#8 Noah and God: God’s Great Preservation (Salvation) of Life Genesis 8:1-14

(8:1-14) Introduction: imagine the feelings and emotions of Noah and his dear family, the restlessness that must have gripped their minds and hearts. Is it even possible to imagine what they experienced?

Þ  Imagine being caught in the heaviest torrential rain to ever strike the earth, a rain so heavy that you could not see your hand in front of your face. Imagine a torrential downpour that heavy falling for forty days and forty nights upon the earth.

Þ  Imagine being caught in the middle of quake after quake—quakes so violent that all the subterranean waters broke loose and shot up from the caverns, rivers, lakes, and springs that lie underneath the crust of the earth.

The forty days of the erupting earth and torrential rain must have been a terrifying time, a time so terrifying that the small band of survivors often fell to their knees, individually and jointly. Their hearts must have cried out continually for the mercy of God as they went about their daily duties of survival and of taking care of the animals. After the violent storm and eruptions of the earth for forty days, everything apparently quieted down to some degree, although the water still rose and still churned and raged on for a total of 150 days (Genesis 7:24).

Noah and his dear family had plenty of work to do. Picture them caring for, feeding, and cleaning up after the animals and after themselves. But keep this in mind: they were enclosed in a box-like structure, three stories high and 150 yards long, the length of one and one half football fields. They had to take care of the animals and themselves for 150 days, floating within the shell of the ark.

Here and there—sometimes—nerves were bound to become edgy and words sharp. Emotions were bound to be ruffled and feelings were bound to be hurt. The little band of survivors were believers, but they were human beings, sinful human beings who had been saved only by God’s mercy and grace. They were, therefore, just like us, subject to such human emotions and feelings. There must have also been times when they wondered, “How much longer will the flood last? How much longer will we be cooped up?

How much longer before God will deliver us and let us step on the earth again? And, what will it be like: no one left—no man, no woman, no child, no animal—just us, our family, the eight of us?” Imagine the thoughts that crossed their minds and the conversation between them as they sat around together after a long and hard day’s work. Imagine the questions, apprehension, anxiety, fear, and perhaps even trembling. Just four men and four women left upon earth. Can we imagine their feelings, emotions, and conversations? Is is possible?

Now, note the great message of this passage, for God saved this courageous family. God saved these eight souls who had been so courageous in following and worshipping God in the midst of an immoral and lawless society. This is the Scripture that covers “Noah and God: God’s Great Preservation and Salvation of Life.”

1.  Scene 1: God remembered and moved in behalf of Noah and the animals (v.1-5).

2.  Scene 2: Noah’s great patience and faith (v.6-14).

(8:1-5) Flood, The— God, Mercy— Ark, The— Ararat, Mount of: there was the first scene: God remembered and moved in behalf of Noah and the animals. God never forgot Noah. God is Elohim, the Almighty God, the Lord and Majesty of the universe who created and sustains all things. Consequently, God has perfect intelligence and memory. He never forgets. When Scripture says that God remembered Noah and the animals, it means that God cared for His creation, cared for the people and animals He had created. God remembered and thought upon them; He loved them and He was now ready to act in their behalf. His mind had now reached the point when His love and care was to be demonstrated: action was now to be taken; something was now to be done for them. God was not going to leave them in their predicament. God remembered them; He was now going to deliver them and save them.

Again, God never forgot Noah; He never forgets anything. But it had been 150 days since God had spoken to Noah; 150 days since God had instructed him. It was almost like God had forgotten Noah, for one hundred and fifty days is a long time. Imagine being cooped up in a box-like structure—the ark, a house, anyplace—for 150 days. Did Noah feel forsaken, as though God had forgotten him? He was the leader of the small band of survivors, the only eight people left upon earth.

Was Noah feeling the pressure, being questioned by them, feeling the responsibility, feeling all alone, wondering why God did not meet him and give some direction? Any or all of this is possible, and most likely the feelings and thoughts did arise at various times during the 150 days. But now, God remembered Noah: it was time to act...

·    to show concern and to have mercy.

·    to preserve and save life, both the life of man and of the animals.

Therefore, God remembered Noah and the animals: He had mercy and compassion for them. How? God did six significant things for Noah.

1.  God caused a wind to pass over the earth. Wind is “air in motion” (Funk & Wagnalls Standard Desk Dictionary. Lippincott & Crowell, Publishers, 1980, Vol.2, p.327). This particular wind, just like all else with the flood, was a very special wind stirred up by God to help recede the water from the earth.

Þ  Was a hot sultry wind to help increase the evaporation of the water quicker than usual?

Þ  Was it a strong wind to help move some of the water to its proper channels and beds?

Þ  Was it a wind to simply help dry the earth?

Þ  Was it a wind to help drive away and dissolve the massive clouds that hung over the earth?

