(From: The Greatest Tragedies)
Genesis 7:17-24
“And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth.
And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters. And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered. Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered.
And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man:
All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died. And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark. And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days.”
Introduction:
In these verses we just read we see the utter devastation that took place when God destroyed the world with water. This was not a localized flood. It was a worldwide catastrophe.
For forty days and forty nights the rains came. Genesis 7:11 says that the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and windows of heaven were opened. The waters increased and it says in verses 18 and 19 that the waters “prevailed.” What does that mean? It means that the waters were stronger than whatever tried to fight against them.
It says that the waters went upward 15 cubits above the highest mountain top which translates to somewhere around 23 feet.
The results were devastating. Verse 21 says that all flesh died that moved upon the earth.
For 150 days the waters “prevailed.”
The only survivors of this tragedy were in the ark that Noah built.
Noah, his wife, his three sons, and his three daughters-in-law.
Seven of every clean beast.
Two of every unclean beast.
What brought on such devastation? I will answer that question with a four-fold answer:
I. THIS TRAGEDY CAME BECAUSE WICKEDNESS WAS RAMPANT.
A. They Were Wicked In Their Deeds-The Wickedness Of Man Was Great. (Genesis 6:5)
And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
The Hebrew word translated “great” means “abundant” in both in quantity and degree of evil.
B. They Were Wicked In Their Thoughts-The Imagination Of Man Was Filled With Evil. (Genesis 6:5b). The Hebrew word signifies not only the imagination, but also the purposes and desires.
Psalm 19:14–“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”
C. They Were Wicked In Their Influence–The Earth Was Corrupt. (Genesis 6:11-13)
11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. 13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
“Corrupt”–means decayed or ruined.
You can take a glass full of pure, sparkling water and corrupt it with just a small amount of poison mixed in.
The earth had been corrupted by man’s wicked influence.
Wickedness and evil mixed with that which is good causes corruption.
II. THIS TRAGEDY CAME BECAUSE WORSHIP WAS RUINED.
(Genesis 6:12)
Their corruption had even reached into what religion they did have.
A. God’s Way Involves God’s Person.
God’s person had been pictured in the blood sacrifice of the animal by God in the Garden of Eden to cover man’s nakedness.
God’s person had been pictured in the blood sacrifice by Abel that he offered to God.
Salvation is in the person of Jesus Christ. John 14:6
B. God’s Way Involves Grace.
Genesis 6:8–“But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord…”
C. God’s Way Involves Repentance.
Genesis 6:9–“…Noah walked with God.”
D. God’s Way Involves Faith.
Hebrews 11:7–“by faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.”
E. God’s Way Involves Obedience
Genesis 6:22–“Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.”
III. THE TRAGEDY CAME BECAUSE WARNINGS WERE REFUSED.
Matthew 24:37–“For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”
I believe this refers to life just carrying on as it always had. Nobody was too much bothered by the fact that judgment was coming.
They Had The Preaching Of Noah.
1. Noah Preached With His Lips.
2 Peter 2:5–“And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;”
2. Noah Preached With His Life.
Genesis 6:9–“Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.”
Hebrews 11:7–“by faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.”
IV. THIS TRAGEDY CAME BECAUSE WAYWARDNESS WAS RECOMPENSED. (Genesis 6:13)
A. Sin Grieves The Heart Of God.
B. Sin Calls Out For Judgment.
Romans 6:23–“The wages of sin is death.”
Conclusion :
Jesus said in Matthew 24:37–“For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”
Wickedness Is Rampant Today.
Proverbs 5:21-23–“For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings. His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins. He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.”
Proverbs 11:3–“The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.”
Proverbs 11:5-6–“The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.”
Worship Is Being Ruined Today.
John 4:24–“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
Warnings Are Being Refused Today.
Proverbs 29:1–“He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.”
Waywardness Will Be Recompensed One Day.
Numbers 32:23–“…be sure your sin will find you out.”
Proverbs 13:21–“Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.”
Matthew 24:37–“…they… knew not until the flood came, and took them all away…”