Living in a Wicked World

Genesis Living in a Wicked World - Genesis 6:1-22 July 26, 2026 I'm happy to be back in Genesis this morning. If you're not there already, head to the front of your bibles and turn over to chapter 6. Yes, the chapters with Noah and the Ark. As many of you know, a couple of years ago, Elizabeth and I had the chance to go to the Ark Encounter in Kentucky. It was an incredible experience to see what this amazing Ark potentially looked like, and some of the interpretations of the inner parts of the Ark as well. As we likely know, or will at least learn from these chapters, is that the story of Genesis 6-9 is less about the physical Ark, but more about God's work. Since it has been over a year since we've been in Genesis, I want to provide you with a very quick overview of chapters 1-5: * God created all things, and it was good. (Genesis 1-2) * Sin entered the world, and sin begets evil and destruction across generations. (Genesis 3-4) * Despite our sin, God's mandate to be fruitful and multiply remains. (Genesis 5) Genesis 5 was very much a transitional chapter, especially when the final verses introduce us to Noah and his sons. That's where we'll be for the next six weeks, in the next major section of Genesis, the very well-known story of Noah and the flood. Let's begin with the reading of Genesis 6: 1 WHEN MAN BEGAN TO MULTIPLY ON THE FACE OF THE LAND AND DAUGHTERS WERE BORN TO THEM, 2 THE SONS OF GOD SAW THAT THE DAUGHTERS OF MAN WERE ATTRACTIVE. AND THEY TOOK AS THEIR WIVES ANY THEY CHOSE. 3 THEN THE LORD SAID, "MY SPIRIT SHALL NOT ABIDE IN MAN FOREVER, FOR HE IS FLESH: HIS DAYS SHALL BE 120 YEARS." 4 THE NEPHILIM WERE ON THE EARTH IN THOSE DAYS, AND ALSO AFTERWARD, WHEN THE SONS OF GOD CAME IN TO THE DAUGHTERS OF MAN AND THEY BORE CHILDREN TO THEM. THESE WERE THE MIGHTY MEN WHO WERE OF OLD, THE MEN OF RENOWN. 5 THE LORD SAW THAT THE WICKEDNESS OF MAN WAS GREAT IN THE EARTH, AND THAT EVERY INTENTION OF THE THOUGHTS OF HIS HEART WAS ONLY EVIL CONTINUALLY. 6 AND THE LORD REGRETTED THAT HE HAD MADE MAN ON THE EARTH, AND IT GRIEVED HIM TO HIS HEART. 7 SO THE LORD SAID, "I WILL BLOT OUT MAN WHOM I HAVE CREATED FROM THE FACE OF THE LAND, MAN AND ANIMALS AND CREEPING THINGS AND BIRDS OF THE HEAVENS, FOR I AM SORRY THAT I HAVE MADE THEM." 8 BUT NOAH FOUND FAVOR IN THE EYES OF THE LORD. 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. Here's the main idea that I want to walk through this morning: I can live through the wickedness because I walk with God. The text is clear. We live in a world of wickedness. We can choose to participate, or we can choose to live a life set apart for the Lord. The problem is ... well, it's hard. So, let's use our text this morning to understand ... HOW TO WALK WITH GOD: * Acknowledge my sin. (vv.1-4) o It's often said that the first step of understanding the Gospel, is understanding who we are without Christ. Sinners in need of a Savior. o These opening verses provide us with a lot of information. o On one hand, there's simply not enough information. Particularly when we see terms like "THE SONS OF GOD" or "THE DAUGHTERS OF MAN" or "THE NEPHILIM" o While I would love to share with you my findings from the fourteen pages of notes I took on these people, I will instead leave you with this general overview of verses 1-4: * Verse 1 shows us that man began to multiply. * Verses 2-3 show us that as a result of mass multiplication, God's original plan was violated. * As part of this violation, we see the first indication that judgement would follow. * However, at the same time, the designation of 120 years provides time for this problem to be addressed and resolved - through repentance. This, friends, is a picture of God's grace and mercy. * Finally, verse 4 provides us an example of what resulted from this violation. o These opening verses set up what we read in verse 5, namely that THE WICKEDNESS OF MAN WAS GREAT. o If we don't recognize and acknowledge our sin, and our need for salvation, then this chapter is simply a tall tale with no real-world implications. o As such, when we recognize our sin, and our need for a Savior, we are in agreement with God. o To say it another way, as we begin