Genesis 6 Part 2

And open up your Bibles again to Genesis chapter 6 and 7.

Genesis 6 · chapter mention

For those old enough to remember, I'm sure the date, December 26, 2004, is scarred into

your memory.

It was the date of the Boxing Day tsunami in the Indian Ocean, a magnitude 9.2 earthquake

sent a tsunami hurtling to the coast of Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, and it killed

hundreds of thousands of people.

And I came across a story about the tsunami recently.

I stumbled across it even before I was thinking about Noah and the Flood.

I came across the story of Tilly Smith.

Have you heard of Tilly Smith?

Tilly Smith, a 10-year-old British girl, was on holiday with her family in Thailand.

And on that Boxing Day, she was on the beach.

And she started to notice something strange.

The water was bubbling on the beach.

And the tide was retreating away.

And she, in that moment, she remembered a geography lesson from a few weeks earlier.

And she remembered, that's the sign a tsunami's coming.

And so she ran and she warned her family, who then told the hotel.

And then the hotel got everyone off the beach and out of the pool and back to safety.

And because they listened to Tilly Smith, she saved probably hundreds of people that day.

She even won the Pride of Britain Award in 2005.

It goes to show you can be a national hero if you listen in geography.

But I want us to see, the story of Tilly Smith and the story of Noah are very similar at heart.

And not simply because they involve water and a flood, but because the heart of both these stories

is that they both involve a warning.

What is key to the story of Tilly Smith is that she gave a warning and people listened and lives were saved.

And that is key to the story of Noah.

God gave a warning, Noah listened, and lives were saved.

And so there are lots of important things in this passage.

There is a flood and an ark and animals going in two by two.

Lots of things we might be familiar with.

But what I want us to take away from this is, I want us to be like we're on the beach next to Tilly Smith.

And I want us to hear the warning.

We need to hear God's warning in this passage.

We need to listen to it.

And when we do, lives will be saved.

So as we dive into this, yes, there is warning for Noah.

But there is also a warning for us sounding through this passage.

And the first thing we need to hear in this is the first thing that Noah hears.

We need to hear God has planned to judge this world.

It's my first point today if you want to follow along.

God has planned to judge this world.

The passage starts well, doesn't it?

Verse 9.

These are the generations of Noah.

Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation.

Noah walked with God.

And Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth.

There's Noah, a son who we know is going to bring rest.

And he's a righteous man.

He walks with God.

And he has sons.

This is promising for the promise.

We have sons.

We have righteousness.

We have the immortal bloodline still going.

It's still here on earth.

God is still bringing salvation.

But something else is on earth.

Verse 11.

Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight.

And the earth was filled with violence.

And God saw the earth.

And behold, it was corrupt.

For all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.

Yes, there is righteousness in Noah and his family.

There is color in this world.

But God looks down and sees everything else.

And the whole world is just filled with violence.

It's corrupt.

It's like rotten meat.

You know when you get chicken and you put it in the fridge?

It's good at first.

But you leave it too long.

What happens?

It rots.

It becomes corrupt.

And you smell it.

You peel back the film.

And it's rancid.

And you can't use it.

It's useless.

It's no good anymore.

And it's only going to start to infect more things in the fridge if you leave it there.

Well, God smells the world.

And it's rancid.

And this says something important about God.

God isn't blind to what's going on in this world.

God isn't this detached force that has created the world.

But he isn't really involved in it.

He isn't this grandfather in the sky that's just happy that people are enjoying themselves.

No, God is a moral judge over this world.

He knows the ins and the outs.

And he morally assesses each and every moment.

It all plays out before his eyes.

Did you notice that language?

That the earth was corrupt in God's sight.

And God saw the earth was corrupt.

Our heart, our intentions, our thoughts, what we do in secret behind closed doors,

we might be able to hide it from people.

But we cannot hide it from God.

Our lives are playing out before God.

And he morally judges it.

