Scriptural Background
The account of Noah begins in Genesis 6. Genesis 6:5–6 says that God saw the wickedness of man and that he was grieved and sorry that he had made man. Scripture describes the situation on the earth: “wickedness of man was great,” evil thoughts continually (Genesis 6:5), “corrupt” (Genesis 6:11–12), “filled with violence” (Genesis 6:11, 6:13).
Hebrews 11:7 tells us that by faith, Noah was divinely warned of things not yet seen. He was warned by God of the coming destruction, and it was Noah’s faith that led to his obedience and the salvation of his family. Because Noah is described as a preacher (herald) of righteousness (2 Peter 2:5), we can imagine that he spent his time while building the ark trying to persuade the people to be righteous and to warn them of God’s coming judgment. However, only Noah’s family believed and joined him in the ark. Noah was a “righteous man” (Genesis 6:9), he “walked with God” (Genesis 6:9), and it
was by faith that he believed, obeyed, and was saved (Hebrews 11:7).
God shows in this account that he does judge all sin. The flood wiped out the entire population and was a bitter judgment. But, just as God saved Noah and his family in the ark, he also showed us his mercy and grace by providing salvation from our sins through his own Son, Jesus Christ.
Historical/Apologetics Background
Looking at the full counsel of the Word of God, we see that several other biblical writers were inspired by the Holy Spirit to confirm the historical account of Noah and the flood. It was more than 1,700 years after the flood that the prophet Ezekiel mentioned Noah (Ezekiel 14:14, 14:20). And about 2,400 years after Noah lived, Jesus Christ referred to Noah as he described his own return and coming judgment (Matthew 24:37–39).
The writer of Hebrews also confirmed Noah’s existence when he included him in the “Hall of Faith” chapter (Hebrews 11:7). Peter writes of both Noah and the flood (2 Peter 2:5), again confirming that this watery judgment occurred just as we read
in Genesis. Noah was a real person called by God during an amazing time in history.
In addition, the sheer size, dimensions, and directions given by God to Noah for building the ark show that this vessel was seaworthy and able to withstand a year-long global flood. In other words, the ark itself confirms the flood.
A careful reading of Genesis confirms God’s precision in handing down the history of the universe. Noah was born 1,056 years after creation (Genesis 5). He was 500 years old when he began to build the ark. It could have taken up to 75 years for him to complete the project. It is a good practice to take special note of details when God so specifically gives them.
In the years following the fall, mankind became more and more self-willed. They were filled with violence and the thoughts of their hearts were only evil continually. Because God hates sin, he had to judge the world. This judgment came via the worldwide flood.
Studying God’s Word
Introduction
We are continuing our walk through the Bible and the Seven C’s of History. We have covered the Creation of the universe and the Corruption that entered as a result of sin. Today, we start a discussion on the Catastrophe that is described in the book of Genesis. We will spend five lessons examining this topic.
God Called Noah
Genesis 6:5–7:1
? What type of literature is this passage?
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? How are the people of earth described in this passage?
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? What was God’s attitude toward mankind at this point in history?
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? What did God plan to do about the corruption?
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? How is Noah described in the passage?
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? How are verses 8 and 18 connected?
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? How are Noah’s sons described?
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? What commands did God give to Noah?
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? How did Noah respond to God’s commands?
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? What is the main point of the passage?
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Discover the Truth
? How long after creation did this take place?
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? Examining this passage, what do we learn about mankind’s character
in general?
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? Do any other passages speak of this condition?
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2 Peter 2:4–5
? Was Noah a sinful man? How can we know?
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By Faith Noah . . .
Hebrews 11:7
? What ideas in this passage are similar to the Genesis passage we read
earlier?
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? Why did Noah do what God told him to do?
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? How did Noah act on his faith?
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? What were the two results of Noah’s obedience?
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? Where does righteousness come from according to this verse?
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? What is the main point of the passage?
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? What does the passage tell us about God?
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Discover the Truth
? What is the connection between Noah’s being a preacher of
righteousness (2 Peter 2:5) and the condemnation of the world?
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? If Noah had faith and acted on that faith, where did that faith come
from?
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Ephesians 2:8–9; Philippians 3:9; 2 Timothy 1:8–9
? What is the source of faith and righteousness according to these
passages?
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? Was the source of righteousness different for Noah?
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Corruption and Righteousness
I would like you to take a few minutes to mark in your Bibles (or on this sheet). Turn to Genesis 6 and pick three colors
to use. Use one color, maybe black, to denote the darkness of sin, and
underline all of the descriptions of mankind’s character. Use another color
to mark the references to Noah’s character, and use a third color to mark
God’s actions in the passage. Mark from 6:5 through 7:1. If you would like,
you can continue through chapter 9 after class to get a peek at some of the
other ideas we will be discussing in the next few lessons.
Also add a cross-reference between 2 Peter 2:4–5 and Hebrews 11:7 if
those aren’t already in your Bible’s notes.
Genesis 6
The Wickedness of Man
(Matthew 24:36-51; Mark 13:32-37; Luke 12:35-48)
1And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, 2That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. 3And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. 4There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.
5And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 7And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
Noah’s Favor with God
8But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
9These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. 10And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
11The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. 12And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
Noah Builds the Ark
13And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. 14Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. 15And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits. 16A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it. 17And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die. 18But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee. 19And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female. 20Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive. 21And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them. 22Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.
Genesis 7
Entering the Ark
1And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation. 2Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female. 3Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth. 4For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth. 5And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him.
The Floodwaters Arrive
6And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth. 7And 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. 8Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of fowls, and of every thing that creepeth upon the earth, 9There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah. 10And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth. 11In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. 12And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.
13In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark; 14They, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort. 15And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life. 16And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in.
The Duration of the Flood
17And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth. 18And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters. 19And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered. 20Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered. 21And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man: 22All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died. 23And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark. 24And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days.
Application
After examining these texts, we can make some clear statements about the condition of mankind and the calling of Noah.
? What have we learned about mankind’s condition at the time of Noah?
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? Has the heart of mankind changed since the days of Noah?
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? How did God feel about seeing the sinfulness of mankind?
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? What was God’s response to the sinfulness of mankind?
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? Why was Noah saved from the flood?
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? How did Noah respond to God’s grace in his life?
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? Was Noah righteous because of the things he did?
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? Having talked about the source of Noah’s righteousness, how can you
apply that to yourself?
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? What is the importance of faith as we consider the call of Noah and the
call God has for each of our lives?
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? People often claim that God is cruel to have wiped out every person on
the face of the earth in the flood. How would you use the texts we have
discussed today to help them understand that God’s actions were just?
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? Noah is described as a preacher of righteousness to an ungodly world. Is
our situation any different from his? How should we live in light of this
truth?
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? Why is it important to recognize that our righteousness does not come
from us, but is found in Christ alone?
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Group Prayer Time
• Praise God for his gracious acts of saving Noah and his family.
• Praise God for his holiness and justice.
• Ask God that he would give each student boldness to proclaim the
righteousness that is found in Christ alone to the ungodly world
around them.
• Pray that God would help each student to rest in Christ’s
righteousness alone for salvation.
Additional request:
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