Genesis 7:17-24

Waiting for Judgment to Subside

Introduction

Polemics for the flood

Jesus attests to the flood

Science recognizes a global flood

Continental shift in tectonic plates w/r/t fountains of deep

Presence of fossils in mountains

Marine fossils are also found high in the Himalayas, the world’s tallest mountain range, reaching up to 29,029 feet (8,848 m) above sea level

Evidence is useful but special revelation trumps

We are convicted of truths because God’s Word is true

HS has verified its truthfulness in our hearts

As Noah waits for the judgment to subside, we are reminded that the Lord provides and preserves his people

Main points

Text

the judgment prevailed (vv. 17-24)

the Lord’s provision (vv. 17-18)

the remnant preserved (v. 23)

Doctrine - Baptism

Application

Text

the judgment prevailed (vv. 17-24)

40d

Period of trial and testing

Family to be found faithful unto God

The waters are said to increase/prevail 4 times in vv. 17-20

No doubt left of the extent of the flood

waters extended to 15 cubits above the tallest mountain (22.5 ft)

God is returning the creation back to Genesis 1:2 “The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.”

Formless - parallel w/ uninhabitable

Deut 32.10, a “howling waste of the wilderness”

Void - empty, uninhabited

Waters of judgment related to wilderness wandering as a place uninhabited

Extent of judgment upon the earth

Back to God’s patience and forbearance in Gen 6.

Pattern reflective of Gen 1-2 but in reverse

Genesis 6:5 The Lord saw

Genesis 6:7 The Lord said

Genesis 6:11 God saw

Genesis 6:13 God said

Result = total/complete death

v. 22 setting us up for new-creational event

God has wiped out the “breath of life”

Genesis 2:7 “then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.”

God creates, God can destroy

Job 1:21 “And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.””

Anything or anyone not in God’s sovereign protection will receive His justice and judgment

the Lord’s provision (vv. 17-18)

Judgment and justice for the unbeliever

Provision and salvation for the believer

(v. 17) “bore up the ark”

Bore = lifted up

God’s instrument of judgment would be the means by which his people are saved

The waters drown the wicked

The righteous are lifted up

Comparison to the instrument of God’s judgment used to save His people on the cross

Suffering servant

Isaiah 53:4 “Surely he has borne [lifted up/carried] our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.”

Jesus makes this comparison of being lifted up in judgment on behalf of His people

John 3:14–15 “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.”

What are we saved from? How does God lift us up?

Righteousness of Noah received by faith (Heb 11.7) looks forward to the believer’s righteousness in Christ

Romans 5:8–9 “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.”

The instrument of judgment God would use in the time of Noah which would save him and his family looks forward to the same instrument of God’s wrath poured upon Jesus Christ while His sheep are saved

(v. 18) “the ark floated on the face of the waters”

Yet there is something more to what is being communicated

v. 18 = Lit. walked

Matthew 14:25–32 “And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.”

Christ as the better access to salvation, the door, the cross

He Himself walked on the waters of judgment

Remember how people perceived judgment and waters/submersion

Cannot bring our understanding into the text

To be submerged = judgment

Not only was stopping storm/sea miraculous

Also showed that Christ is Lord over what seems to be chaos

Christ shows that true saving faith saves us from judgment

When did Peter submerge?

When he lacked faith.

Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

But faith is a gift

Ephesians 2:8–9 “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.”

Christ shows that those who have been gifted the Spirit will walk upon the waters of judgment

Whereas those who lack faith will be submerged in the depths

One of BT reasons for infant baptism

Not only continuity b/w O/NT

Theological reasoning

Lack of faith = submerged

Mode of baptism for baptists

In contrast to profession of faith = submerge

Not submersion = faith

“without faith it is impossible to please God”

Peter knew what submersion meant

Very important = submersion is not a good thing theologically

Just as absurd as Pentecostals calling down fire, you don’t want God’s fire!

