Even a Mom Can't Fix This

The Incredibles

I was introduced to a mom this week. Her name embodies many of the moms I have known over the years. This mom is named Elastigirl. I think that name is appropriate because every mom I know gets stretched in directions she never though imaginable. Elastigirl’s last name is Incredible, and I know many incredible moms.

God has placed within moms a compound that can calm the wildest cowlick and remove the most stubborn smudge on a cheek or forehead.

Women possess a kiss can heal the sorest boo-boo and dry the biggest tears (whether physical or emotional).

High School Graduates

I don’t want to harsh your mellow on this commencement day, but I DO want to set you up for godly success!

If you believe the lie, you are setting yourself up for discouragement, depression and failures.

You can do more than you think you can! It will require time, hard work and you will experience failures on the way.

Moms and Graduates, today I am going to take some of the pressure off. When we can admit that there are some problems we can’t fix, we give God room to do what only He can.

Transition: The early chapters of Genesis reveal just such a problem and what God does to fix it.

A Pronouncement - Evil (6:11-13)

Black/White/Grey

1. The world around us is filled with moral, immoral, and amoral options. My Bible reading this week had me in the later chapters of Romans where we are instructed to bear with the weakness of others. Because matters of conscience are neither black, nor white, but open to personal preference, opinion and conviction.

2. However, the Scripture DOES give warning to those who would call good evil, and evil good.

3. Genesis 6 clearly draws some lines and separates into 2 groups.

Escaped

Noah (sons & wives)

Righteous

blameless

Walked with God

Perished

Earth/flesh

Corrupt

Violence

4. There are times when God sends His followers into dark places to proclaim salvation, shine light, and season with goodness.

5. The scene in today’s text points to a worldwide purge.

6. Sometimes all the optimism in the world is not enough to turn a situation around.

1 John 5:16 ESV:2016

16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that.

7. There have been and will be situations where the best thing for the individual and those around them is to take them out of this world.

Transition: Even in situations where we see this discipline, God remains merciful to all who call on His name.

A Protection – the Ark (6:14-16)

How many arks are mentioned in Scripture? Giveaway Gleanings in Genesis.

God’s Provision

1. The Ark was not Noah’s idea.

2. The Ark was not God’s response to Noah’s question

3. Verses 13 and 14 are separated by a period, but they are in the same paragraph and seem to flow in a single breath.

4. Sometimes we get the end of our rope then look to God for help. But God provided the plan to protect Noah a hundred years before the first drop of rain.

5. Similarly, God’s purpose before the foundations of the world was to redeem man.

Ephesians 1:4 ESV:2016

4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love

6. Christ’s sacrifice was paid for you before you took your first breath.

Required Death

Wood construction requires trees to die. Live trees are not used to build boats!

Seeds must “die” in order to reproduce

John 12:24 ESV:2016

24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

1 Corinthians 15:36 ESV:2016

36 You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.

John 15:13 ESV:2016

13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

“Pitch” aka “covering”

The Hebrew word here is not the common one for “pitch” which is “zetteth,” but is “kapher,” which is translated seventy times in the Old Testament “to make atonement.” The simple meaning of “kapher” is “to cover” and nowhere else is it rendered “pitch.”[i]

The wood was covered inside and out. Those inside saw the pitch and were reminded that it was the covering that would keep the waters from overtaking the vessel. God saw the pitch on the outside and it was a reminder that the people on the inside were protected from a covering that He provided. The people in the water (we can only presume) saw the dead wood covered in pitch and knew that their wickedness was exposed, just like Adam and Eve when they sinned.

One Door (2 sides)

1. Sometimes when we read familiar stories in the Bible we can skim over the text, imagining that we know what is there.

2. This week I read this story with fresh eyes and I notice that something is missing from the way I had it pictured in my imagination.

a. There is no mention of people taunting Noah as he was building the boat.

b. There is no mention of people banging on the door hoping to be let in.

3. Those things MAY have happened, we are not told that they didn’t, but we also cannot assume that they did.

4. Regardless of people’s actions during construction or their despair after the rain started, the truth is that the Ark had one door, and it was God who shut it.

One door, and only one And yet its sides are two, Inside and outside, On which side are you? One Door, and only one, And yet its sides are two, I'm on the inside, On which side are you? One Book, and only one Which tells of places two Good place or bad place On which place choose you? One Book and only one Which tells the place is true I choose the good place, And which place choose you?

5. Our world has many philosophies, many religions, many ideas, and many options. But when it comes to pleasing God and being saved, He has only provided one Savior. It was Jesus himself who said.

John 14:6 ESV:2016

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

Transition: We have become spoiled by instant rice, instant potatoes, and heat-n-serve meals. While God provides protection, sometimes the journey to the other side takes longer than we like.

A Process – longer than we want

Mother’s are intimately aware of lengthy processes: sleeping through the night, teething, walking, bedtime routines, “terrible twos”, music lessons, adolescence, etc.

7 days on the Tarmac (7:10)

Imagine the 7 day wait in 7:10 - We’ve been obedient to do this outrageous thing, God has miraculously closed the door, then nothing.

40 days of flood (7:12)

We’ve heard this often enough that this is not a surprise.

150 day float (7:24)

5 months with no rudder, no sail and no compass would try anyone’s patience and sanity.

How many days were they on the ark in total? (hint: compare 7:11 with 8:13-14) Giveaway TOTC: Genesis.

178 day fade

1. Finally in the 6th month the ark ran aground, but that didn’t mean they were able to disembark.

2. They spent another 6 months waiting for the water to recede.

Application

1. We like instant and we like quick. There are times when it seems like your children will never grow up. There are times when it seems like graduation will never get here.

2. But mothers can attest that the 18-20 years from diapers to diploma seems like a blur.

3. The time between our crying out for mercy and God’s ultimate deliverance leaves us calling, “Oh, Lord Jesus, how long?” But when our salvation is complete and we see his loving face it will be worth it all and the journey will seem so brief.

Transition: This epic ends with 2 promises.

A Promise – Never Again

Restraint (8:21)

1. God does not say that evil would not permeate humanity again.

2. He admits that evil can be found in the heart of man from his earliest days.

3. The promise that God makes is that He will not destroy His creation or image-bearers in the same way.

4. Next week we will look more at God’s covenant of restraint.

Revolving Seasons (8:22)

1. V. 22 revisits God’s purpose in Gen 1:14; the Sun, Moon, and stars were to indicate seasons.

2. The revolving seasons invites man to look forward. If there will be no harvest, then sowing becomes rather meaningless.

3. Much apocalyptic writing is filled with doom of the earth as we know it. God promised that we have reason to look forward, to be productive, to craft, to build and to contribute toward human flourishing.

Transition: The Ark God provided for Noah protected his family from the wrath on wickedness. The “ark” of salvation provides for us protection from His wrath upon sin at the great Judgment.

Conclusion:

When we think of the flood, we should not focus on boats and animals. We should focus on the merciful protection that God provides for all who are in Christ, for all who call upon the name of the Lord.

God graciously provides a solution for the evil in the world and in our hearts.

Song of Response #395.... “Teach Me Thy Way, O Lord”

Benediction: 2 Corinthians 2:14–15 (ESV) — But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing,

[i] Arthur Walkington Pink, Gleanings in Genesis (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2005), 108.