How God shows his glory

Read Genesis 6:1–4 “Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose. And the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.”

Genesis 6:5–8 “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the Lord said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.”

HAVE YOU EVER HAD A DAY WHERE YOU JUST NEEDED A DO OVER? WHAT WAS IT LIKE?

When Maybelle got into an accident, since the accident was at fault towing our car was not covered by insurance. So I call and set up a towing that cost $150 and take an hour to arrive. The cop said they can get someone faster but he was charging $250. So he came, but thankfully I said the price was too high so he just towed the car out of the road and into the parking lot. Then I wanted to take Maybelle to get medical advice since her shoulder hurt so I took her to urgent care. Apparently, injuries caused by car accidents are supposed to be covered by car insurance not health insurance. So the lady has to call my health insurance which took almost an hour of waiting to find out our health insurance wouldn’t cover it so Maybelle could not be treated. Then I call a towing company who said $120 to our home. The guy said he’d be here in 20 minutes but took an hour and then took forever to process the payment charging me not $120 but $180. All of this on a day where I took a day off to rest and go to the beach. I did not go to the beach or get rest that day.

HAVE YOU EVER MESSED SOMETHING UP AND WISHED YOU COULD START OVER AND GET IT RIGHT? EXPLAIN.

I’ve been in multiple car accidents myself the last 2 not being my fault but there was 1 where it was supposedly my fault and I would wonder how I could have avoided the situation.

DO YOU THINK OUR SOCIETY NEEDS THE CHANCE TO START OVER? WHY OR IN WHAT WAYS?

Yes because our society is rapidly morally declining. The only real way I could see that happen is when Jesus returns.

with all the evil increasing

we’re going to learn

how God shows his glory

even with all the evil in the world

1. He judges sin (6:1-8)

In v.2 sons of God refers to angels.

Job 1:6 (ESV)

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them.

So in the time of Noah

demons finding women to be beautiful

possessed men and

slept with them

creating Nephilim

or giants in v.4.

So God determined

that in 120 years

he will kill every creature

with a flood

because of how

evil

and disgusting this was.

Many people think 120 years refers to a person’s lifespan

but most likely it refers to the time limit people had before God brought the flood.

According to v.5 how bad was it getting on earth?

Extreme evil.

In the same verse what is the example of how wicked it was getting?

every thought and intent of the heart was only evil continually.

This reveals

how evil

people are.

People like to say, ‘oh but there’s some good in him’.

He has a good spirit.

But the reality is something far more awful.

Decades ago

an experiment called the Stanford Prison Experiment (stanford prison pic)

with 24 college students

who were divided into prisoners and guards.

Supposed to be a 2 week experiment

it ended in 6 days

because even though there were rules to not hit the prionsers

guards became abusive

become violent

using sleep deprivation

and putting bags over the heads of prisoners.

This is just one real world example

that at the core

people are not good

but evil.

People ask the question,

‘why do bad things happen to good people’

but the biblical question is

‘Why do good things happen to bad people?’

How does understanding the evil nature of humans change how you see the world?

We don’t put hope in people, politics, but God alone.

According to v.6 WHAT DOES IT SHOW YOU ABOUT GOD’S HEART THAT HE GRIEVED OVER MAKING HUMAN BEINGS?

God is not heartless. He cares. He loves. He doesn't just enjoy killing sinful people but he does it because it's right.

Is God wrong for killing every living being on earth except Noah and his family? Why or why not?

No because people are sinful and deserve judgement and God is righteous.

In v.8 did God have to give Noah grace? Why or why not?

No because Noah is a sinner like everyone else but because God is gracious not because of Noah’s abilities, he saves Noah.

Students whatever God decides to do with people

is always right.

If God wanted to send everyone to be judged he’d be right in doing so.

And if God wanted to save only some, that’s also right as well.

Because in judging sin God shows that he is always right.

Don’t put your trust in people,

put your trust in God.

2. He provides salvation from judgement (6:17-7:1)

Genesis 6:13 “And God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth.”

Genesis 6:17–7:1 “And behold, I Myself am bringing floodwaters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die. But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall go into the ark—you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. 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. Of the birds after their kind, of animals after their kind, and of every creeping thing of the earth after its kind, two of every kind will come to you to keep them alive. And you shall take for yourself of all food that is eaten, and you shall gather it to yourself; and it shall be food for you and for them.” Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did. Then the Lord said to Noah, “Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation.”

WHAT IS A COVENANT? WHAT DOES IT REVEAL ABOUT GOD THAT HE IS WILLING TO MAKE A COVENANT WITH SINFUL HUMAN BEINGS?

A covenant is a promise and it reveals that God is willing to make promises to humans and faithfully fulfill them.

God made an unconditional covenant meaning that the promise is based only on God’s faithfulness to fulfill it and not Noah’s.

Did God promise to save Noah based on ability to build an ark?

No God’s unconditional promised was not based on Noah’s work but God’s faithfulness

God gave Noah the faith that enabled him to do what God commanded

God’s salvation is based purely on God and God alone

Do you think it was easy for Noah to obey God? Why or why not?

It was not easy.

Imagine building an ark on a bright sunny clear day with zero clouds. Birds chirping and humming.

People enjoying festivities.

There were days where it felt like the complete opposite of a coming flood.

And yet Noah obeyed God because of the gift of faith God gave him.

Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

How are we saved? And where does faith come from?

Even faith is a gift from God so that we can take no credit, boast, or take any glory from God.

Students thank God

because he shows his glory

by providing salvation from judgement

through Jesus

and through the faith that he gives you to obey Him.

Give all the glory to God

and appreciate every day

then instead of drowning in judgement,

you are alive and well because

of the ultimate ark:

Jesus Christ.