There is no such thing as, well, I think it's right.

It's right for me, so therefore it's right.

No.

God is the judge.

And he looks at the world, and what does he see?

Violence.

Corruption.

And how bad is it that the earth is filled with it?

All flesh.

Every creature.

And in many ways, it's like the creation has become the opposite of what it's designed to be.

It was meant to be good.

God saw that it was very good.

But now God sees it as corrupt.

It was meant to be filled with life and peace and harmony.

A united humanity serving God.

But now it's filled with violence.

Man against man.

The stabbings.

The muggings.

And even down to the animals.

Every creature.

The mosquito spreads the malaria.

The XL bully dog attacks the child.

Creation was good, but Adam took that fruit, and now it's rancid.

And how does God respond to this?

How does God feel about his creation becoming this?

Well, God is planning something, verse 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.

God's response to this violence, this corruption playing out before him,

is to wipe it out.

Destroy it.

God has planned to judge this world.

And before we go any further, we need to realise this is right.

This is just.

That this is the appropriate response from God.

Before we are tempted to think God has no right to do this.

And before we start flinching at these words, just realise where we are.

That this is God's world.

God's God intended for his praise, for him to dwell here with us,

and for the world to be glowing with his glory.

And he is a good, generous, holy, morally perfect God.

Yet we have taken what he has given us,

we've not said thank you,

instead we've taken it and we've just made it rancid.

The lives and the hearts that he's given us,

all the gifts that he's given us,

we've spat in his face and we've gone our own way.

And so there is this glaring stench in the world.

And it's us.

And so it is right that this evil be wiped out.

It's like when you get dog poo on your shoe.

It happens daily around here.

You've basically got to do hopscotch and eating

just to get around the dog poo, don't you?

And what happens when you get dog poo on your shoe?

You don't just say, oh, that's fine.

Let's keep going about my day.

Let's get a bit more dog poo on it.

That's fine.

No, no, you go straight to wipe it off.

You go to the outside tap,

you wash it off, you disinfect it.

You need to wipe it away.

It's not right to leave it there.

Well, it's not right for God

to leave the smear of sin in this world.

In fact, it would be unfair

if God didn't respond this way.

How do we feel when someone breaks into our home

and just gets away with it?

It's not okay, is it?

How do we feel when the abuser

only gets a couple of years in prison

for what they've done?

It's outrageous, isn't it?

We know, we know evil needs to be dealt with.

Well, it would be outrageous

for God to do nothing right now.

This is the right response to a fallen humanity.

And so God warns Noah,

this is what's coming.

I'm going to blot out this world.

I'm going to turn the tap on

and wash it away.

And this,

this is the very same reason

why a final judgment is coming to us.

God has set a day in his calendar

when all the evil in this world

will be blotted out.

Christ will return

to disinfect

and destroy

every drop of sin.

and every single creature

is going to be brought

before the judgment seat of God

and every life

that is not forgiven

in the Lord Jesus,

that life will be destroyed.

And it will be

a never-ending destruction.

And as Paul preached

a couple of weeks ago,

it means hell.

And so this flood

is a foretaste,

it's a preview

of what's to come

for this world.

This flood,

it's like the trailer

to the actual film

that's about to come.

God still has planned

to judge this world.

And like this flood,

it's going to be global

and it's going to be catastrophic.

And so like Noah,

we need to hear

the warning.

This chapter

is like watching

the water bubble

and the tide retreat.

It's like hearing

Tilly Smith.

And so let me ask you,

do you know

this day is coming?

Is this day

in your calendar?

because it is

in God's calendar.

And so this means

listening to a warning

about something

you cannot yet see.

We are currently

on the beach

but we can't see

what's beyond the horizon.

The judgment,

it's something

that we can't see yet

and it may seem

ridiculous to you.

It may seem fantastical

but on that boxing day,

the idea of a tsunami

might have seemed ridiculous.

