Catastrophe: The Flood

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Studying God’s Word

Introduction

Today, we are continuing our walk through the Bible and the Seven C’s of History. We have covered the Creation of the universe and the Corruption that entered as a result of sin. Today, we start a discussion on the Catastrophe that is described in the book of Genesis. We will spend five lessons examining this topic.

God Called Noah

Today, we start with the call of Noah. I hope you will walk out of here knowing why God considered Noah righteous compared to all of the others around him.

Let’s read Genesis 6:5–7:1 together. Divide the passage for members of the class to read aloud.

Now that we have read the text, let’s take some time to observe what it is saying to us. Remember that we are looking to understand the difference between Noah and the rest of the people on earth. Some repeated ideas in this passage will help us understand the difference.

• What type of literature is this passage? The passage is a narrative describing historical events.
• How are the people of earth described in this passage? Their wickedness was great (v. 5), their thoughts were only evil continually (v. 5), and they were corrupt and filled with violence (vv. 11–13). Point out to the students that these repeated elements are a mark of emphasis in the text.
• What was God’s attitude toward mankind at this point in history? God regretted that he had made man and was grieved over their corruption (vv. 6–7).
• What did God plan to do about the corruption? God planned to destroy all of the land-dwelling, air-breathing creatures on earth—including man and animals (vv. 7, 13, 17).
• How is Noah described in the passage? Righteous, blameless, walking with God (vv. 6:9, 7:1).
• How are verses 8 and 18 connected? Both indicate that God was in control of the situation and that he alone was granting Noah favor. God placed his favor on Noah (v. 8) and established a covenant with Noah and his family (v. 18).
• How are Noah’s sons described? No description is given of them. While the text does not say that God favored them or that they were just, righteous, or perfect, they certainly seem to have followed their father’s lead in preparing the ark and boarding it.
• What commands did God give to Noah? God commanded him to make an ark (vv. 14–16), to board the ark (v. 18), to take pairs of animals on the ark (vv. 19–20), and to gather food for the people and animals (v. 21).
• How did Noah respond to God’s commands? Noah did everything God commanded him (v. 22).
• What is the main point of the passage? God was judging the world for its sinfulness and saving a remnant of man and animals to repopulate the earth.

Discover the Truth

Now that we have asked questions about the text, let’s talk about the main idea and try to understand why God called Noah.

• How long after creation did this take place? The call of Noah came about 100 years before the flood, so near the year 1550 Anno Mundi (“year of the world” or years after creation). The flood began in 1656 AM. Use the Seven C’s Timeline to help the students get the big picture of when these events occurred.
• Examining this passage, what do we learn about mankind’s character in general? In this passage, mankind is repeatedly described as wicked, violent, and corrupt.
• Do any other passages speak of this condition? Immediately after the flood, God affirmed the continued corruption of mankind in Genesis 8:21. The rest of the Bible is sprinkled with the accounts of mankind’s corruption and the sin that needs to be atoned for in Christ.

  Several New Testament writers mention the events of the flood as a real, historical occurrence. Jesus refers to the days of Noah as real history (Matthew 24:37; Luke 17:26) and the Apostle Peter references Noah in both of his epistles.

Let’s read 2 Peter 2:4–5. Assign a reader.

From this passage, we also learn that Noah was preaching righteousness to those who were on earth at this time. But only Noah and his family were spared from the flood.

We read in the text that Noah was a righteous man. We also read that all flesh was corrupt.

• Was Noah a sinful man? How can we know? Since he was a descendant of Adam, he must have been sinful. If the students answer no to the question, ask if Noah was a descendant of Adam to remind them that all have inherited a sin nature through Adam.

  This seems to be a bit of a contradiction, but there is an explanation. That explanation is found as we look at another of the repeated elements in this text. We saw that the corruption of mankind was repeated, but another idea needs to be kept in view as well.

  God did not call Noah because Noah was righteous in his own strength. Notice in Genesis 6:8 that Noah found favor, or grace as some translations put it, in the eyes of the Lord. In verse 18, God established his covenant with Noah, God provided the plans for the ark, and God brought the animals to Noah. In 2 Peter 2:5, which we read a moment ago, God saved Noah and his family. Noah’s salvation was a gracious act of God. God was the one acting in all of these cases, not Noah.

