Noah: Judgment in Water
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Series Intro
Series Intro
This year’s Vacation Bible School theme is Rolling River Rampage, where will be inviting children on a white-water rafting adventure to experience the ride of a lifetime with God! In the weeks leading up to VBS, we will look at stories of water in the Bible, and like any story in the Bible, they aren’t written for us to enjoy (although they are exciting), but their primary purpose is to actually help us better understand God.
This morning I want us to wrestle with that side of God that we may not like so much. People all around the world need to know that God loves us. There are so many hurting people, who have not experienced love that desperately need to experience God.
It makes me sad to hear preachers who preach guilt, wrath and judgment more than they preach love. Love is the most important thing that we need to know about God. But we can’t forget God’s justice. Judgment is also a part of God’s character.
This sermon is about a God who loves, but who also punishes evil.
When I was putting this series together, the most obvious story about water that came to mind is one of the most well known stories in the Bible: Noah’s ark. One of the reasons why this story is so well known, is that you can see pictures of the story in many places:
Shopping for baby stuff. Murals in Nurseries: The theme of in the new baby rooms. Baby clothing. Toys. You can imagine the picture: Pairs of cute animals lined up, Noah standing on top if the boat, with a beautiful rainbow over his head.
Nothing inaccurate about that, but it’s only part of the story. This is where I wish we had the screen (but maybe that’s a good thing). Use your imagination when I read this story: paint a mural in your minds:
In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, on the seventeenth day of the second month—on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened. And rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights.
On that very day Noah and his sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth, together with his wife and the wives of his three sons, entered the ark. They had with them every wild animal according to its kind, all livestock according to their kinds, every creature that moves along the ground according to its kind and every bird according to its kind, everything with wings. Pairs of all creatures that have the breath of life in them came to Noah and entered the ark. The animals going in were male and female of every living thing, as God had commanded Noah. Then the Lord shut him in.
For forty days the flood kept coming on the earth, and as the waters increased they lifted the ark high above the earth. The waters rose and increased greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the surface of the water. They rose greatly on the earth, and all the high mountains under the entire heavens were covered. The waters rose and covered the mountains to a depth of more than fifteen cubits., Every living thing that moved on land perished—birds, livestock, wild animals, all the creatures that swarm over the earth, and all mankind. Everything on dry land that had the breath of life in its nostrils died. Every living thing on the face of the earth was wiped out; people and animals and the creatures that move along the ground and the birds were wiped from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those with him in the ark.
The waters flooded the earth for a hundred and fifty days.
This is the Word of God for the people of God.
Sermon Intro
Sermon Intro
Imagine painting that on a nursery wall.
The story of Noah shows how easy it has become for us to gloss over the ugliness of the Bible. Some of that might be because children’s curriculum and children’s story books leave out the graphic stuff. Part of it might be that we don’t like that stuff. There are so many stories of violence, stories of God’s wrath being poured out on entire civilizations. If we believe that Bible reveals God to us, then we have to wrestle with the ugly stuff too.
But I’m not just going to ruin the story of Noah for you. Even though it is an ugly story, it can help us. Noah can show us the kind of people we should be. The flood can actually give us hope: God’s judgment is a part of God’s good plan.
sanitized stories, teachers facing tough questions (why did God?)
Russel Crowe’s Noah had too many hollywood inaccuracies, but they got two things right: they didn’t overlook how bad things had gotten in Noah’s day, and they showed how this story is ultimately a story about God’s story, and God’s judgment leads to human suffering.
but there is good news:
Preaching Christ from Genesis: Foundations for Expository Sermons Sermon Theme and Goal
God makes new beginnings to continue his good kingdom on earth.
like a parent horrified at the behaviour of their children
Noah: Walking with God
Noah: Walking with God
Genesis 6:
This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God.
what if we measured every decision, every action, every situation, every thought with the question, “Am I walking in agreement with God?” That’s a high standard.
e.g. confirmation, is sin ever avoidable? easy for us to say no? yes, God has given us everything we need to avoid temptation
I don’t expect to ever walk in full agreement with God, I do expect to fall and need forgiveness, but I must try;
This is the account of Noah and his family.
Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God.
walking with God - not literal; it means to be in agreement; to fundamental
how many of you are in complete agreement with the person sitting next to you? (I could really have fun with that) the people riding in your car on the way home today?
disagreeing with people is a very human experience. we can’t expect to agree with everyone about everything. but you have to admit, fundamental disagreements in a marriage (or courtship) can create a challenge in your relationship: I’m not talking about politics. How do discipline children. Inlaws. Household responsibilities. How to spend or give money.
there is no agree to disagree with God. we have doubts. we question the will of God. we get confused about God’s will. we might
Try this out for a litmus test: what if we measured every decision, every action, every situation, every thought with the question, “Am I walking in agreement with God?” That’s a high standard.
e.g. confirmation, and I read the words of Jesus:
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
I don’t expect to ever walk in full agreement with God, I do expect to fall and need forgiveness, but I must try;
I don’t expect to ever walk in full agreement with God, I do expect to fall and need forgiveness, but I must try;
Living in agreement with God, walking with God means...
e.g. Living in agreement with God; roommate; Alexander Hamilton?