But just because

you can't see it,

it doesn't mean

it's not coming.

And so by faith,

we need to hear

what God is warning now

and we need to put

that date in our calendar.

Do you,

do you know

this day is coming?

But God,

God isn't just

giving this warning

to gloat.

No,

he's telling Noah

because God is planning

something else

in history.

Yes,

God has planned

to judge this world

but

God has planned

to save this world.

That's my second point today.

God has planned

to save this world.

So as God looks down

on this world,

yes,

all flesh is corrupt

but God sees something else,

Noah.

And what is Noah like?

Righteous,

blameless.

Now,

this doesn't mean

sinless

but it does mean

he's right with God.

He's not like

the corruption out there.

This man is different.

He's walking with God.

And what does God

say to Noah?

Yes,

he warns him

judgment is coming

but he tells Noah

that there's something

to do about it.

There's a way

to prepare

for what's coming.

Verse 14,

make for yourself

an ark.

Make a boat

130 metres long,

longer than a football pitch,

20 metres wide,

13 metres high.

Noah's ark,

it's basically

a huge barge.

It's like a giant

wooden floating coffin.

A company in America,

you might have seen it,

a company in America

has actually reconstructed

the ark

of what it might have been like

and you can go inside

and walk around

and see what it might have

looked like.

And the thing

is massive.

And it's got

three decks,

a roof

and Noah makes it

watertight.

And why an ark?

Well,

verse 17,

because the destruction

is going to be a flood

and a flood

needs a boat.

And God says to Noah,

yes,

here is the warning

about what's coming

but here is what

you're going to do

about it.

You're going to make

this ark

and this ark

is going to take you

through what is coming.

And so God makes

a covenant.

He makes a binding

promise with Noah.

God promises

he's going to do

something.

Verse 18,

but I will establish

my covenant with you

and your wife

and your sons

and their wives

are going to be included

in this covenant

and you're all

going to enter this ark

and I'm not

going to let

this flood touch you.

all my love

and protection

and all my promises

it's all going to be

for you Noah.

We're used to pictures

of the ark

in children's stories

aren't we?

You can get those

wooden toys as well

filled with animals.

I think we might have

one in the crash.

We've got one at home.

And the ark

we can be tempted

to think

it's just a bit

of a novelty

right?

It's just a bit

of fun for children.

It's one of the good

picture stories

for kids.

But we need to realise

next time you open up

a children's Bible

realise what that boat is.

That ark

is God's gift

of salvation

to the world.

God has planned

to save this world

and that salvation

it's in that ark.

But why?

Why is God saying this?

If justice demands

the whole earth

be wiped out

why tell Noah

to build the ark?

Well it's because

the God who sees

the corruption

of this world

who sees

all the dirt

of our lives

that God

who sees us

he is also

a wonderfully

gracious God.

We must never think

God announcing

judgment

is cruel

or mean.

God's warning

here

is so

so gracious

because if God

stayed silent

right now

what would happen

to Noah?

He would just join

everyone else

in the flood

but

God

has spoken

and he's spoken

to us.

The warning

of that day

in the future

this warning

now that you're

hearing

this is

God's grace

to you.

He hasn't

stayed silent

he's telling

you to prepare.

We're on the

beach

the tide's

gone out

and he's

calling to us

and he doesn't

want you to be

wiped out

he wants you

to be saved.

So as you put

this date

in your calendar

realize

that you can

even write

this date in

because God

is good.

And there's

another reason

why God

is doing

this for

Noah.

Don't forget

about the

immortal

bloodline.

How is

salvation

coming to

the world?

It's through

a family

and a

promised son

coming from

that family.

And so just

think if God

blots out

everyone in

the world

right now

what will

happen to

that bloodline?

It will

disappear.

If God

wiped out

everyone in

Noah's day

including Noah

Christ never

arrives.

But what God

is doing here

he's putting

his hands

around the

bloodline

and bringing

them through

the flood.