We are not told. All Scripture says is that the wind was the work of God, a special wind created by God Himself to help recede the waters.

2.  God stopped the subterranean water from pouring forth upon the earth. He closed up the caverns, rivers, and lakes lying right underneath the earth’s crust. God was demonstrating His mercy to man by stopping the surging forth of subterranean water upon earth.

3.  God stopped the torrential rain (Genesis 8:2). The Hebrew word yikkale is emphatic: it means that the torrential rain was stopped; it ended. The rain no longer fell upon the earth. In mercy, God stopped the water from building up upon the earth any longer.

4.God caused the waters to begin to recede. Note when: after 150 days (Genesis 8:3). The waters remained at their peak for 150 days. Genesis 7:24 makes this clear. Now after 150 days the waters began to recede (H.C. Leupold, Genesis, Vol.1, p.306, 310-311).

The commentator Victor Hamilton gives a clear translation of Genesis 8:3:

“The waters returned from off the earth: they began to withdraw at the end of a hundred and fifty days” (Genesis 8:3) (The Book of Genesis. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1990, Vol.1, p.299).

5.  God rested the ark upon some peak in the mountains of Ararat (Genesis 8:4). What peak? What particular mountain did the ark settle upon? Scripture does not say; it uses the plural: the mountains of Ararat. This is the mountain range found...

·    in the present nation of Armenia or eastern Turkey.

·    in the ancient Assyrian kingdom of Urartu.

The highest peak in the mountain range is Mt. Ararat itself which towers some 17,000 feet high. Note that the exact date is given when the ark rested upon the mountain peak: on the 17th day of the 7th month.

6. At last, God gave Noah and his dear family sight of the mountain tops (Genesis 8:5). The Hebrew points out that the waters were decreasing rapidly, miraculously (H.C. Leupold, Genesis, Vol.1, p.312). God, in His mercy toward man, was at work. He was causing the water to recede so that Noah and his dear family could be saved and repopulate the earth. It was now the first day of the 10th month, two and a half months after the ark had first rested upon some mountain peak.

Imagine their joy when they first felt the ark rest upon dry land, and now imagine their joy as they are able to look out some hatch or trap-like window. What they see causes their hearts to leap with joy, for they see the peaks of surrounding mountains. They know as never before that God is merciful, that He is receding the water and saving them. This small band of believers must have done exactly what any believer would have done: praised God and rejoiced in Him for His great salvation.

Note that the exact time is given when the ark brought the passengers to safety. Christian believers are told that “when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His son...to redeem them....” (Gal. 4:4-5). There was and is a preparation—a set time—for God’s people to be brought to safety. As the points of this note show, God remembers His people; God remembers every living thing. What He demands is faith and patience in Him as He carries us through the trials of this life and our coming departure from this earth.

God delivers His people through the trials of this life. Sometimes the journey may be long and hard, even as Noah’s was. But God still delivers us through all the sufferings of life, if we just trust Him as Noah did. This is the reason Scripture tells us to joy and rejoice through the trials of life: God delivers and saves us.

God can control nature, the rain, winds, and storms of the earth. He can control all the trials inflicted upon us by nature or man when it is His will to do so, when it fulfills His purposes.

Þ Think of this: how many storms—how many devastating acts of nature and of evil men—would have never happened if we had prayed like we should, prayed much and prayed faithfully?

Þ Ask this question: if we truly sought God and walked with God as Noah did (cp. Genesis 6:9), would God move in behalf of the earth and of mankind more often? Would He save us more often from the devastating storms and evils of life?

(8:6-14) Patience— Faith— Trust— Noah— Salvation— Deliverance: there was the second scene: Noah’s great faith and patience before God. His faith and patience are clearly seen in the six events pointed out by the outline points.

Glance back at the Scripture and note these six events (Genesis 8:6-14).

1.  Note the great faith and patience of Noah.

a.  Noah—in faith—patiently waited forty days after seeing the mountain tops before sending the raven out to search for dry land (Genesis 8:6).

b.  Noah—in faith—patiently waited seven more days before sending a dove out to search for dry land. The time frame of seven days is not actually given in Genesis 8:8, but note Genesis 8:10. The Hebrew says that Noah waited “another seven days” and “again” sent forth the dove. This points back to a seven day waiting period for sending each of the birds out (Genesis 8:8).

c.  Noah—in faith—patiently waited seven more days before sending the dove out again (Genesis 8:10).

d.  Noah—in faith—patiently waited seven more days before sending the dove out again (Genesis 8:12).

e.  Noah—in faith—patiently waited twenty-nine more days before removing the covering of the ark (Genesis 8:13).

f.  Noah—in faith—patiently waited fifty-seven more days until the earth was completely dry (Genesis 8:14).

