and his sons’ wives, went into the ark because of the waters of the flood. .... So those that entered, male and female of all flesh ... went in as God had commanded him; and the LORD shut him in ( Gen. 7:7,16). In all, only eight people were saved from the flood (1 Peter 3:20). The rest had been warned, but now it was too late. Jesus similarly warns “as the days of Noah ... they ... did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be” (Matthew 24:37-39). Jesus, the Son of Man is coming again to judge the world. And His resurrection is proof He will do this (Acts 17:31).
However you interpret Genesis, what you must not do, is fail to grasp Jesus' clear teaching on sin, righteousness and a literal coming judgement (John 16:8). Concerning Noah, Paul wrote “Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide, we might have hope” (Romans 15:4). We'll come back to hope. But first in context, Jesus tells that in Noah's day everyone carried on regardless in spite of the warnings. But how is it with all that preaching they “did not know?” The short answer, is that we suppress the truth (rationalize it away) by our unrighteous acts (Romans 1:18). When we want to do what we want to do, either what we want to do goes, or our belief in God goes! Paul again “they did not like to retain God in their knowledge” (Romans 1:28). I mean God's existence is something of an inconvenient truth right? The context implies that we all start off knowing the things of God intuitively, and are therefore without excuse. In fact “what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them” (verse 19).
The Bible prophesied about what would happen, and what indeed is happening, in these last days:- “Men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, .... headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power (2 Timothy 3:1-5). Isaiah warns “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil” (Isaiah 5:20). Surly this generation is, “as it was in the days of Noah” (Genesis 6:5)!
Coming to hope, there is a sure hope for those who flee to Jesus for refuge from the coming judgement (Hebrews 6:18, 19). Indeed God so loved the world that He gave His unique Son Jesus, so that all those who believe in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). When we truly grasp and respond to this hope, it leads to holiness, for “all who have this hope purify themselves just as He is pure” (1 John 3:3)!
Father, You did not send Jesus into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. Those who believe are not condemned. But unbelievers are condemned already, because they have not believed in His Name (John 3: 17, 18; Romans 8:1). Thank You Lord for the sure hope of eternal life, that is an anchor to the soul (Hebrews 6:19) For these and many other things we give You thanks and praise, in Jesus Name Amen
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