the process of walking with God, we must ... * See the world as God sees it. (vv.5-7) o Verses 5-7 clearly gives us an indication of the state of mankind in the days of Noah. o These verses, I believe, are the key verses of this chapter. o I mentioned moments ago that verse 5 reveals that THE WICKEDNESS OF MAN WAS GREAT. o The rest of the verse tells us why: EVERY INTENTION OF THE THOUGHTS OF HIS HEART WAS ONLY EVIL CONTINUALLY o How does God respond to the wickedness of His people? * He grieves. * The term "REGRETTED" means that God expressed that grief that's mentioned in verse 6, audibly with a heavy sigh. * Sort of like the very powerful statement your father may have given you: "I'm not mad, I'm disappointed" * Here, God was sad for us. * Which is why the response - for many - seems problematic. * Why? Because the solution was to start over. * That word "BLOT" in verse 7 means to erase, wipe out, cancel, obliterate. o Here is where we must acknowledge and accept God's plan. o Because, upon investigation, we conclude that this entire section foreshadows Jesus. * Jesus is the only way to heaven. * The only way to escape the judgment that comes. o For Noah and his family, there was only one way to escape judgement - the Ark, which represents his faith. * Faith in God's Word. * Faith in God's promise in verse 18. o Today, since Jesus came, died, rose, and ascended, we have the same clear directive - take refuge in the One Who saves, who is Jesus Christ. o So, we acknowledge our sin, then we see the need for salvation through God's eyes, then our walk continues. o The example we have in this walk is Noah, and his example challenges us to ... * Be blameless. (vv.8-14) o Of course, Noah is called favored and righteous here as well. o The idea of blamelessness is how we are seen before others. o Peter calls Noah a "HERALD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS" o Blamelessness carries a lot more weight when you share God's message with others. o Christians are ambassadors of Christ, according to Paul in 2 Corinthians 5, which mean we represent Him down here, before man. o Jesus said we are the salt and light in Matthew 5, which means that we influence and set the example for others, imitating Christ. o Noah was chosen by God to perform this work, so, like Noah we must ... * Be obedient to God's direction. (vv.15-22) o Obedience is a direct response to faith. o John MacArthur said it this way: "the perfect companion to faith is obedience" o Better yet, Jesus said: IF YOU LOVE ME, YOU WILL KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS o When we are obedient - even when the "ask" seems impossible or unprecedented - like the Ark - we are showing God that we trust Him with the results. Earlier in our main idea I said: I can live through the wickedness because I walk with God. Without a doubt, this world is wicked. Less than a week ago, a shooter in downtown Tucson wounded nine people. We've had four US Soldiers lose their lives because of one of the countless wars in our world. The wickedness is caused by man, and his heart that has been infected by sin. But guess what? We have a good God. One who displays His mercy through the Ark, by offering salvation to Noah and His family, illustrating what faith looks like. Dependence in God to live through wickedness and be saved. Question is: will you choose to follow God, by following the example of Noah, or will you choose to live wickedly, like those described in verse 5? God gave the people of Noah's day 120 days to repent, with judgement coming at the end of those days. We don't know when He will return for His church, so we must respond now. And because of God's faithfulness, as the Scripture says: IF YOU CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH THAT JESUS IS LORD AND BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART THAT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, YOU WILL BE SAVED. Today is the day to make your decision. What will it be? If you have already confessed and are saved, then our response is to walk with God in obedience until He returns. If we're walking with God, we can be confident as we live in this wicked world. Let's pray. 2