1. Why did God limit the life spans of men?

2. How extensive was evil upon the earth at that time?

3. Consider again v.6. What sort of God is revealed?

C. Comment :

In the opening verses the indication is that men just decided themselves who or when they would marry and indeed how many they would marry (v.1,2). The indication is of rampant self choice with no reference to God or any sense of propriety that God might have put in man. The Lord therefore limits the length of life span as a means of curbing somewhat this unrestrained living (v.3). Giants (Nephilim) seem to be the product (v.4). Men great in size, in action and in evil.

The picture of the state of the earth is tragic when we compare the peace, order and harmony that existed when God first made it. The picture is now of rampant evil with men disregarding God and doing what they want contrary to the way designed by God (v.5).

God's response is not of anger but of anguish, grief, pain, of deep distress at what had come about (v.6). It was no longer a pleasure to Him, men would be destroying themselves and His world by their evil. The only course open is to stop it all continuing, to destroy what is (and perhaps start again). But in the midst of all this evil, there is hope in the form of one righteous man, Noah (v.8,9). He is all that is left of the good the Lord put on the earth. Again and again in Scripture, when the position seems hopeless God takes a righteous remnant and saves it.

D. Application?

Today try to catch a sense of the awfulness of the world as it had become and anguish for it.

Chapter: Genesis 6

Passage: Genesis 6:11-25

A. Find Out:

1. How was the earth described 3 times? v.11,12

2. How was the earth twice described? v.11 & 13

3. What was God going to do with it? v.13 & 17

4. What 4 instructions did the Lord give Noah?

i) v.14 ii) v.18 iii) v.19 iv) v.21

5. How was he to get the creatures? v.20

B. Think :

1. Look up Matthew 24:37-39, Hebrews 11:7, 1 Peter 3:20, 2 Peter 2:5

How does the New Testament view Noah & the flood?

2. How, in your own words, had the earth changed from when God made

it?

3. What obviously was God's plan through Noah?

C. Comment :

The dictionary explains corrupt as "to make rotten, to contaminate, tainted, spoilt, altered for the worse". All these words fully describe what had happened to the world since God had made it (v.11,12). "Violence" was the other word used to describe what had come onto the earth. Where God had made peace and harmony, man brought violence in every way. That which had been beautiful had been totally abused, and the situation was getting worse and worse. There was no point in letting it just carry on, so God decided to stop it and start over again with one man and his family, perhaps before this one man and his family also get corrupted (v.13,17,18).

Read Ezekiel 18:32 Understand when God destroys it is no joy but a necessity. There could be no other way. When cancer strikes, a radical operation to remove it is the only means of providing hope. This is a sobering piece of the world's history, but God's grace was there, as always, looking for a new start for man. With God, death is always followed by resurrection and the hope that comes with it.

D. Application?

1. Again, seek to sense something of the awfulness of what had happened to

the earth.

2. Thank God that He gave the earth another chance through Noah.

Chapter: Genesis 7

Passage: Genesis 7:1-10

A. Find Out:

1. Why did the Lord want Noah saved? v.1

2. What was the purpose of taking the animals? v.3

3. How many days had Noah left? v.4

4. How extensive was the destruction to be? v.4b

5. How many people entered the ark? v.7

6. How did they get the animals to come? v.9

B. Think :

1. What do you think Noah must have felt about what happened?

2. How would Noah have been reassured in the last days that he was doing

the right thing?

3. Why do you think most animals had to die in the flood?

C. Comment :

This passage repeats what was said in chapter 6, and repetition in scripture indicates seriousness. Noah alone has been found righteous and his righteous stand in the midst of an ungodly generation will bring the reward of salvation (v.1). The amazing thing is not that destruction is to come but that ANYONE is saved!

The animals to be saved are classified as clean and unclean (v.2). Such a classification would not be fully utilised until the sacrificial system came in many hundreds of years later in the life of Israel. For now it indicates that salvation is dependant upon God's choosing, not upon how "clean" a person is. Miraculously, when Noah and his family entered the ark, God brought the animals to him (v.8,9). In the last week before the flood the ark fills up with all those God has called. The rest of the world will cease to be, and because it is impossible to separate men from beasts, both will die. God IS a God of love, but even love sees that sometimes there is no hope in a situation and therefore ends it that something else may be brought into being. This is a devastating passage of Scripture but we must not avoid because it is so.

