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Genesis 8
Genesis 8
Genesis 8
Genesis 8
Noah & the Flood
Marcus Honeysett
August 2010
3. Therefore, while disaster is a call to us to help
Introduction others, it is also a call for repentance, for those
We cannot think about the biblical flood of Genesis immediately affected in Pakistan and also for us
8 in August 2010 without also thinking with sorrow
Now, when we come to the story of the biblical
and concern about the natural disaster currently
flood, it is easy to assume it was something like we
affecting so many in Pakistan. We cannot hear about
see in Pakistan at the moment. Indeed current
so much suffering and not weep and pray for mercy
events might help us to see the Genesis account in
for the living and the dying. We pray for
a helpful light. When I was growing up we used to
governments and aid agencies and many of us will
visit my great aunt in her old farmhouse. Most often
want to express our compassion by giving through
as kids we went to play in the fields because the only
one or other.
toys she had in the house were a Noah’s ark playset
that was old enough that it might actually have come
Disasters and suffering on a national scale inevitably
out of the ark. With happy, smiling Mr and Mrs Noah
prompt questions about where God is in all of it and
and lots of happy animals. Isn’t it funny how we
why he doesn’t prevent it. After all, isn’t he meant
think it is a story that children will appreciate and
to be loving? Did he send it? Or maybe he isn’t
tint it with that rosy glow of happiness at being
powerful to change things? We don’t have the time
rescued and with cute animals?
this morning to answer such questions with the
depth they deserve, but I want to give three
I think the TV at the moment is waking us up to the
observations before we consider Genesis 8 further.
fact that it was nothing of the kind. Plain and simple,
it is a terrifying account. Everyone in the world died,
1. I don’t believe that what is happening in Paki- apart from 8. And those 8 all lost friends and
neighbours and watched the end of the world
stan is specific judgment from God on specific
happen in front of their eyes. And though they were
sins. When a tower fell on people in Siloam, rescued do you imagine that all those days sealed
Jesus was asked “is it because they are more into the ark not knowing what was going to happen
sinful than anyone else” and he said it wasn’t were emotionally light-hearted? They were
devastated, anxious, anguished and feeling at the
2. However, he also said that all death is the judg- end of themselves all the time. It is not a happy tale,
ment of God on the universal sinfulness of hu- it is a tale of judgement.
mankind. Those who perished in the power
collapse weren’t any more wicked than those And that is the thing that sets the biblical flood apart
from the current events, or from any current natural
who didn’t. Those who escaped weren’t any
disaster. The Bible clearly portrays this as God
less in need of repentance and turning to God
unleashing full-scale judgment on the world in
because they escaped death on that occasion. response to the rebellion and sin of humankind. And
So Jesus went on “when you hear about such then recreating – we might almost say with a new
things make sure you repent, because every Adam – afterwards. In Genesis 1 it says that at
person sins and every person deserves death as Creation God separated the waters above from the
a result.” Only God’s mercy is currently keeping waters below and made the ground. Now, he
removes that separation and the waters that had
anyone on this planet alive in the light of our
been constrained are let loose in a perfect storm of
guilt and his judgment overwhelming power. If you want to see what God
An Urgent Plea
The reason the account of Noah is in the Bible is to
benefit us, not with a cutsy story about animals, but
with an urgent plea to turn to God so that the fate
that befell everyone else on the planet at that time
doesn’t befall us.