• Download

The Flood

First Baptist Church https://fbcbartow.org

“The Flood”

Series: A Journey through the Old Testament [on screen]

Rev. Matthew C. McCraw, EdD

First Baptist Church, Bartow, Florida

May 16, 2021

Introductory Comments:

We are continuing our series called “A Journey through the Old Testament.” Thus far, we’ve discussed Creation and the Fall. Now, we’re going to see what happens in the history of our world and the Word of God after the Fall. 

Remember, sin messed up everything. We’re going to see that on full display in today’s sermon. 

Before we go any further, let’s pray together.

(prayer)

As we move from the Fall to the time just before the Flood, we see that things start to get messed up. Many, many years go by and things start to get really ugly. So, God does something about it. 

So, as we look at this, let’s start with the . . .

I. Major elements[on screen]

First, God decided to destroy the earth because humanity had become extremely wicked (Genesis 6:5-7) [on screen]

Look at what Genesis 6:5-7 says. (read in paper Bible)

Sometimes we think that things are worse now than they have ever been, but I mean to tell you that sin has been eating away at humanity ever since the Fall in Genesis 3. 

The Bible describes the scope and severity of sin at that time in this way: “human wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every inclination of the human mind was nothing but evil all the time.”  

Things were really bad. In fact, the Bible says that things were so bad that God Himself said that He regretted that He had made mankind. 

When it says that God “regretted” making mankind, it means that God was tremendously grieved by the sins of mankind. 

And so, God had determined that enough was enough and He will judge sin. 

Next, God commanded Noah to make an ark (Genesis 6:14) [on screen]

Look at verse 14. (read in paper Bible)

Even though God had enough and He was going to bring judgment, He didn’t plan to do so without bringing a plan of rescue and restoration. That plan involved Noah building an ark. 

Well, why did God pick Noah? Look back at verse 8 of chapter 6. (read in paper Bible)

Noah is described as finding favor with God, as being righteous, blameless among his contemporaries, and as someone who walked with God. 


Noah was the man through whom God would bring rescue and restoration. 

So, God plans to flood the earth, but He will  preserve Noah’s family and each kind of animal (Genesis 6:17-19) [on screen]

God’s plan not only involved Noah building the ark, but Noah’s family occupying the ark and bringing about the restoration of humanity. 

Look at verses 17-19 of chapter 6. (read in paper Bible)

Next, we see, it rained on the earth for 40 days and 40 nights and flooded everything (Genesis 7:11-24) [on screen]

This was so much water, it covered even the mountains. 

The Bible says numerous times and in numerous ways, that everything that breathed died, except Noah’s family and those animals that were on the ark. This was an absolute cataclysmic disaster. 

After the flood, God brought a wind to dry up the floods (Genesis 8:1) [on screen]

After the flood had taken its effect and God had enough, He sent a wind to help blow away the waters.

Look at verse 1 of chapter 8. (read in paper Bible).

Next, Noah sent out birds to see if the earth was dry (Genesis 8:6-12) [on screen]

First Noah sent out a raven, then he sent out a dove, then he waited a little longer and sent the dove out again and it returned with an olive leaf, finally he sent the dove out again and it didn’t return (implying that it had found dry land). 

Then, the earth finally dried up and everyone came out of the ark (Genesis 8:13-19) [on screen]

I bet they were all ready to get out of there! They came out, the animals spread out and they were fruitful and multiplied. 

After coming out of the ark, Noah sacrificed some of the animals to the Lord and the Lord was pleased with the offering. 

Finally, God makes a covenant with all living things (Genesis 9:12-17) [on screen]

Look at verses 12-17 of chapter 9. (read in paper Bible).

The covenant is that God will not destroy every living creature by flood ever again. 


This covenant is signified with a bow in the sky, also known as a rainbow. So, anytime that you see a rainbow in the sky, you should be reminded of God’s covenant with all living creatures. 

So, these are some of the major elements of the flood story. 

Now, let us take from this story these four . . .

II. Major truths[on screen]

Here are some truths that we can learn for our own lives. This is not just a story, this is the Word of God and it is true for our lives today. 

First, sin has devastating consequences[on screen]

If you’re fooling around and sin, stop now. It will bring destruction in your life. 

Make no mistake: God will judge sin.

Sin was so widespread that it brought the destruction of God upon everything on the earth. So also, if sin becomes deep and widespread in your life, it will bring destruction. 

Second, God has absolute power[on screen]

God can do whatever He wants to do, whenever He wants to do it. 

Also, to destroy the entire earth by water was not a challenge for God. He is full of power!

