The Realities of the Flood Part 4: Judgment and Hope
Good evening to all of you.
I do have two books to recommend for those of you who might enjoy reading about the geological & scientific evidence for the flood described in Genesis 6-8.
The first book is simply titled "The Flood" written by Alfred Rehwinkel. It is a fact based and evidence based approach looking through archaeological and geological evidence, and is written at a reasonably understandable level.
The second book is titled "The Genesis Flood" written by John Whitcomb and Henry Morris. This book is a comprehensive scientific examination of the geological structures and mechanisms by two men who were well educated in the scientific approach. It is written in a more technical manner.
I am not going to go into detail in an attempt to "prove" that the flood of Genesis was a real historic event.
However, there are a few truths every person should consider before dismissing the Biblical account of the flood.
First, the Lord Jesus Christ who created all things, verified the historicity of the flood.
Second, more than 75% of the land mass on the earth today is sedimentary deposits, that is, land that was made because flood waters carrying lots of silt deposited the silt as the waters evaporated or receded.
Third, there are marine fossils found near the top of every mountain range known today. A marine fossil refers to ocean life. How did fossils of ocean life end up on high mountain peaks? Just some things to consider. All of these fascinating facts are carefully explained in these two books.
Returning to Genesis 7:2-4, we read that God told Noah to take two of each animal, a male and female of each type, into the ark. Next, he told Noah that the flooding would begin 7 days after Noah, his family and all animals entered the ark.
Genesis 7:5-10 And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him.
And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth.
And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood.
Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of fowls, and of every thing that creepeth upon the earth,
There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah.
And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth.
I do have two books to recommend for those of you who might enjoy reading about the geological & scientific evidence for the flood described in Genesis 6-8.
The first book is simply titled "The Flood" written by Alfred Rehwinkel. It is a fact based and evidence based approach looking through archaeological and geological evidence, and is written at a reasonably understandable level.
The second book is titled "The Genesis Flood" written by John Whitcomb and Henry Morris. This book is a comprehensive scientific examination of the geological structures and mechanisms by two men who were well educated in the scientific approach. It is written in a more technical manner.
I am not going to go into detail in an attempt to "prove" that the flood of Genesis was a real historic event.
However, there are a few truths every person should consider before dismissing the Biblical account of the flood.
First, the Lord Jesus Christ who created all things, verified the historicity of the flood.
Second, more than 75% of the land mass on the earth today is sedimentary deposits, that is, land that was made because flood waters carrying lots of silt deposited the silt as the waters evaporated or receded.
Third, there are marine fossils found near the top of every mountain range known today. A marine fossil refers to ocean life. How did fossils of ocean life end up on high mountain peaks? Just some things to consider. All of these fascinating facts are carefully explained in these two books.
Returning to Genesis 7:2-4, we read that God told Noah to take two of each animal, a male and female of each type, into the ark. Next, he told Noah that the flooding would begin 7 days after Noah, his family and all animals entered the ark.
Genesis 7:5-10 And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him.
And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth.
And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood.
Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of fowls, and of every thing that creepeth upon the earth,
There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah.
And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth.
Noah demonstrated simple faith and obedience regarding all that God had told him. Notice how the text reads. When all the animals and all of Noah's family entered the ark, the LORD shut him in. The divine name used is Jehovah (translated as LORD) and this is the special name of God connected with the redemption of man.
Jehovah shut them in. God Himself, carefully shut the door and sealed Noah's family and all the animals. A door shut by God will easily withstand the raging floodwaters.
This brings us back to an important detail recorded in Genesis 6:14 where it reads "Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt
pitch it within and without with pitch"
Gopher wood is thought to be a water resistant wood like cypress. It naturally resists water and insect damage. It is durable, strong and well suited for its purpose.
The word translated "pitch" has a twofold meaning. First, it clearly refers to coating the entire exterior of the massive vessel with a tar or bitumen like substance in order to waterproof the hull.
The Hebrew word is also used in many places when talking about God forgiving sin and covering the sin of the repentant who offered the specified sacrifice of blood.
Genesis 7:16 And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had
commanded him: and the LORD shut him in.
The ark was carefully coated to preserve the life on board. The door of the ark was tenderly and lovingly shut by the hand of God.
I would like to take a moment and point out how the ark is a picture of Jesus Christ and the cross of Calvary.
First, the ark was built by a divine blueprint.
Second, the ark was built to withstand the worldwide judgment of God upon man for his sins.
Third, the ark was sealed on the outside, and the word used is the same word used for a covering of sins which allows God's forgiveness to flow to the repentant.
Fourth, the ark was the only way to escape the great judgment of God.
Fifth, there was only one door of entry into the ark.
Sixth, the LORD is the one who shut the door and sealed them all safely inside the ark.
Seventh, the ark contained all of the necessary provisions to sustain the human and animal passengers for the entirety of the voyage.
Eighth, the ark carried them all safely and delivered all its human and animal cargo into a very different, some would say, new world.