Noah’s great faith and patience in God is unquestionable. This is the stress of these nine verses. Noah was trusting God and patiently waiting for God to dry out the earth so that he and his dear family could leave the ark and begin their new life upon the earth.

Imagine how difficult it was for them to keep waiting and waiting! They had been inside of the ark for almost a year, never even allowed to go out on the deck. They were bound to feel cooped up and confined, caged and shut in, almost imprisoned. And now, the water was receding: they could see the water level dropping and exposing more and more of the mountains and land every day. How excited they must have been!

The urge to throw open the door and to step out on dry ground must have gnawed and gnawed at them. Yet how fearful they must have been, for they had no idea what lay ahead! The judgment of God had fallen and destroyed all life upon earth, both man and beast—all life except the few people and animals left upon the ark. What would life be like with no other people upon earth? What were they to expect—what kind of relationship with God—from now on? What would God now expect from them? So far as we know, God had not given Noah any new message or revelation since He had locked Noah into the ark. Excitement and a desire to get out of the ark were bound to fill their hearts, yes; but an apprehension, uneasiness, anxiety, and fear were also bound to be attacking their thoughts and emotions.

But through it all—through all the mental anguish and emotional uneasiness—Noah trusted God and waited patiently upon God.

What a dynamic example for us, a dynamic example of faith in God and of patience with God! No matter what confronts us, the apprehension, uneasiness, and fear could never match what Noah suffered. Yet, through it all he trusted and patiently waited upon God. May God grant to us the same faith and patience that Noah demonstrated.

Note how Noah did not become impatient and run ahead of God. He did not rush the will of God. It was God’s will for him to leave the ark, but when? What Noah needed was faith and patience in God...

·    faith that God would clearly show him when to leave the ark.

·    the patience to seek after God and to wait until God did show him.

This Noah did, and this we must do. We must have faith and patience that God will clearly show us His will and show us when to act.

2.  Note that Noah waited seven days each time he sent the birds out to search for dry land (Genesis 8:7-8, 10, 12). This likely points toward the Sabbath, the fact that Noah sent the birds out on the day already sanctified by God, the day of worship. Noah sent the birds out in hope, great hope in God. No better day could be chosen to send them forth than the day of worship. To have chosen the Sabbath day, the day of prayer and worship, was only natural. We—every genuine believer who had experienced what Noah had experienced—would have done the very same thing: sent forth the birds in hope, prayer, and worship on the very special day God had set aside for the worship of God.

The significance Noah placed upon the day of worship should speak to us. How often we neglect the day of worship, the very day God Himself set apart for us to concentrate upon Him, to rest and seek Him.

3.  Note several small details about the six events of this passage.

a.  Noah probably sent a raven out because it was a scavenger and could find food floating or lying about more easily than most other birds. Note the raven did not return to the inside of the ark, but flew back and forth, probably resting on top of the ark. Noah and the passengers probably heard the cawing of the bird as it roosted on the ark.

b.  The dove is a bird that stays closer to the ground than most other birds. This is probably the reason Noah sent out a dove in search of dry ground. If the bird stayed out, Noah would know that the water had receded enough to expose some of the low lying land.

c.  Note the tenderness of Noah and the dove. When the dove returned, Noah put his hand out the hatch and the dove flew in and lit upon his hand (Genesis 8:9). A man who is tender toward animals is usually a tender man.

d.  Note that the dove did not return until the evening hours on its second journey. As the late afternoon and early evening hours wore on, how expectant and hopeful the passengers must have been! They thought the dove was not returning! The water had receded enough for the land to begin drying out and the dove could now remain outside the ark. It would not be long now! They would soon be able to disembark and settle upon earth!

What an increase of joy and expectancy must have surged through their hearts when the bird returned with the evidence: a fresh olive leaf plucked from a tree (the Hebrew says that the leaf was a fresh or new leaf). The survivors now knew beyond a doubt that God had saved them. There was peace between God and the survivors of faith. Those who truly believed and followed God had been saved from the judgment upon an evil world. James Montgomery Boice points out that this experience was so moving that the picture of a dove carrying an olive branch is the sign of peace even today (Genesis, An Expositional Commentary, Vol.1, p.298).

e.  When the dove did not return on its third trip, the survivors knew beyond all question that the water had receded and the earth would now be drying out rather quickly.

f.  Twenty-nine days later Noah removed a portion of the top of the ark, looked out, and saw that the water had completely receded. The earth was drying out.

g.  It was 57 days later before the earth was completely dried out.

DEEPER STUDY (8:6-14) Flood, The: the following chart is based upon the following facts. The calendar in Noah’s day seems to be made up of 12 months of 30 days each.

Þ  It is said to be 150 days that the waters remained at their peak (Genesis 7:24).

