students showed up empty-handed. "Oh, please," they begged, "it was homecoming weekend, and we ran out of time." Sproul relented once more but warned them, "This is it. No excuses next time. You will get an F."

The end of November came, and only 100 students turned in their papers. The rest casually told Sproul, "Don't worry about it, Doc. We'll get it in soon."

"Sorry," Sproul replied. "It's too late now. You get an F."

The students howled in protest, "That's not fair!"

"Okay," Sproul replied once more, "you want justice, do you? Here's what's just: you'll get an F for all three papers that were late. That was the rule, right?"

"The students had quickly taken my mercy for granted," Sproul later reflected. "They assumed it. When justice suddenly fell, they were unprepared for it. It came as a shock, and they were outraged."

Even though death was given as a warning. God still uses people to warn of the coming judgement. In fact, Noah did this very thing.

2 Peter 2:5 CSB

and if he didn’t spare the ancient world, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others, when he brought the flood on the world of the ungodly;

God Provided a Means of Escape.

Genesis 6:14 CSB

“Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it with pitch inside and outside.

Genesis 6:17–18 CSB

“Understand that I am bringing a flood—floodwaters on the earth to destroy every creature under heaven with 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 with your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives.

Notice that God is reiterating that there is only way to escape the coming judgement. So by faith Noah obeyed God.

of course we know the story. Noah is instructed to take two of every kind of land-dwelling animal and then seven pairs of all the clean animals .

Genesis 7:1 CSB

Then the Lord said to Noah, “Enter the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you alone are righteous before me in this generation.

Genesis 7:16 CSB

Those that entered, male and female of every creature, entered just as God had commanded him. Then the Lord shut him in.

When the door shut it was too late.

So then the flood comes the entire earth is wiped clean. It rained for 40 days and 40 nights. Every man, woman, and child. Every Animal on the earth is cleansed from the earth.

But then we come to the focus of all of this account.

Genesis 8:1 CSB

God remembered Noah, as well as all the wildlife and all the livestock that were with him in the ark. God caused a wind to pass over the earth, and the water began to subside.

The word “remembered” is not suggesting that God had in the midst of the flood somehow forgot about Noah and His family. This isn’t a “oh I was so busy making it rain” that I forgot about the people that I have spared. In other words, its not a cognitive issue or remembrance.

Instead, it is saying bases upon the information I know I will act differently or accordingly.

So God remembered Noah and his family and ceased from judgement and began to restore the earth. God had preserved a new Adam, Noah, and started over again.

Now fast forward.

In the same way as the children of Israel had wondered for 40 years in the wilderness until all of the past generation persished. God began a new with them as they entered into the promise land. They were once again the new Adam. They were the remnant that God preserved so that his Kingdom would go forward. So even though God sin in His grace he will preserver a remnant for his kingdom to go forward.

But church family there is coming one more great judgement. God has warned us .

2 Peter 3:6–7 CSB

Through these the world of that time perished when it was flooded. By the same word, the present heavens and earth are stored up for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

2 Peter 3:12 CSB

as you wait for the day of God and hasten its coming. Because of that day, the heavens will be dissolved with fire and the elements will melt with heat.

The First world wide judgement he cleansed the world by baptizing it with water but the second world wide judgement will by fire.

But just as God with Noah saved them through them entering the ark. When God’s wrath is poured out we will be saved by entering into his salvation.

Jesus is the new ark prepared.

John 14:6 CSB

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

2 Peter 3:13–17 CSB

But based on his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. Therefore, dear friends, while you wait for these things, make every effort to be found without spot or blemish in his sight, at peace. Also, regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our dear brother Paul has written to you according to the wisdom given to him. He speaks about these things in all his letters. There are some things hard to understand in them. The untaught and unstable will twist them to their own destruction, as they also do with the rest of the Scriptures. Therefore, dear friends, since you know this in advance, be on your guard, so that you are not led away by the error of lawless people and fall from your own stable position.

2 Peter 3:18 CSB

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.

For those still rejecting the good news. I remind you that the day of the Lord is coming. Each day that passes we are one day closer to His judgement. He will not spare you because you feel you are a good person.

scripture says,

1 Corinthians 6:9–11 CSB

Don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be deceived: No sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, or males who have sex with males, no thieves, greedy people, drunkards, verbally abusive people, or swindlers will inherit God’s kingdom. And some of you used to be like this. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

This scripture is pretty clear isn’t it. If you have not repented from your sins been washed and sanctified by Jesus Christ then you will suffer judgement. True saving faith results in a change of heart. This of course doesn’t mean that you won’t struggle with sin but that sin won’t define you. It no longer controls you. you have been changed by the Gospel.

It will only by his righteousness that you can be saved. It will only by Christ blood that you can be cleansed. IF you reject the salvation of God, If you reject the ark prepared for you you will face eternal damnation in the lake of fire. Just like those who did not head the warnings in Noah’s day.

But for those who are in Christ.... Are you like Noah.

Are you a preacher of righteousness warning those around you that the judgement is coming. Are you warning them with love and concern. Are you letting them know that judgement will come quickly and swiftly and when it comes it will be two late.