Although it was catastrophically tragic, God’s destruction of the earth was perfectly within His right to do so and well within His divine power. 

Next, God is merciful[on screen]

We may miss this truth if we don’t pay attention. Noah may have been righteous, but he certainly wasn’t perfect. 

God did not have to save anybody! He could have destroyed everybody and everything, but in His mercy, He didn’t. God spared Noah and his family and demonstrate His mercy to them and through them. 

This leads to the final truth:

God’s plan endures[on screen]

God had a plan from the foundation of the world to bring about redemption and restoration. By instructing Noah to build the ark and load it with his family and the appropriate animals, God created a path for His plan to endure. 

Finally, let’s look at this last section: 

III. The Gospelspeaks[on screen]

First, as we’ve already mentioned, sin is serious [on screen]

There are devastating consequences for sin. We must turn from our sin and turn to Jesus. 

One day, Jesus will return and as God rescued Noah and his family, Jesus will rescue all those who have taken shelter in the Gospel of Jesus. 

At the same time, as sinners were destroyed by the flood of water, God will cast those who did not find shelter in Jesus into a lake of fire where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 

Jesus spoke of the suddenness of this moment in Matthew 24:37-39. Jesus said: 37 As the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. 38 For in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah boarded the ark. 39 They didn’t know until the flood came and swept them all away. This is the way the coming of the Son of Man will be. [on screen]

The second Gospel truth is this: God brings new life from death and destruction [on screen]

God had a plan of rescue and redemption with Noah and His family. So also, God has a plan of rescue and redemption for those in the dangers of sin today. 

Be sure, sin will lead to death and destruction. Also, be sure of this, Jesus offers rescue and redemption. 

We can boil it down to this bottom line:

Bottom Line: Sin brings destruction. God brings preservation and restoration. [on screen]

(repeat)

The story of Noah’s ark is not about a bunch of cute animals and a beautiful boat. It’s about the ugly consequences of sin and the destruction that it brings. 

However, it is also about God’s grace in not forgetting His people, not forgetting His plan, not forgetting His purposes of one day bringing the Messiah through the line of Noah who would bring about perfect preservation and restoration. What sin would seek to destroy, God would preserve and restore. 

Challenge yourself this week in the following ways:

Weekly Challenge: [on screen]

1. Recognize the danger of sin. [on screen]

Stop for a moment and think about the sin that is still present in your life. Identify it as dangerous. 

Our son Samuel is able to climb up our kitchen cabinets, stand on the counter, and help himself to anything that is in our cabinets. Well, some of what we keep in the top cabinets is medicine. Some of those medicines are dangerous to him. So, we put up a baby gate going into the kitchen so he doesn’t get in the kitchen and climb up on the counters anymore. We recognized the danger. 


So, also, what sin is in your life that you need to recognize is dangerous to you? Take some time this week to think through that. 

2. Remember God’scovenant. [on screen]

Remember, God made a covenant that He would never destroy the earth by flood again. He gave us the sign of the rainbow to help us remember that. Every time you see a rainbow, be reminded of the grace of God and the promises of God. 

Also, take some time this week to remember the grace of God and the promises of God found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Remember the covenant that God makes with you through Jesus. 

3. Share God’srescue. [on screen]

God has made another way of rescue from the destruction of sin. Unlike the flood, anyone can seek rescue and refuge. The Gospel can handle as many passengers as want to come aboard. 

So, share the Gospel message with others. Share God’s rescue. Just like the flood, Jesus will return suddenly and judgment will come upon those who are still in sin.

Don’t delay. Share the rescue. 

Closing:

As we close, I’d like to tell you how you can experience the rescue of God and Noah and his family did. 

You see, as sin brought destruction on the earth, sin will bring destruction in your life. 

As the flood came upon the earth suddenly, God will one day send Jesus back suddenly to judge the earth. As Noah was prepared for the flood, we must be prepared for that moment. 

Noah was a righteous man through whom God would bring rescue. Jesus was the perfectly and most righteous man through who God wold bring the perfect and fullest rescue. 

Noah and his family were given a chance for new life and they were told to be fruitful and multiply. Through Jesus, you can have new spiritual life and you can produce spiritual fruitfulness through which God can bless you and bless others through you. 

(Gospel presentation)

(closing prayer)

COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER: The text contained in this sermon is solely owned by its author. The reproduction, or distribution of this message, or any portion of it, should include the author’s name. The author intends to provide free resources in order to inspire believers and to assist preachers and teachers in Kingdom work.