D. Application?

Recognise that the Lord is God of peace AND God of Judgement and His ways are perfect and just. Bow before Him and acknowledge that He is Lord.

Chapter: Genesis 7

Passage: Genesis 7:11-24

A. Find Out:

1. Where did the water come from? v.11

2. How long did it rain? v.12

3. How was the Lord's presence felt? v.16

4. How great was the flood? v.20

5. With what result? v.21

6. How long did the flood remain? v.24

B. Think :

1. What disasters do you know of that compare with this one?

2. Read 2 Peter 2:5,9 How does the New Testament use the picture of

Noah and the flood?

3. Read Matthew 24:37-39 How does Jesus say the people of Noah's day

were acting up to the flood?

C. Comment :

The ground and the skies open up (v.11,120 and water pours forth in the greatest calamity that the world has ever known. We should observe several things: First here is a picture that says that even when disasters come, God is there to save the righteous. The Scriptures testify to this again and again.

Second, the unrighteous have no excuse. They ignored God and were "doing their own thing" completely oblivious to what was coming. Perhaps if others had been righteous, had a relationship with God and listened to God, they too would have been saved. See 2 Peter 3:9b.

Third we should, in the face of such disasters, remember that all men have to die sometime and go on into eternity. The truth is that many people die earlier in life. What shocks us with a disaster is that so many go at once. Perhaps we need to get a clearer eternal perspective in line with the Scripture. We should also remember what we said yesterday: the amazing thing is NOT that total destruction came, but that ANYONE was saved. This was an act of mercy!

D. Application?

1. Thank the Lord that He DOES look after and protect the righteous,

those who love and follow Him.

2. Thank Him that ALL have the opportunity to turn and be saved.

Chapter: Genesis 8

Passage: Genesis 8:1-12

A. Find Out:

1. Why was the water receding? v.1,2

2. Where did the Ark "ground"? v.4

3. How much longer did it take for mountains to become visible? v.4,5

4. What did Noah send out first of all? v.6,7

5. How many times did he send out the dove? v.8-12

6. How did he know it was now all right? v.11,12

B. Think :

1. Note the four stages that indicate the receding of the flood and drying up

of the earth.

2. How is the Lord seen to be active in the events recorded here?

3. What has Noah got to do?

C. Comment :

The judgement of God has come. Now we are in the waiting stage to see what God will do and when. The flood remained 150 days (5 months) and took another 7 months to completely dry out (compare 7:11, 8:4, 8:14) The removing of the flood is again seen as the hand of God. While it is happening, Noah has to sit tight and wait patiently.

However he shows his faith that God IS restoring the earth by sending out the birds to see how things are. The raven, the unclean bird, appears to give no help (v.6,7). The dove, that subsequently becomes a symbol of peace, goes and returns, goes and returns and goes (v.8-12). Noah is constantly looking for the sign of God having moved in salvation. Eventually he is rewarded. The dove must have been able to find another home at last.

In this passage Noah is a strong example to us. When things are bad, do we wait patiently for the Lord to bring His salvation, while constantly maintaining faith, looking for the sign of His appearing? Noah relied upon the word of God, what God had said, and trusted for that to be fulfilled. Do we?

D. Application?

1. Read Habakkuk 3:17,18 When all is not as good as it could be, will we

trust God and maintain this attitude of praise, and worship.

2. Today declare your complete trust in him, whatever!

Chapter: Genesis 8

Passage: Genesis 8:13-22

A. Find Out:

1. How long did Noah wait in the ark? v.13,14

2. Why did he leave the ark? v.15,16

3. What was the first thing Noah then did? v.20

4. How was the Lord aware of what Noah was doing? v.21

5. What did the Lord resolve to do? v.21

6. What reassuring promise did he make? v.22

B. Think :

1. Of what do you think Noah waiting in the Ark is a sign?

2. What do you think building an altar indicates?

3. How did that appear to melt God's heart?

C. Comment :

For nearly two months Noah and all his passengers wait in the ark after the waters have gone (v.13,14). Here is a picture of a man who is just waiting patiently for God to say he can move. God put there, God will tell him he can come out. What a beautiful picture of just resting in the Lord. As soon as he is out, Noah builds an altar as a sign of worship, praise and thanksgiving (v.20). This is the first altar that is mentioned in the Bible and it is quite significant. There is no mention that Noah was told to build it. It just seems instinctive, and as he does it and offers what appears to be the first burnt offering in the Bible, God is aware of Noah's desire towards Him and His heart is moved.