It's like when

you do some

painting.

Maybe you're

painting a

living room

painting a

picture and

what do you

put on when

you paint?

put on

overalls or

an apron.

And when you

paint everything

and you get

paint everywhere

it all gets

messy but then

you take off

your apron or

your overalls

and everything's

protected and

clean underneath

isn't it?

Well in this

ark God is

getting an

apron and

covering the

bloodline and

bringing them

through the

mess while he

blots out

everything else.

this is God's

wonderful care

for his

people.

For everyone

who belongs

to his family

for God's

people he

wraps his

hands around

you and

says I

promise my

judgment will

never ever

fall on you.

I promise I

will take you

through the

judgment and

bring you out

the other

side because

I want to

start something

new with you.

I want to

begin a new

creation with

you.

And that's

why it's

not just

Noah and

his family but

animals get

included in

this covenant

as well.

Verse 19.

And have

you ever

wondered why?

We love

seeing the

giraffe pop

its head out

of the ark

in the pictures

but have you

ever wondered

why the

giraffe is

there at

all?

Well notice

God is

bringing a

male and

a female of

every kind.

God wants

to repopulate

the earth.

In this

ark it's

like a

little capsule

of the

whole world

so that

after judgment

the capsule

can be

opened and

the whole

world can

burst forth

again.

There's a

place in

Norway called

the Svalbard

Global Seed

Vault.

You might

have heard

of it.

It's this

huge concrete

underground

bunker and

in it they're

collecting every

seed known

to man.

Every plant,

everything,

every seed.

And they're

doing that so

that if there's

ever a global

disaster like a

nuclear attack or

something like

that, if there's

ever something

like that it

means that they

have the ability

to regrow the

planet from

this bunker.

They call it

the Doomsday

Vault.

Well that's

like the

Ark.

It's the

Doomsday

Vault.

With the

seed of

every creature

and at the

centre of

that is the

seed of

God's

people.

And from

that God

is going to

regrow the

world and

begin a new

people.

And that is

why God is

saving his

people.

He wants

to start a

new world

with us.

which is

why when we

fast forward

to the end

of the age

after the

final judgment

we see

the goal of

salvation is

not deletion.

God does

not want to

abandon his

world.

No, the

goal is

new creation.

The final

judgment is

coming in

order to

clear the

way for

the new

creation.

God is

going to

disinfect the

world, wipe

away sin,

wipe away

tears, so

that he

will bring

his new

family safe

through it

and raise

us up on

that last

day and

start something

new.

And that's

what's going

on in

miniature with

the flood.

God is

protecting his

chosen family

to bring them

out the other

side to new

life.

God has

planned to

save the

world, but

judgment must

come first

for that to

happen.

And so

just as God

warned, the

rain clouds

come over.

The rain

begins to

fall and

God calls

them in the

ark.

Noah and

his family

get in and

the animals

two by

two.

And verse

16, the

Lord shuts

them in.

Do you

see that?

Doors

closed.

It's like

the Almighty

is pressing

his hand up

against the

door of the

ark, holding

them in.

And the

rains fall

harder and

harder.

And something

else happens,

verse 11 of

chapter 7.

All the

fountains of

the great

deep burst

forth.

This is

talking about

subterranean

water that

God brings up

from the

ground.

And the

ground cracks

and opens

and water

starts rising

up as the

rain starts

to fall.

It's like

God is

de-creating

the earth.

So remember,

in creation,

he splits the

waters above

and below,

and now in

judgment, he's

smashing them

back together.

the flood,

you mustn't

picture the

flood like

it's filling

up your

paddling

pool.

No, the

flood is a

supernatural

doomsday

event.

And as the

waters rise,

the ark

starts to

rise with

it.

And they

rise more

and more in

verse 20,

the waters

rise above

the mountains.

The flood

is miles

deep.

And what

happens to

the people

and the

animals outside?