Living in contrast with the world;
walking with God
Noah: Living in Contrast
Noah: Living in Contrast
what is the real difference? choosing to do, and choosing not to do;
biblical separation - in the world but not of the world; going to far (isolation from the world,
the only catholic at the table; but there was consistency; outward act was consistent with their actions;
I need to be in worship this morning, can’t do that; Im not watching that movie. I’m not using that language. I’m not laughing at that disrespectful, irreverent joke;
The best way to live in contrast, is the way we deal with conflict. Our relationships.
By this will all know you are my s
Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people.
the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and was full of violence. Genesis 6:11
This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God. Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth. Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence. God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways.
This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God. Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth. Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence.
Genesis 6:9
A natural outcome of walking with God.
s
what is the real difference? choosing to do, and choosing not to do;
Noah stuck out. He didn’t belong. He didn’t fit in. The way he lived was so different.
biblical separation - in the world but not of the world; going to far (isolation from the world,
e.g. no red meat on Fridays, a sign for penance for traditional catholics; the only catholic at the table; but there was consistency; the that dietary tradition would have been a joke if she hadn’t lived
(maybe there is an outward act for us (ashes on ash wednesday; driving to church; wearing a Christian shirt or hat (honk if you love Jesus) a symbol without the reality - those outward signs can create opportunities for our witness or they can be detrimental to our witness if we they are not consistent with our witness
One of the things I’ve observed in Christianity, is that
Noah stood out. He was noticed for his actions. His behavior. His values. So different from the rest.
How many people in our workplaces know we are Christians? (don’t talk faith in the workplace - required in my line of work)
Do our relatives and friends know about our faith? How does our being a Christian make us stick out? How is a church different from any other organization?
We can’t fool the world - they know plastic when they see it
Unique belief: Jesus is the way. (there are multiple ways)
Unique individual action: loving the unlovable (or unloved)
Unique church action: a place of forgiveness (why stay in a church full of arguing? or this church has been through some tough times, but they’ve stayed together)
Noah gives us 2 “what to do’s.” The flood tells us 2 things about God, specifically about his judgment.
God: Judgement When Sin is Intolerable
God: Judgement When Sin is Intolerable
God: Judgement When Sin is Intolerable
God: Judgement When Sin is Intolerable
How are churches different from other non-profits? “I can do all that good stuff without going to church.”
Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence.
The best way to live in contrast, is the way we deal with conflict. So much arguing in the world. So much polarization over politics and the other controversial topics of the days. So many broken relationships. A church can find many ways to live in contrast with the world, and one powerful way to do this is to lovingly address conflict. To forgive. Extend grace. We would really stick out.
By this will all know you are my s
s
Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence.
God: Judgement When Sin is Intolerable
The Noah story is a perfect example: we like the animals gathered around the ark below a beautiful rainbow, but not the catastrophic flood that took place right before;
When we don’t like the part of God that gets angry and pronounces judgment, 2 things happen: 1) cherry picking, or 2) leaving the faith for good
This is about helping us understand God’s judgment;
“I used to have nightmares when I went to Sunday School.” stories of judgment
When we read of judgment that seems harsh to us, let’s remember that God’s anger is not like ours.
e.g. of my anger, unjust punishment; God’s anger is slow, patient, measured and just
God: Judgement When Sin is Intolerable
God: Judgement When Sin is Intolerable
Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence.
s
One of the problems associated with reading the Bible and learning about God as God is revealed in the Bible is our tendency to cherry pick our ways through the Bible. Liking the stories of love, but really not liking the stories of judgment. (like happy endings)
One of the problems associated with reading the Bible and believing in God is our tendency to cherry pick our ways through the Bible. Liking the stories of love, but really not liking the stories of judgment.
The Noah story is a perfect example: we like the animals gathered around the ark below a beautiful rainbow, but not the catastrophic flood that took place right before;
The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.
Genesis 6:
I’m a huge believer in devoting to reading the Bible; some people get stuck, and I don’t mean the daily discipline; some don’t like what they find:
When we don’t like the part of God that gets angry and pronounces judgment, 2 things happen: 1) selectively reading the Bible (NT only?), or 2) leaving the faith for good
“I used to have nightmares when I went to Sunday School.” stories of judgment
This is about helping us understand God’s judgment;
This is about helping us understand God’s judgment;
When we read of judgment that seems harsh to us, let’s remember that God’s anger is not like ours.
When we read of judgment that seems harsh to us, let’s remember that God’s anger is not like ours.
e.g. of my anger, unjust punishment; God’s anger is slow, patient, measured and just
God is affected by our sin (regret)
like a parent, God offers grace; offers instruction and correction; and yet like a parent God can become horrified at the behaviour of their children, and come down hard with judgment; those whom God loves, God disciplines.
The flood is worse than any punishment I ever received as a child. What do make of God wiping out an entire population? This creates a real faith crisis for people seeking to understand.
e.g. of my anger, unjust punishment; God’s anger is slow, patient, measured and just
And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,
‘The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.’
When does sin become intolerable? Not: trying to grow, struggling, regressing; when there is no desire to grow, sin has led to absolute ruin and judgment becomes a last case scenario
Unlike my anger, which can be impatient and out of control, God’s anger has a purpose that is ultimately good:
God: Judgement Creates a New Beginning
God: Judgement Creates a New Beginning
if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others;
Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.
God continued His purpose. Even evil run rampant cannot stop the plan of God.
Judgment protects from evil. Imagine if this violent world had continued? ‘
Hope for us: The good news for us:
When God does come down hard with judgment, it is with a purpose: to create a new beginning.
God protected a remnant: walked with God and lived in contrast with the world
God protected a remnant.