As Noah responds, the Lord's activity in saving Noah is justified as He sees that in the midst of evil mankind there is still room for love and worship to come forth. He resolves therefore, never again to destroy all mankind (v.21). The Bible indicates again and again that WE can move God's heart by who we are and what we do! What a challenge and motivation, if we really believe this!

D. Application?

1. Thank the Lord that we can live in the security of His promise that he

will never again wipe us out.

2. Give to Him today YOUR worship and praise as one of His children.

Remember as one of His children you can move Father's heart.

Chapter: Genesis 9

Passage: Genesis 9:1-7

A. Find Out:

1. What original command did God now repeat? v.1

2. How did the relationship of humans to animals now change? v.3

3. How did God's provision for man now change? v.3

4. What constraint did He put on it? v.4

5. How did the Lord provide a "You must NOT"? v.5

6. What was the reason for that? v.6

B. Think :

1. Why would the animals now fear man?

2. Why do you think they had to eat meat only without its blood in?

3. How is who man is important in terms of what may or may not happen

to him?

C. Comment :

This is almost a restarting of the world. Twice in this passage God gives them the original command to populate the earth (v.1,7). No longer are they only to be vegetarians but now they may eat the meat of animals (v.3). Perhaps the original injunction to eat only that which has grown on plants was to keep any form of violence off the earth.

Now violence has come and sin is inherent in man. Nevertheless God doesn't want them to eat meat with blood in it (v.4). Throughout Scripture blood is a sign of the life of a creature and the Lord wants that life respected. Meat eating is now acceptable but not with the abandonment of the respect for life.

In line with this, the Lord then gives a warning that taking a human life will result in further life being taken as well, whether by vengeance or in justice is not specified (v.5,6). Man is important because he is made in the image of God and to kill man is to violate that. Life is to be respected, especially man's life. This passage is therefore, especially significant in the light of today's casual "respect" for life.

D. Application?

1. Ask the Lord today to help you be a respecter of life, especially of other

     people.

2. Thank Him that every person is important because there is something of

     God's likeness in them.

Chapter: Genesis 9

Passage: Genesis 9:8-17

A. Find Out:

1. Who did God's covenant first cover? v.9

2. But what else did it also cover? v.10

3. What did He promise? v.11

4. How long would it last? v.12

5. What sign did he choose? v.13

6. How would it work? v.16

B. Think :

1. How many times is the word "covenant" used in this passage?

2. What should have been the effect of that covenant by God upon Noah?

3. What does the fact that God will need reminding imply? (NOT that He

forgets!)

C. Comment :

Eight times in the statement by God, He uses the word "covenant". (v.8,11,12,12,13,15,16,17). Eight is the number of resurrection or new life in the Bible and here that is exactly what is happening. God is promising a new start for the earth free from the fear of God's judgement coming again.

The early inhabitants of the earth so turned to evil that mass destruction was necessary. Although there are likely to be further times when God will wonder whether He should destroy, because of evil that comes like a plague, He has determined, and made that determination public by this covenant, that He will not destroy in the same manner ever again.

"Covenant" here is really a one-sided agreement by God with Himself. It is the first of a number of covenants that God makes through the Bible. It should have brought Noah (and us) comfort and assurance that he need not fear similar destruction. Perhaps the rainbow and certainly the words of this passage are more for our benefit than for God's, for we can now rest secure and at peace.

D. Application?

1. Thank the Lord that we have the assurance from Him of a life free from

the fear of universal destruction.

2. Thank Him today for the provision of this world for your enjoyment.

Chapter: Genesis 9

Passage: Genesis 9:18-29

A. Find Out:

1. What did Noah set out to do next? v.20

2. Why did this seem not a good idea? v.21

3. How did Ham react when he saw his father? v.22

4. How did his brothers react? v.23

5. How did Noah respond to Ham? v.24,25

6. How did he respond to the other two sons? v.26,27

B. Think :

1. How does Noah illustrate how one wrong move can lead to a series of

other wrongs?

