The Great Flood & the Patience of God
I will never forget the first time I ventured out on the great plains. Thousands of miles from any present day ocean, I found fossils of sea animals and seashells! Unbelievable! Is this evidence of the great flood mentioned in Genesis 6-8? Could be. Scholars have speculated that the waters from the flood remained on the earth for around one year—which would have been more than enough time for sea life to find itself swimming over what we now know as the great plains. See Genesis 8:1-14.
Jesus spoke of the great flood as fact when illustrating his second coming in Matthew 24:36-39. The flood was tragic, but even more tragic was the spiritual condition of those who died in the flood. See Genesis 6:5-7; 11-13, 17. God’s bountiful patience finally ran out. The Genesis account tells us the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Gen. 6:5) The sinner will not get away with sin indefinitely. God’s revelation to us has some important reminders:
¨ 1. Numbers 32:23—But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out.
¨ 2. Numbers 16—the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, Abiram, their families, and 250 other men were destroyed because of rebellion against God.
¨ 3. Assyria was destroyed Israel in 721 BC because of Israel’s continual wickedness. Likewise, Judah was destroyed in 606 BC by Babylon because of rebellion against God.
¨ 4. 100 years after the preaching of Jonah, the great city of Nineveh was destroyed due to ungodliness.
¨ 5. In Genesis 7:4 we read God caused rain to fall for 40 days and nights—destroying everyone on earth but eight souls—Noah, his wife, their three sons, and their wives.
The story of the flood declares God’s righteous indignation toward sin. God does not treat iniquity lightly. It is hard to imagine only eight people in all the earth being faithful to God. But the rescue of so small a number illustrates the truth Jesus taught in Matthew 7:13-14. (Enter by the narrow gate…) Just as the majority was lost in the floodwaters in Genesis 7—the majority of people will be lost when Christ returns a second time. This is because they have followed the broad road, ignoring the narrow road that is filled with righteousness. The narrow way leading to eternal life is spoken of by Jesus in Matthew 7. It is a way that has been built by God Himself, and one can only follow by taking heed of His word.
There are instances throughout Scripture where only a small number of people were saved while the majority perished. In the case of Sodom and Gomorrah, only Lot and his two daughters were saved from among all the inhabitants therein. Out of the estimated two million people who were led by Moses through the Red Sea, only two of the original fighting men, Joshua and Caleb, finally made it to the Promised Land from among all the fighting men of Israel -- the rest died in the wilderness (even Moses and Aaron). Some might cry out that God is unfair to do as He does. Was God cruel for destroying the world with a flood and carrying out the severe punishments upon the guilty? Actually, it was the people who were cruel for turning their backs on God. We must remember that God never acts unbecomingly or unfairly--even if we do not always understand His ways. "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts. (Isa. 55:8-9)
God is more than just and fair, He is also merciful and longsuffering. God gave the wicked of Noah’s day a chance to change their ways--but they would not. In Genesis 6:3 we read: Then the LORD said, "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years." 120 years. This was the period that God showed His mercy. It was also the time in which Noah worked on the construction of the ark. Peter tells us that Noah worked to turn sinners from the error of their way. (1 Peter 3:19-20) Tom Edwards has said, “Just the sight of Noah working on the ark for 120 years--because the world was going to be destroyed--was certainly a sermon in itself.”
If the world were coming to an end, shouldn't one do something about it? Noah did, and we must, too. To know the right thing to do, but to do it not, is sin. (Js. 4:17) God, out of His kindness and love, continues to give man opportunity to repent, but most reject His offer. All through history, God has given man a chance again and again. Someday, the second-chances will run out! No one will be able to blame God for their lost condition on judgment Day. Note Ezekiel 33:11: Say to them, "As I live!' declares the Lord GOD, "I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?
There comes a time when man will have no more chances. Read Gen. 7:17-24. Imagine swimming up to the ark after the door had been shut—begging, pleading, hoping beyond hope that the door would open. Just before drowning, I wonder how many people said, if only I listened, and had heeded the preaching of Noah. How many of us know how long our opportunity will continue? Our last chance can come suddenly and without warning. Don't be caught unprepared when that time comes. What could be more important than making oneself ready for heaven? One day no one will have anymore time or opportunities--don't let that day catch you unprepared!
Matthew Allen
mhallen@sbcglobal.net