Sometimes the Bible describes God‘s response using human emotions.
Here, God is grieved to the point of regretting having made humankind. - P68
He sees all possible outcomes but still
grieves over the fallen and broken conditionof His creation. The good news is that He has a plan for salvation. We are
introduced to Noah, whom God has set apart for a time such as this. - P68
Likewise, the grace of God is fully revealed through the sacrifice of His Son,
who shows us the love of the Father
not only by expressing humanemotions,
but by becoming human Himself. - P68
The story of Noah is a loud echo of the salvation we have through Jesus Christ. - P69
In what could only be described as an act of grace, sin-ners find favor
in the eyes of the Lord and are led
by His Spirit into the ark of
Christ‘s death and resurrection, where He preserves us aswe await the eternal glory of the new heavens and the new earth thatare to come. - P69
All stories in the Bible point to Christ. All glory belongsto Christ. - P69
Father, though the currents of our society are sinful, we know that you are
still in control. - P69
Just as You did in the days of Noah, and as You accomplishedthrough Christ, set Your people apart and restore us through the power ofYour Spirit. In Jesus‘ name, amen. - P69
[NIV] 11 Now the earth was corrupt in God‘s sight andwas full of violence.
[NLT] 11 Now God saw that the earth had become corrupt and was filled with vi-olence.
- P70
12 God saw how corruptthe people on earth had corrupted their ways.
12 God observed all this corruption in the world, for everyone on earth was corrupt.
the earth had become, for all - P70
22 Noah did everything just as God commanded him.
22 So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him. - P71
The violent inclinations of humankind yield a world full of wickedness.
Humankind‘s sinful desires and ways have brought life on Earth to apoint where God determines to put an end to the corruption that isdestroying His creation. - P72
But unexpectedly, God‘s first step in judgingthe world is to secure a way out for those who are His. He discloses his
plans to Noah and commands him to build an ark that will preservehis family from the flood. - P72
As our world increases in godlessness, we arenot unaware of God‘s coming judgment. But as Christians, we can take
heart, knowing that God has provided
another ark for us: - P72
Christ‘s body which bore God‘s judgment
on our behalf. - P72
Readers of Genesis will later find out that Noah was a sinnerjust like everyone else, yet God, in His grace and mercy, sets him apartfor salvation. His obedience will result in not only the salvation of hisfamily, but also the preservation of creation. - P72
In His amazing grace andwisdom, God takes the initiative in making a covenant with Noah, andNoah‘s obedience overflows into a blessing for the whole world a clear
foreshadowing of the gospel. - P72
The multiplication of sin only results in
misery and destruction, but God can use
one person‘s faithful obedienceto
bless many. - P72
|