Þ     It is said to be 150 days—probably a period of 5 months (30 days each)—between the beginning of the flood to the time the ark settled on Mt. Ararat (Genesis 8:4).

Both of these references seem to point to a period of five months of thirty days each. The following chart is based upon twelve months of thirty days each. This means that Noah and the other survivors were in the ark for...

·    year and 10 days according to the calendar year of Noah’s day.

·    year and 5 days according to today’s solar year.

Noah and the Great Day: God Sent Noah Forth into the World to Begin a New Life, 8:15-22

(8:15-22) Introduction: remember the feelings and emotions of Noah and his dear family. They and the animals had been upon the ark for a year and ten days. Just imagine what they had experienced as God judged the earth for its lawlessness, immorality, and violence:

Þ  the convulsive upheaval of the earth as the subterranean waters broke loose from their underground caverns.

Þ  the torrential downpour of rain for 40 consecutive days and nights.

Þ  the covering of the whole earth with water.

Þ  every living person and animal being drowned—all except the few survivors upon the ark.

They had experienced the living reality of God’s judgment, that God means exactly what He says when He warns men against sin: against lawlessness, immorality, and violence. As stated, they had been inside the ark which was floating around for a whole year and ten days, aware of the awesome judgment and power of God. The little band of survivors was bound to sense some apprehension, uneasiness, awe, and fear before God, for they had witnessed God’s awesome judgment. In addition, having been stranded inside the ark for 370 days, they were bound to feel confined, cooped up, caged, shut in, and almost imprisoned. The urge to just burst out and touch dry land must have gripped them from time to time.

Just imagine the excitement that gripped the survivors...

·    when they felt the ark strike Mt. Ararat and settle upon it (Genesis 8:5).

·    when they looked out and saw the mountain tops for the first time in over 200 days (Genesis 8:5).

·    when the raven was sent out to search for dry land and did not return (Genesis 8:6-7).

·    when the dove was sent out and brought back an olive branch and then sent out again and did not return (Genesis 8:10, 12).

·    when they removed part of the top of the ark, stepped out, and looked at the ground below and saw that it was drying out (Genesis 8:13).

·    as they waited 57 more days for the earth to dry out completely (Genesis 8:14).

Excitement must have flooded their hearts as they experienced each of these events. They knew that the day when they could step out upon dry ground was soon arriving. They knew that they could soon leave the ark and settle once again upon the earth. This is the subject of this great passage: “Noah and the Great Day: God Sent Noah Forth Into the World to Begin a New Life.”

1.  Scene 1: God’s long-awaited instructions (v.15-17).

2.  Scene 2: Noah’s strict obedience (v.18-19).

3.  Scene 3: Noah’s first act—he set up a place for worship (v.20).

4.  Scene 4: God’s great pleasure with Noah’s sacrifice and God’s great promises to Noah and the human race (v.21-22).

(8:15-17) God, Faithfulness of: there was the first scene: God’s long-awaited faithfulness and command. God spoke to Noah. God had not given any new instructions to Noah since the day He had told Noah to enter the ark (Genesis 7:1f). That had been over a year before. God had promised to save Noah through the awful judgment that was to come upon the earth (Genesis 6:17-18). God was faithful. His faithfulness had been proven throughout the deluge of water that had flooded the earth; He had saved Noah through the judgment. Now, God’s faithfulness was to be proven in the new instructions He was about to give. Noah’s salvation was about to be completed.

Note the instructions of God.

1.  Go forth from the ark, you and your dear family (Genesis 8:16). This was the final step of deliverance from the judgment of God. Noah was now to step out of the ark onto the earth. Imagine the apprehension and fear, the thoughts and wondering about what lay outside. The earth had been utterly devastated and wasted by the deluge of water. But note the stress and force of God’s instructions: “Go forth from the ark—do it now, immediately. Don’t fear to the point that you hesitate or delay. Your day of deliverance and salvation has arrived. Go forth now.”

2.  Second, God says, “Bring forth all the animals, so they can reproduce and multiply upon the earth” (Genesis 8:17).

Noah and the survivors of God’s awesome judgment were now to build a new life upon earth. God had been faithful to His Word and to His promise. He had judged the lawlessness, immorality, and violence of men; but in mercy, He had saved those He had promised to save, those who truly believed and followed Him.

God did not forsake Noah and his dear family. There may have been times over the long days of the terrifying judgment when they feared what would happen to them. But God was faithful: the day came when He completed their long awaited salvation and deliverance. What a lesson for us! We should never despair, never allow a trial or temptation to overcome us. God will always deliver us if we will only trust and patiently wait upon God. Our redemption—our glorious salvation—draws near. God is faithful; He is going to complete our salvation and deliverance from this sinful world and the terrifying judgment to come. God is going to complete our redemption.