By Faith Noah . . .

This idea is expanded upon in the book of Hebrews in what is often called the “Hall of Faith” chapter. We find out more about God’s calling of Noah there.

Let’s read Hebrews 11:7 together and uncover Noah’s righteousness a bit further. Have someone read the passage aloud.

• What ideas in this passage are similar to the Genesis passage we read earlier? Noah was warned of the judgment, he built the ark, Noah’s family was saved, and the rest of the world was condemned.
• Why did Noah do what God told him to do? It was by faith and through a fear of God that he acted.
• How did Noah act on his faith? He prepared the ark as instructed.
• What were the two results of Noah’s obedience? His household was saved, and he became an heir of righteousness.
• Where does righteousness come from according to this verse? Righteousness comes by (through) faith.
• What is the main point of the passage? Noah acted by faith in God.
• What does the passage tell us about God? He is to be believed, feared, and obeyed.

Discover the Truth

Now that we have asked questions about the text, let’s draw out the source of Noah’s righteousness and faith.

• What is the connection between Noah’s being a preacher of righteousness (2 Peter 2:5) and the condemnation of the world? In order to proclaim righteousness, there must be a standard of goodness with which to compare something. That standard is the absolute moral perfection of God (as manifest in Christ). Since all men have sinned, all are under condemnation. As Noah preached the standard of perfect righteousness, the people hearing were condemned for falling short of that standard. Preaching righteousness has the effect of condemning the hearer.
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  If Noah had faith and acted on that faith, where did that faith come from? According to Romans 10:17, faith comes by hearing God’s Word. Noah heard from God and was given faith through that. To confirm this, we also read in many other passages that righteousness and faith are gifts from God.

Have someone read the following passages: Ephesians 2:8–9; Philippians 3:9; 2 Timothy 1:9.

• What is the source of faith and righteousness according to these passages? Righteousness comes from God through faith in Jesus Christ.
• Was the source of righteousness different for Noah? No. Because all of mankind is fallen, righteousness can only come from God, and he gives faith to all believers. Righteousness is found only when we receive Christ’s forgiveness for our sins and his perfect life is credited to our account. This is the doctrine of imputed righteousness. Romans 3:21–26 describes this idea very clearly—all men are found to be righteous only on the merits of Christ’s work.

  Many people have the false notion that people who were alive before the time of Christ were saved from their sins by obeying God’s laws. This misunderstanding needs to be corrected. All who enter heaven have been forgiven of their sins by what Christ did on the cross—taking God the Father’s wrath for sin on himself. Those who lived before Christ were looking forward to the coming Savior who would die for their sins. Those alive today look back to the completed work of Christ on the cross. The work of Jesus on the cross is the hope of salvation for all people, past, present, and future.

  If you remember our teaching on Corruption, when sin entered the world, God promised to send a Savior. This promise, and foreshadowing, is found in Genesis 3:15, and Noah, who lived a relatively short time after the fall, surely knew of this promise. His faith was in God to save him from the coming judgment of the flood and from the coming judgment of sin.

  As we continue to walk through biblical history, we will see glimpses of the offspring, or Seed, referenced in Genesis 3:15. When we talk about Abraham, we will see that he was promised a Seed (Genesis 22:18) who would bless the nations. In Galatians 3:16, Paul identified this Seed as Christ. This promise was passed to Isaac and then to Jacob. It came again to David through Judah and ultimately to Joseph and Mary.

  Noah’s righteousness before God was not due to his own merit, but was a gift from God who would provide atonement for Noah’s sins through Christ’s death and resurrection. Noah responded in obedience to God through his faith, but his obedience was the result of God’s grace toward him. In all of this, the glory belongs to God alone.

Corruption and Righteousness

Have the students mark the negative aspects of humanity with one color, the positive aspects of Noah with another color, and the gracious acts of God in a third color.

Some people prefer to not write in their Bibles. If this is the case, suggest that they use a piece of paper and make three columns to enter the information in, noting the verses in which they find the descriptions.