2. How does Ham illustrate the wrong way to respond to other's

misfortunes?

3. What did Noah obviously understand about curses and blessings?

C. Comment :

Noah, the only righteous man on earth who has just been saved by the grace of God, unwisely plants a vineyard (v.20). All right if you can control the effects of alcohol, but why get into a possibly dangerous situation to start with. He ends up undressed in a drunken sleep (v.21) and when Ham sees his father he goes out, obviously joking about him (v.22). There is no respect in Ham's actions or attitude (Read Ephesians 6:2)

Shem and Japheth have an entirely different attitude and respect their father and will not join in his downfall. They, instead, respectfully cover him up without looking at him (v.23). What an example of righteous behaviour by these two sons!

When Noah awakes (v.24), realises what has happened, questions his sons and finds out their actions and attitudes, he places a curse on Ham's descendants (v.25). He clearly believed in the power of curse and blessing. What he said became true. Canaan was later to be put in subjection to Israel, a descendant of Shem

D. Application?

1. Stop any activity which can lead on to a series of wrongs.

2. Will I expose others' weaknesses or help cover them with Jesus' love and

righteousness?

ADDITIONAL NOTE : THE FLOOD

With the story of the flood come a number of problems. It is to face those problems that this additional note is provided.

1. Extent of the Flood?

There are basically two likely possibilities here:

a) The Entire Globe was covered

- there are sediment signs in many parts of the world

- this may however, raise other difficulties in respect of other ancient

civilisations (although many have reference to a flood in their history) and

lack of uniformity in the fossil record

b) A limited area was covered

  - this is acceptable if the words “the earth” in 7:17 -23 are taken not to

     mean “the planet” but simply “the surface of the ground”, meaning the

     entire area was covered

  - the entire heavens in 7:19 would need to be taken to mean the entire

     area under consideration, presumably Mesopotamia.

  - the point of God restarting the earth because of the wickedness across

     the earth is somewhat negated if this view is held.

2. Biblical Fact

Arguments will continue between Christians as to which of the above views is correct. What is the important question for most people is not about fossil theory but whether they will simply believe it as historical fact - however it happened!

The Bible is quite clear on that, as we saw in the notes: in Isa 54:9 the prophetic word through Isaiah from God referred specifically to Noah. Jesus himself referred to Noah's day as an historical event in Matthew 24:37-39. Peter also refers to the flood in 1 Peter 3:20 and 2 Peter 3:6 while the “gallery of faith” in Hebrews also speaks of Noah as a man of faith (Hebrews 11:7)

The Bible is quite clear, therefore, that it was an event in history whereby God condemned mankind but at the same time saved it by the faith of one man. Now where have we heard that scenario before? Praise the Lord that that is the very scenario of salvation through Jesus Christ!

RECAP - "The Flood" - Genesis Chapters 6-9

SUMMARY :

In this group of nine studies we have seen:

  - increasing evil upon the earth

  - the Lord's anguish but His decision to end it

  - Noah being the one righteous man on earth

  - Noah building an Ark & taking his family & animals in

  - the flood coming and destroying everything

  - the flood abating and Noah coming forth

  - the Lord covenanting never to destroy again.

  - Noah with his sons after the flood

COMMENT :

The lesson of these chapters is that sin doesn't "stand still". It progresses unless it is strongly restrained or destroyed, and so that is what the Lord does, like dealing with a plague that will totally destroy if not destroyed. Noah is clearly the example for us here, the man who was a means of salvation for future generations, because he wasn't afraid to stand out in his world.

LESSONS?

1. Unrestrained sin gets worse and worse and will be judged

2. God doesn't delight in the death of any man

3. God wants us to hold firm to righteousness even though all around us are

unrighteous

4. God calls us to respect all life

5. Seek to "cover" the failures of those over us, not expose them.

PRAY :

Thank the Lord for His love and grace that is available to help you to stand for Him anywhere, even when you are the only Christian there.

PART 4 : The Nations Form

In this last, short but significant Part, watch how the nations form again and how man's tendency to self, to sin, to reject God comes out yet again. Yet in God's grace that will not be the end of it, for He has yet another man He has chosen for blessing.