Every lung

with the

breath of

life in it,

every lung

now fills

with water.

Everything

dies.

And so the

cute picture

we get in

all these

storybooks,

it doesn't

do the flood

justice.

This isn't

one big

swimming pool

with crystal

clear water,

lovely to

swim in.

No, the

flood is a

horror show.

If you

were in

that ark,

as you

float above

the mountains,

it's not

gentle waves

and splashing

that you hear

against the

side of the

boat.

No, you

hear corpses

knocking against

the wood.

And if you

were to

zoom out

and look

down from

space at

the world,

it's not

your usual

bit of

green land,

lots of

sea.

No, no,

it's only

blue,

except one

little speck

on that

water.

Verse 23,

only Noah

was left

and those

who were

with him

in the

ark.

That's it.

Carnage

everywhere,

but the

Lord shutting

in this one

man and

his family.

Nothing can

touch God's

people in

this world.

He's

provided one

perfect,

untouchable,

safe place

for them

to bring

them through

the judgment.

And this

is the

same when

the final

judgment

comes here.

There is

only one,

one safe

place for

you.

It's in

the Lord

Jesus.

This is

the gracious

warning we

need to hear

today.

Judgment

day is

coming.

that needs

to be in

your calendar,

but there

is a way

to prepare

for it.

There is

a way to

be protected

and safe

through that

coming flood.

The Lord

Jesus is

the righteous

man who's

not only

blameless,

who is

sinless.

And it's

with him,

that is

where all

of God's

love and

protection and

security and

promises lie.

It's all

and only,

only in

him.

he's the

only way

anyone on

this planet

can ever

be safe

through the

coming

judgment.

Jesus is

the ark

that will

carry us

through the

storm.

And how

can you

enter?

It's the

same way as

Noah.

You hear

the Lord's

warning now,

you take it

seriously,

and you

trust in the

Lord Jesus

to save you.

faith in

the Lord

Jesus,

it's like

stepping onto

that ark.

In Christ,

the Lord

has his

hand over

your life,

he shut you

into the

Lord Jesus,

and nothing

can touch

you.

On that

final day,

you will be

utterly and

entirely safe.

God will

remember you.

because the

Lord Jesus

has already

passed through

the judgment

of God.

In the

flood,

God unleashed

water,

but on the

cross,

God unleashed

his wrath,

and it all

fell upon

his son,

and Jesus

swallowed it

up.

All the

wrath,

because of

our violence,

because of

our corruption,

and so for

everyone safely

hiding in

Christ,

there is no

more judgment

to face.

That final

day in the

future is

nothing for

you to fear,

because Christ

is not coming

to judge you,

he's coming

to save you,

and you will

be brought to

the other

side, to

awaken to

a new world,

cleansed and

righteous and

prepared for

you.

But we

aren't there

yet.

we're still

on the

beach,

the tide

is retreating,

and something

is coming that

we cannot see

yet, and so

we need to

act now.

We need to

listen to the

warning, and

by faith,

believe what

God promises,

he promises

this day is

coming.

And we

don't know

when it

will be,

and neither

did Noah's

neighbours,

or the people

at the time,

that they

were all

eating and

drinking,

and life

was normal,

but then

the waves

hit.

And life

seems normal

now, but

please do

not be

fooled, God

is telling

us something

is coming.

And so

what do you

need to do

now?

Get in the

ark.

Get in the

ark and

stay safe.

And don't

delay this,

Tilly Smith

didn't think,

oh I can wait

until tomorrow

to do something

about this,

no.

get in the

ark now,

run to

Jesus,

and you

will be

safe

forever.

Are you

listening to

the warning?

Are you

safe in

the ark

now?

There is

only one

place,

one place

that this

world can

go,

join the

ark,

join the

Lord Jesus

Christ,

and the

doors are

open,

wide open,

and everyone

is welcome.

Let's pray.

Amen.

Amen.