It had been over a year since God had met and spoken to Noah. There may have been times when he felt God was too far off, out of reach, or not concerned enough; times when he felt God had forgotten all about him. But note: God had not forgotten. He knew all about Noah and the survivors, and He knows all about us. God is not far off in outer space someplace, unconcerned with us. God knows every trial and temptation we face, and He cares for us. God promises to look after us if we will only trust Him and live for Him.

(8:18-19) Obedience: there was the second scene: Noah’s strict obedience to God. Noah went out of the ark just as God had instructed him. The impact of such a moment could never be described, not adequately, not fully. But let us imagine the scene as best we can. The earth had been devastated by an enormous flood, a flood so great that it had covered even the highest mountain peaks. The vegetation of the earth—the forests, trees, bushes, fruits, and grasses of the earth—most had been uprooted and destroyed. Only seed remained, seed that had been left scattered all over the earth as the waters had receded into the lakes, rivers, caverns, and sea beds of the earth.

The earth was no longer filled with the lush green of the forests and the beautiful colors of shrubs and flowers. The earth was no longer filled with fruit-bearing trees, bushes, and vegetables. The earth Noah stepped out upon was mostly barren land, barren with debris scattered all over its surface. Uprooted trees and vegetation were lying everywhere. And remember: all the people and animals had drowned as well. Bones were probably scattered here and there among the debris. Most of the carcasses, if not all, would have decayed or been eaten by the sea creatures over the year of the flood. Only the bones would be lying among the debris. Keep in mind also that most of the bones would have been buried from the convulsions that had taken place in the subterranean crust of the earth and from the erosion caused by the rushing waters as they flowed and settled into the beds of the earth.

The point is this: when Noah stepped out from the ark upon the earth, he stepped upon a devastated earth. He confronted...

·    the stark reality of sin, how terrible it is, how awful the results are.

·    the stark reality of the judgment of God, how terrible it is, how awful the wrath of God is.

·    the stark reality of God’s love and salvation, of how God will save a person who truly believes and follows Him. Noah knew this, for he had believed and followed God, and there he stood having just been saved through the terrifying judgment of God.

When Noah stepped out of the ark onto the earth, he was bound to be gripped...

·    with a renewed reverence and respect for God, and a renewed fear and awe of God.

·    with a renewed commitment and determination to obey and serve God as never before.

Note how clearly this is seen in the Scripture: “Noah went forth” out of the ark. The impact is that he immediately went out; he immediately obeyed God. He was not leaving the ark because he could no longer take the feelings of being confined and cooped up, could no longer bear the urge to be free from the enclosed quarters of the ark. Noah went out only because God had instructed him to leave the ark and only because God had then and there instructed him to leave. Noah knew that God was depending upon him.

Þ  Noah knew that the great purpose of God for the earth and for the human race was resting upon his shoulders, upon his strict obedience to God.

This is the reason Noah obeyed God, obeyed Him in the most strict sense. This is the reason Noah had waited so patiently upon God’s instructions before leaving the ark, waited despite all his feelings of confinement. This is the reason Noah did exactly what God said despite whatever fears he was experiencing. He had no idea what lay outside the ark and no idea what lay ahead for him and his small family as they faced each day all alone upon the earth. But God had spoken and given His instructions; therefore, Noah obeyed God immediately. He left the ark and launched out to start a new life, to begin the human race and civilization all over again.

When God speaks and shows us His will, we must obey and obey immediately. We must do exactly what God says, even if we do not know what lies ahead. We must do the will of God despite the questions and unknowns that may lie ahead of us.

(8:20) Worship— Altar— Burnt Offering: there was the third scene: Noah’s first act was to set up a place for worship. Note the point made by Scripture.

Þ  Noah’s first concern was not to build a house. This would have been the first concern of many people who had gone through a torrential rain like Noah and the survivors. They would have wanted shelter just in case bad weather set in again.

Þ  Noah’s first concern was not to celebrate with a party. This would have been the first thing many people would have done when they had been shut up in a small building for 370 days. Their hearts would be so filled with joy over their release that they would want to share their joy and release with friends in a party of celebration.

Þ  Noah’s first concern was not to map out plans for survival in a devastated and barren world. This would have been the first urge of many survivors cast upon a devastated earth.

But not Noah. Noah’s first concern was not for himself nor for his family, but for God.

1.  The very first thing Noah did was establish a place for worship: he built an altar, established a place where he and his dear family could worship God as they settled and became adjusted to their new life.

Note: this is the first time the word altar is mentioned in the Bible. But this was not the first time an offering was made. Offerings were made to God from the very beginning of human history:

Þ  The first sacrifice of an animal was made by God Himself, made in order to clothe the very first man and woman upon earth, Adam and Eve.