Hear a firsthand understanding of the comparison between baptism and faith as to what it represents

1 Peter 3:20–21 “because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,”

Baptism = which is an “antitype” of Noah and his family being brought safely through water

Antitype = fulfilling the OT symbolic meaning

Being baptized, into Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection (Rom 6.1-4) is what saves

“an appeal to God”

an obligating entreaty by means of which the baptized person engages in the baptismal promise, i.e., in the pledge of God “to save” (σῴζειν; v. 21a), which for I Peter always means not only a new relationship to God, but also a new way of conducting oneself

Peter is saying, just as the flood represented the promise of salvation through faith, so also does baptism look forward to the promise of God through faith

Baptism saves insofar as it points to the promise, by faith

In the same way Noah was saved from judgment by faith

1 Corinthians 10:1–4 - baptized into Moses

How were the people baptized? Not by submersion as the Egyptians were!

As Peter and Paul point to the necessity of Christ in redeeming, they also point to the fact that baptism looks to the promises that are guaranteed in Christ

Not in the moment of administration

But when the Spirit gifts faith

Judgment may prevail, but thanks be to God that Christ has bore that wrath for us

Noah was blessed to receive the grace of God, which God preserved him

the remnant preserved (7:23)

“only Noah was left, and those who were with him in the ark”

Reality of the extent of judgment

Potentially 1-2 days for people to tread water

Float upon judgment but eventually perish

“only Noah left”

referring to those who have been saved from affliction or from the process of law

Remnant, God preserves His people

Lamentation of Elijah

1 Kings 19, quoted in Romans

Romans 11:3–4 ““Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” But what is God’s reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.””

Though the remnant may be few, God multiplies His own

Doctrine - Saving Faith

Q. 86. What is faith in Jesus Christ?

A. Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace, whereby we receive and rest upon him alone for salvation, as he is offered to us in the gospel.

Christ is the better ark of salvation

Through Him we have access to salvation

Through Him we have been saved from the wrath of God

Through Him we have been at once justified, sanctified, and glorified

Through Him we receive our adoption

The same promises of Noah received by faith are given to Christ’s beloved

This gift of faith is a great treasure

Application

Use 1. Rejoice that you have been saved from the prevailing judgment

“waters increased” “prevailed greatly”

Word in v. 18 for prevail

God’s love prevails in the life of believers

Psalm 103:11 “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great [mighty/prevailing] is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;”

In Christ judgment does not drown you

Spirit of God saves you

No longer are you in waters of judgment/chaos

Christ makes you new

Coming judgment will not take hold of you

Jesus’ words again

Matthew 24:37–39 “For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”

Importance of being in Christ, lest judgment come

Use 2. Remain in the steadfast love of God despite depravity around you.

Genesis 7:23 “Only Noah was left, and those who were with him in the ark.”

God always leaves a remnant

Remember Elijah’s lament

Even in exile, God preserved Daniel, Esther, Ezra, Nehemiah

In wicked times, God’s judgment passes over us, as Angel of the Lord passed over people in Egypt

Sometimes it feels like flood waters are surrounding us

Psalm 69:15 “Let not the flood sweep over me, or the deep swallow me up, or the pit close its mouth over me.”

Lamentations are a recognition that pain is real yet God is sovereign

How does Ps 69 end?

Psalm 69:29–30 “But I am afflicted and in pain; let your salvation, O God, set me on high! I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.”

Life may feel like a great flood, barely keeping afloat

Treading water for CDQC (Combat Diver Qualification Course)

Legs give out, start to sink

In life, God is our support/strength

He keeps us afloat

Use 3. Remember Christ as Lord of the chaos

Genesis 7:17 “The flood continued forty days on the earth. The waters increased and bore up the ark, and it rose high above the earth.”

Chaos is not meant as we understand it, random processes

Related to our perception of life

Christ is sovereign over what seems to be chaos and disorder in our lives

Remember his function as Good Shepherd

Psalm 23 “A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

No need for anything else

I will not boast in anything, No gifts, no power, no wisdom; But I will boast in Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection. Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer; But this I know with all my heart – His wounds have paid my ransom.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

Christ knows what we need and where to bring su

He leads me beside still waters.

Not chaos waters, still waters

Jesus calms the waters

He restores my soul.

Edenic restoration

He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Notice the author/object of doing w/r/t righteousness

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;

May seem that we are in chaos

Darkness feels like chaos

Evil feels like chaos

Christ is Lord over death and evil

“O death, where is your sting”

your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

In chaos His shepherding and reproof are a comfort

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

LS, renewal of covenant

you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Priestly function

1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

I will be forever closed up in the greater ark, the Lord Jesus

No hand shall snatch me

No toil/tribulation shall derail me

I am Christ’s and Christ is mine