First, Jesus was born as God in the flesh. He lived a perfect and sinless life in order that He might go to the cross and die in our place, to pay for our sins. Jesus came in perfect fulfillment of God's prophetic blueprint. There are about 70 specific prophecies about the seed of the woman (usually called the Messiah) who would come to crush the head of the serpent. Jesus fulfilled all of them completely and precisely.
Second, Jesus withstood all of the outpouring of God's divine wrath for mankind's sins as He hung on the cross. Jesus endured it all and paid for all our sins, and when He was done, He cried "It is finished" meaning our redemption was now an accomplished fact.
Third, Jesus also seals the born again Christian with His Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13; 4:30)
Fourth, Jesus Christ is the only name given among men under heaven whereby we must be saved. Jesus said "I am the way, the truth and the life."
Fifth, Jesus said that He is the door by which the sheep (children of God) may enter into His sheepfold. (John 10:1-7)
Sixth, Jesus told us that once a person commits their heart to Christ in repentant faith, they are safe and secure in the Father's hand. (John 10:28-29)
Seventh, the born again Christian has all provisions needed to carry him or her through this life and into eternal life. (Ephesians 1:3) He gives us all spiritual blessings in heavenly places, in Christ.
Eighth, we have the promise of God that when the Christian dies,the Bible calls it falling asleep, he or she will awake in the presence of the Lord. Paul puts it this way. "Absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." (2 Corinthians 5:8) The believer will be home in heaven with Jesus Christ the Lord of glory.
A final note. God allowed 120 years for Noah to preach the message of judgment and the need for repentance to the people around Noah. That is a grace work of God. It is profoundly sad that only Noah and his immediate family were saved from the antediluvian culture.
Today, it has been 2,000 years since Jesus Christ lived, fulfilled God's law, died on Calvary, rose from the dead and ascended back to the Heavenly Father. There is only one reason why God has not sent His Son back to this world. It is the grace of God.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) In other words He wants to give you time to respond to the gospel message. Will you hear and heed or will you turn a deaf ear like the people Noah preached to?
See you next post as we finish the flood discussion.
Bob
I would like to take a moment and point out how the ark is a picture of Jesus Christ and the cross of Calvary.
THE ARK AS A PICTURE OF JESUS CHRIST
First, the ark was built by a divine blueprint.
Second, the ark was built to withstand the worldwide judgment of God upon man for his sins.
Third, the ark was sealed on the outside, and the word used is the same word used for a covering of sins which allows God's forgiveness to flow to the repentant.
Fourth, the ark was the only way to escape the great judgment of God.
Fifth, there was only one door of entry into the ark.
Sixth, the LORD is the one who shut the door and sealed them all safely inside the ark.
Seventh, the ark contained all of the necessary provisions to sustain the human and animal passengers for the entirety of the voyage.
Eighth, the ark carried them all safely and delivered all its human and animal cargo into a very different, some would say, new world.
JESUS CHRIST AS THE FULFILLMENT OF THE PICTURE OF THE ARK.
First, Jesus was born as God in the flesh. He lived a perfect and sinless life in order that He might go to the cross and die in our place, to pay for our sins. Jesus came in perfect fulfillment of God's prophetic blueprint. There are about 70 specific prophecies about the seed of the woman (usually called the Messiah) who would come to crush the head of the serpent. Jesus fulfilled all of them completely and precisely.
Second, Jesus withstood all of the outpouring of God's divine wrath for mankind's sins as He hung on the cross. Jesus endured it all and paid for all our sins, and when He was done, He cried "It is finished" meaning our redemption was now an accomplished fact.
Third, Jesus also seals the born again Christian with His Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13; 4:30)
Fourth, Jesus Christ is the only name given among men under heaven whereby we must be saved. Jesus said "I am the way, the truth and the life."
Fifth, Jesus said that He is the door by which the sheep (children of God) may enter into His sheepfold. (John 10:1-7)
Sixth, Jesus told us that once a person commits their heart to Christ in repentant faith, they are safe and secure in the Father's hand. (John 10:28-29)
Seventh, the born again Christian has all provisions needed to carry him or her through this life and into eternal life. (Ephesians 1:3) He gives us all spiritual blessings in heavenly places, in Christ.
Eighth, we have the promise of God that when the Christian dies,the Bible calls it falling asleep, he or she will awake in the presence of the Lord. Paul puts it this way. "Absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." (2 Corinthians 5:8) The believer will be home in heaven with Jesus Christ the Lord of glory.
A final note. God allowed 120 years for Noah to preach the message of judgment and the need for repentance to the people around Noah. That is a grace work of God. It is profoundly sad that only Noah and his immediate family were saved from the antediluvian culture.
Today, it has been 2,000 years since Jesus Christ lived, fulfilled God's law, died on Calvary, rose from the dead and ascended back to the Heavenly Father. There is only one reason why God has not sent His Son back to this world. It is the grace of God.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) In other words He wants to give you time to respond to the gospel message. Will you hear and heed or will you turn a deaf ear like the people Noah preached to?
See you next post as we finish the flood discussion.
Bob
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