Þ  The second sacrifice and offering was offered by Cain and Abel, the first two sons of Adam and Eve, offered in worship to God.

Remember: Noah’s father, Lamech, was 56 years old when Adam died. Adam would have unquestionably taught his children and grandchildren God’s will concerning altars, sacrifice, and worship—just how God was to be approached and how man was to become acceptable to God. The godly seed or line of believers have always had their set places to worship God, and they have always worshipped God. To think otherwise is foolish. In the Old Testament, the godly line of believers worshipped God primarily at altars and approached God through the sacrifice or the shed blood of animals. In the New Testament, the godly line of believers worship God primarily in church and approach God through the sacrifice or shed blood of Christ.

Any person, no matter what generation, who truly knows and loves God personally, worships God. God is first and foremost in his life. This was true with Noah. This is what Noah is doing: establishing the place for worship—building an altar—where he and his dear family can worship God while they go about getting settled and adjusted in their new life. The earth is devastated and barren. More than ever, they needed their altar, their worship center, where they could meet God and worship Him on a regular basis.

2.  Once Noah had built the altar, he worshipped God. He offered a sacrifice, a burnt offering, to God. It was only natural that Noah’s mind and heart were upon God. Noah loved God, for God had saved him. God had brought him through the terrible judgment that had fallen upon the earth. Noah knew God personally and intimately, and his heart was just flowing upward to God in praise and thanksgiving for God’s great deliverance. Noah was bound to be longing for God’s presence...

·    longing to approach and worship God.

·    longing to praise God for Himself and for His deliverance.

·    longing to ask God for continued forgiveness, forgiveness for his weaknesses, failures, and sin—all of which were bound to happen because of his human nature.

·    longing to make a renewed commitment, a rededication of his life to God.

·    longing to ask God for His continued guidance, provision, and protection.

This is exactly what the burnt offering is in Scripture. It was an offering that a person offered when he wanted...

·    to thank and praise God

·    to make a renewed commitment

·    to ask and petition God for something

Note how great the sacrifice was that Noah made: he did not offer and sacrifice just one animal; he sacrificed one of every clean animal in the ark, one of every kind or species of animal. He sacrificed dozens of animals. Why? Scripture does not say, but it was probably due to the fear, reverence, and awe of God that flooded Noah’s heart and mind. He had just gone through the most terrifying demonstration of God’s awesome power and judgment. Noah would want what any of us would want in similar circumstances: to show God our utter trust and respect for Him and His awesome power.

How long did it take to offer one of every kind of animal? How many hours? Days? Scripture does not say, but Noah probably gave as much to God as any person has ever given. There were only seven of every clean animal left on earth, yet Noah offered one of each kind.

Note three significant lessons for us.

1)   God has saved us, all true believers. He has delivered us from the terrible judgment that is to fall upon all the ungodly and evil of this earth. Our salvation is the first thing for which we should thank God.

2)   We must make the worship of God the center of our lives. We must seek and worship God first and always.

3)   Noah made a great sacrifice, giving one of every kind of animal. We must follow His example: we must make a great sacrifice to God—give all we are and have to Him.

Noah’s first act upon setting foot on the earth was to offer sacrifices to God. It was a further evidence of his faith, and surely an expression of his gratitude for the salvation that God had provided.

In response to the sacrifice of Noah, God made a solemn promise. I want you to understand, however, that this was a commitment made within the God­head—it is a promise God resolved to Himself. The expression of this determination is given to Noah in chapter 9. This is what God purposed within Himself:

And the Lord smelled the soothing aroma; and the Lord said to Himself, “I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done. While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease (Genesis 8:21‑22).

God’s resolve is that He will never again curse the ground or destroy every living thing as He has just done. Why would God make such a commitment? Surely He was not sorry for what He had done. Sin had to be judged, did it not?

The problem with the flood was that its effect was only temporary. The problem was not with creation, but with sin. The problem was not with men, but with man. To erase the slate and start over is inadequate, for what is needed is a new man for creation. This is what creation eagerly awaits.

For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God (Romans 8:20‑21).

God has therefore determined to deal differently with sin in the future. While sin has suffered a temporary setback at the flood, it will be dealt a fatal blow at the coming of Messiah. It is at this time that men will become new creatures (II Corinthians 5:17). After men are dealt with, a new heaven and a new earth will be provided as well (II Peter 3:13).

God’s promise of ultimate and final salvation is renewed in response to Noah’s expression of faith through a sacrificial offering. Until that day when this salvation is accomplished, God assures man that measures like the flood will not occur again.

