Sermon Tone Analysis

*Genesis 6-8** – The Genesis Flood*

 

            Without a doubt, the flood in Genesis chapter 6 is one of the most widely know stories of all the Bible.

And it is also one of the most disbelieved stories in the Bible.

Some do not believe that there was literally a world wide flood.

All kinds of questions are asked, Did the flood really occur, how wide spread was the flood, was the ark really large enough to hold all the animals.

And where did all that water come from?

When the authors of the Bible write about events, the authors do not try to prove what they are writing about is true.

Instead the Bible focus is on obedience and faithful in living for God.

The flood is a true story of what God did through a man name Noah.

God is not going to try and explain the food.

God's main focus is on the faith and obedience of Noah.

The flood as recorded here actually happened.

Some people have a hard time with this story, like Jonah and the whale.

A young Christian girl was challenged by an atheist.

He said, "I have a question for you.

Do you believe that the Bible is the Word of God?"

She said, "Yes I do."

Then he said, "Do you believe in the story of Noah and the food?"

She said, "Yes I do."

"Then you must also believe in that Jonah was swallowed by a whale and lived to tell about it?"

"Yes, I do believe that."

He then said, "How is it possible that a man can be

swallowed by a whale and live?

How can that happen?"

She said, "I don't really know, but when I get to haven I will ask Jonah to explain it to me."  "Oh really," the man said, "What if he is not in heaven, what if he is in hell?"

She said, "Then you can ask him."

Just suppose that we were able to predict the day that Jesus Christ was going to return.

So as a result we were to advertise on TV and radio, and we were to put up bill boards.

Do you think that it would have an impact on the way that people lived?

Do you think that people would change their life style?

I think that very few people would change their life?

Because that is exactly what happened during Noah's life time.

In Noah's life time people did not change their behavior or their lifestyle.

And that is exactly what Jesus told us about the days prior to the flood.

Jesus said, that when the Son of Man returns,

* *

*Matthew** 24:37-42*

*37 “For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah.

38 “For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, they were marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so shall the coming of the Son of Man be.

40 “Then there shall be two men in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left.

41 “Two women /will be /grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and one will be left.

**/42  /**“Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.

NASV*

 

            Things have gotten so bad morally and spiritually during Noah's life time that God says in Genesis 6:5-7

 

*Genesis 6:5-7*

*5 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

6 And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.

7 And the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them."

NASV*

 

            Some people question God judging mankind so harshly.

Some would question the justice of God.

The righteousness of God, the love of God in judging sin.

They wonder why would God judge the generation of Noah so harshly?

I suggest that they an ample warning.

God gave them opportunity after opportunity to repent.

Look at:

 

*FIRST -- the warning that God gave them.*

*1.

Just like everyone, they had the testimony of nature.

*

 

*Romans 1:18-20*

*18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,  19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.

20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

*

*NASV*

 

            The Bible says, only a fool would look at creation and say, "It was all an accident."

Only a fool would say, "There was not a master and designer."

Now consider this, the creation of the world in Noah's time was in better shape than it is today.

*2.

They also had the testimony of conscience.

* 

           

*Romans 2:14-15*

*/14 /**For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves,  15**/ /**in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness, and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,"  NASV*

 

            In the heart of Noah's generation, they knew that murder, violence, adultery was wrong.

3.

They had the promise of a redeemer.

Do you remember in Genesis 3:15

 

Genesis 3:15

*15 And I will put enmity*

*Between you and the woman,*

*And** between your seed and her seed;*

*He shall bruise you on the head,*

*And** you shall bruise him on the heel."

NASV*

 

            God promised there would be a deliver, the Christ, the one who would redeem mankind.

Remember there was one who would crush Satan's head.

The people knew that a redeemer was coming.

*4.

They knew that their sins could be forgiven through the shedding of blood sacrifice.*

Remember the Lord God took animal skins and He gave it to Adam and Eve for covering themselves.

And remember in Genesis chapter 4, that Abel brought an animal sacrifice which was very pleasing to God.

So Noah's generation knew that God could be approached.

*5.

They also had the example of those who lived a godly life.

*

 

            Although Adam and Eve fell into sin, they testified of the Lord in the days following.

Enoch was also a man who walked with God.

The Bible says that Enoch was a preacher of righteousness.

They also had the testimony of Noah.

There was also there was Methuselah.

Do you remember what his name means?

It means, when he dies it shall be sent.

Now what is interesting is this:  Noah's generation did not just sin, they went overboard in sinning.

They were the worst of the worst.

The Bible says,

 

EVERY THOUGH OF THEIR HEART WAS ONLY EVIL CONTINUALLY.

And when you compare Noah's generation sin our generations sins, and compare the light that our generation received and our generation has received.

Think of all the churches, all the Christian radio stations, and the Christian TV stations, and yet it seems that today people go out of their way to break God's commandments.

So God sent the flood.

*SECOND -- WAS THE FLOOD A LOCAL FLOOD OR A WORLD WIDE FLOOD.*