I would like you to take a few minutes to mark in your Bibles the contrasts that we have been talking about. Turn to Genesis 6 and pick three colors to use. Use one color, maybe black, to denote the darkness of sin, and underline all of the descriptions of mankind’s character. Use another color to mark the references to Noah’s character, and use a third color to mark God’s actions in the passage. Mark from 6:5 through 7:1. If you would like, you can continue through chapter 9 after class to get a peek at some of the other ideas we will be discussing in the next few lessons.

Also add a cross-reference between 2 Peter 2:4–5 and Hebrews 11:7 if those aren’t already in your Bible’s notes.

Connect to the Truth

It is important that we keep the sinfulness of mankind in its proper perspective. The world will try to convince you that people are basically good or that outside influences bring corruption. This flies in the face of the Bible’s clear teaching on mankind’s condition. If people are already good, then there is no reason for a Savior. It is when we recognize that we are not good and that we need our sins removed that we bring our thinking into alignment with the Bible. Because of the sinfulness of man, a Savior was needed.

Application

After examining these texts, we can make some clear statements about the condition of mankind and the calling of Noah.

• What have we learned about mankind’s condition at the time of Noah? All of mankind was corrupt. Their thoughts were only evil continually (6:5).
• Has the heart of mankind changed since the days of Noah? No. Many passages attest to the sinfulness of man. Even immediately after the flood, God noted that “the intentions of man’s heart is evil from his youth” (8:21).
• How did God feel about seeing the sinfulness of mankind? He regretted that he had made man and was grieved in his heart.
• What was God’s response to the sinfulness of mankind? He determined to judge their sin with a flood to destroy all flesh on earth.
• Why was Noah saved from the flood? God was gracious to him.
• How did Noah respond to God’s grace in his life? Noah was obedient to God’s commands.
• Was Noah righteous because of the things he did? No, his obedience was a result of his faith in God. Noah’s righteousness (and the righteousness of every other human who is called righteous) can come only through what was credited to him from Christ’s account.
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  Having talked about the source of Noah’s righteousness, how can you apply that to yourself? Allow discussion. Just like Noah, we can be called righteous only because of God’s grace toward us and the righteous life of Christ that has been credited to those who trust in him. We must take great care to avoid thinking that our deeds can earn us favor with God leading to salvation since we have already been seen as righteous on account of Christ’s merits alone (Isaiah 61:10). Our good works are a response to what God has done for us (Ephesians 2:8–10).
• What is the importance of faith as we consider the call of Noah and the call God has for each of our lives? Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6) or to be obedient to his commands. Just as Noah became an heir of righteousness through faith, so do we (Galatians 3:13–15).
• People often claim that God is cruel to have wiped out every person on the face of the earth in the flood. How would you use the texts we have discussed today to help them understand that God’s actions were just? Many people fail to recognize the holiness of God and the sinfulness of sin. This leads them to think that God must have killed some good people in the flood. The text makes it clear that there were no good people and that God was just to punish each person for sinning against him.
• Noah is described as a preacher of righteousness to an ungodly world. Is our situation any different from his? How should we live in light of this truth? We are in the same basic position: we are surrounded by a world that is ungodly, and we know the true source of righteousness. We should preach that righteousness comes through Christ alone and that all people need that salvation, just as only those who boarded the ark were saved from that judgment.
• Why is it important to recognize that our righteousness does not come from us, but is found in Christ alone? Passages like Ephesians 2:1–10 make it clear that we must look to Christ alone for our righteousness. The things we do in service to God and out of gratitude for what he has done do not make us more righteous. If we think that our deeds are worthy of God’s favor, we are deceived and not grasping the truth of the Bible’s teaching. Christ’s perfect life and work on the cross is the only source of righteousness. If we try to add to his work with our own, we are denying the sufficiency of Christ.

Group Prayer

Be sure to pray with your class and take requests if time allows.

• Praise God for his gracious acts of saving Noah and his family.
• Praise God for his holiness and justice.
• Ask God that he would give each student boldness to proclaim the righteousness that is found in Christ alone to the ungodly world around them.
• Pray that God would help each student to rest in Christ’s righteousness alone for salvation.