DEEPER STUDY (8:20) Altar— Worship— Burnt Offering: throughout the Old Testament we often read where a person builds an altar and offers a sacrifice, that is, a burnt offering to God. What does this mean? What was the person doing? In the simplest of terms, he was doing what we do when we approach God: he was either approaching and worshipping God or else seeking something from God. Man approaches God for at least five reasons or purposes:

Þ  to worship God

Þ  to thank and praise God

Þ  to ask forgiveness for sins

Þ  to recommit or rededicate his life

Þ  to petition God, that is, ask God for something

These facts in particular should be noted about the burnt offering.

1.  Four animals were used in animal sacrifices. The rich sacrificed the larger animals and the poor the small birds.

Þ  a bullock or an ox (Leviticus 1:5)

Þ  a sheep or lamb (Leviticus 1:10)

Þ  a goat (Leviticus 1:10)

Þ  a pigeon or turtle-dove (Leviticus 1:14)

2.  The burnt offering was a freewill offering. The person approached God of his own free will; he simply wanted to come to God. God did not force him to come; God never forces any person to enter His presence. The person approaches God because he chooses to come to God.

3.  The animal offered and sacrificed was to always be a clean animal, an animal that was completely free from blemishes, diseases, injuries, or defects of any kind.

4.  The animal was sacrificed—its life was given up and its blood shed—as a substitute or ransom for the person’s sins. The picture was this:

a.  The person put his hand upon the head of the animal. This symbolized that in faith—truly believing—the person was identifying with the sacrifice of the animal...

·    symbolizing that his sins were being transferred to the animal

·    symbolizing that he was being freed from the penalty of sin

·    symbolizing that through the sacrifice, the animal was bearing his sins, bearing the penalty, judgment, and punishment for his sins.

     The animal was pictured as dying for the person, as the person’s substitute or ransom (redemption). The animal symbolized propitiation, the covering and sacrifice for the person’s sins.

b.  This, of course, pointed to Jesus Christ, who was to be sacrificed for our sins upon the cross. Jesus Christ died for us, bore the penalty, judgment, and punishment for our sins. Jesus Christ died as our substitute before God, as the propitiation—the covering and sacrifice—for our sins.

5.  The animal was then burned upon the altar. The fire of the burnt offering symbolized the holiness and wrath of God...

·    that was judging and consuming the sin being borne by the animal.

·    that was purifying that which was impure.

The fire pointed to Jesus Christ bearing the wrath of God’s holiness of us. Jesus Christ bore the reaction of God’s holiness against sin, bore God’s wrath against sin for us.

6.  The smell that arose from the burning meat was a pleasing, satisfying aroma. This symbolized that the sacrifice pleased and satisfied God. The sacrifice satisfied God’s holiness and made the person acceptable to God. The person, of course, had to be sincere in approaching God, believing with all of his heart that God accepted the sacrifice as a substitute for his sins.

This points to the death of Jesus Christ pleasing God. God is satisfied—perfectly satisfied—with the blood of Jesus Christ being shed for man. God accepts the death of Jesus Christ as man’s payment and judgment for sin. God now accepts us when we come to Him through the death of Christ, accepts us because we approach Him through...

·    the perfect payment for sin

·    the payment made by the perfect Son of God

·    the death of the Lord Jesus Christ

(8:21-22) Covenant: there was the fourth scene: God’s great pleasure with Noah’s sacrifice and God’s great promises to Noah and the human race. God saw Noah as he stepped out of the ark upon the earth, saw his fear and apprehension. God saw the horror of Noah when he looked around upon the devastated and barren earth, covered with scattered debris everywhere. God saw the questions flooding Noah’s mind, wondering if God would launch the judgment and flooding again, for he and his dear family were still of Adam’s race, still sinful and sure to sin in the future. As stated, God saw the fear and apprehension, the questioning and wondering of Noah’s heart and mind. But God also saw Noah’s worship...

·    God saw Noah’s fear of God, the reverence and awe before God that flooded Noah’s heart.

·    God saw Noah’s sense of being a sinful creature, of being short of God’s glory.

·    God saw Noah’s recommitment and rededication of life.

·    God saw Noah’s great sacrifice, the sacrifice of dozens of animals—all in faith—his trusting God to accept the animals’ sacrifice in behalf of himself and his dear family.

God was bound to be pleased with Noah, pleased with his faith and sincerity of heart, pleased with the great offering and sacrifice he was making. Note how Scripture describes God’s response: the Lord smelled the pleasing, soothing aroma of Noah’s great sacrifice. That is, God was pleased, greatly pleased—His holiness and wrath against sinful man were soothed, propitiated, satisfied—with the sacrificial offering made by Noah. But note this: it was not the sacrifice of the animal that pleased and soothed God. We must always remember this when dealing with animal sacrifice in the Old Testament. What pleased God was what the sacrifice symbolized or pointed to: the sacrifice of Jesus Christ upon the cross. God saw beyond the animal sacrifice to the death of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, for the sins of the world. Jesus Christ—the offering and sacrifice of His life—is the propitiation (the satisfaction and covering) for our sins. The animal sacrifice only pointed to Jesus Christ.

