January 8, 2013
JESUS -- GOD'S RESCUE PLAN
Genesis 6
Allyson Black
Central Truth
The wages of sin has been and always will be death, but it is the goodness of God, the free gift of God, that saves any of us. Noah and the ark were the rescue plan, the place of hope, and how grace lived on, but for us it is Jesus.
Key Verse | Genesis 6:7–8
The Lord said, "I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them." But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. (Genesis 6:7-8)
Genesis 6
Increasing Corruption on Earth
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 1 6:3 Or My Spirit shall not contend with man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” 4 The Nephilim 2 6:4 Or giants 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.
Noah and the Flood
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, 3 6:13 Hebrew The end of all flesh has come before me 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. 4 6:14 An unknown kind of tree; transliterated from Hebrew 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, 5 6:15 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters its breadth 50 cubits, and its height 30 cubits. 16 Make a roof 6 6:16 Or skylight 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.
Dive Deeper | Genesis 6
Genesis 6 acknowledges how evil had spread and how the LORD sees man's wickedness, even the thoughts of his heart. I've wondered at times, does God see all the terrible things going on in this world? This chapter assures me that God does see it (verse 5), it grieves Him, and His heart is filled with pain (verse 6). What convicts me in reading this is that not only does God see our actions that are evil, but also our thoughts. Our thoughts are powerful; they can lead us to sin or to make decisions that glorify God. We must capture our thoughts and make them obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).
Sin had become a lifestyle of humanity during this time, and I don't think it would be too farfetched to say the world appears the same way today. God always has a plan, and this time it was to get rid of sinful man by flooding the earth, all except Noah and his family. God chose to establish His covenant through Noah (verse 18). How amazing that the mighty and all-powerful God, who could flood the earth when He decides to, would choose to make a promise with fallen man. We should look at Noah's example and pursue righteousness, stand apart in our time as blameless, and walk with God (verse 9).
Micah 6:8 says: "He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?" The Lord gave Noah specific instructions on how to build the ark, and Noah did everything God commanded him. The Bible is our instruction book, and we must read and learn it in order to obey. The wages of sin has been and always will be death (Romans 6:23), but it is the goodness of God, the free gift of God, that saves any of us. Noah and the ark were the rescue plan, the place of hope, and how grace lived on, but for us it is Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8).
Discussion Questions
1. What you spend most of your time thinking about says a lot about where your heart is, and how much you are trusting God. What do you spend most of your time thinking about? How are you doing at capturing negative thoughts, and those that lead to sin?
2. Noah lived a life worth following. 1 Corinthians 11:1 (NIV) says, "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." Are you living a life worth following?
3. Noah did all that God commanded him to do. Are you spending time in God's Word and with community learning what God desires from us? Are you doing everything God is commanding you, or are you holding onto something you don't want to trust Him with?
4. The wages of sin is death, but through Jesus Christ we are saved. When is the last time you thanked Him for saving you?