The point is this: God was so pleased with Noah’s great offering that He purposed within Himself to do three great things for Noah and the human race. Note that God was not speaking and giving these promises to Noah, not at this point. Rather, God was thinking these things within His own heart. Noah’s great offering—the offering of so many sacrifices at one time by one man, the sacrifice of one of every kind of clean animal—stirred God to do three great things for man. (But remember: God was looking beyond the great sacrifice of Noah to the symbol of the sacrifice, that of the great sacrifice of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. It was the future death of Christ that was enabling [making it possible for] God to make these great promises to Noah and mankind.)

1.  God promised to never again curse the earth with a flood despite man’s depravity and sinfulness (Genesis 8:21). This is the way this verse should read: even though man is sinful—despite his depravity—God will never again curse the earth with a worldwide flood. Why? Because of the great offering made by Noah which symbolized the great sacrifice of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Derek Kidner states it well: “The Lord’s resolve not to renew the judgment is based on the accepted sacrifice [of Christ].... The real propitiation, in the mind of God, was the sacrifice of Jesus” (Genesis. “Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries,” p.93).

Note that man’s terrible depravity and sinfulness is again stated (Genesis 8:21b; cp. Genesis 6:5). Note also that the earth had been cursed after Adam’s sin (cp. Genesis 3:17) and again during the flood. But God has now promised that He will never again send a universal flood upon the earth as a judgment upon sin. The earth will never again be destroyed, not until the end time when it will be remade into a perfect earth (cp. 2 Peter 3:3-13; Romans 8:19-22).

2.  God purposed to never again destroy life upon earth with a universal flood, neither man nor animal (Genesis 8:21). Note: this refers only to a worldwide flood, not to local calamities and judgments upon countries, cities, or people (cp. Sodom and Gomorrah, local earthquakes, floods, and other disasters).

3.  God purposed to guarantee the times and seasons of the earth until the end of the world (Genesis 8:22). This probably points to environmental havoc during the days of the flood. The environment—times and seasons—must have been convulsively disrupted. But with this promise of God, a universal devastation of the times and seasons would never again fall upon the earth—not as a judgment from God—not until the end of the world.

Note: this promise is guaranteed only as long as the earth remains. There is to be an end to the earth.

Noah believed God, that He would accept him and his family through the sacrifice of the animals. We must believe God, that He will accept us through the sacrifice of Christ upon the cross. It is the aroma of Christ’s sacrifice, His death alone, that pleases God and makes us acceptable to Him.

The Meaning of the Flood for Men of All Ages

First of all, the flood is a reminder to us of the matchless grace of God. While unbelievers found judgment, Noah found grace (Genesis 6:8).

To a certain extent, all of the people of that day experienced the grace of God. It was not until 120 years after the revelation of a coming judgment that it actually came upon men. That 120 year period was an age of grace in which the gospel was proclaimed.

The difference between Noah and those who perished was their response to God’s grace. Those who perished interpreted God’s grace as divine indifference. They concluded that God neither cared nor troubled Himself at the occasion of men’s sin.

Noah, on the other hand, recognized grace for what it really is—an opportunity to enter into an intimate relationship with God, and at the same time, to avoid divine displeasure and judgment. Noah’s years were spent in walking with God, building the ark, and proclaiming God’s Word.

The grace of God is clearly evidenced by this promise: “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease” (Genesis 8:22).

Here is the irony of our day. As in the days of Noah, the perishing unbeliever looks at life as it is and asks “How could God be there at all and not do anything to right things—to set things in order?”

He concludes that God is either dead, apathetic, or incapable of dealing with the world as it is, disregarding the warning of 2 Peter 3:8,9:

But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow about His promises, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance (II Peter 3:8,9).

As Noah, the believer recognizes that life as it is a reflection of the sovereign control of a gracious God over all of life:

For in Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him (Colossians 1:16‑17).

The continuation of all things as they have been—day and night, summer and winter, springtime and harvest—causes the Christian to bow the knee to God in praise and submission to His providential care. The non‑Christian, however, has twisted this promise of God’s providential care into an excuse for sin:

Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation’ (II Peter 3:3‑4).

They fail to recognize that men are given this time to repent and to be recon­ciled to God. But just as the time of grace finally expired in Noah’s day, so it will for men today:

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up (II Peter 3:10).

Our Lord taught that the days preceding the flood would be just like those preceding His final appearance to judge the earth:

For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, they were marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not under­stand until the flood came and took them all away, so shall the coming of the Son of Man be (Matthew 24:37‑39).

These days were not described in terms of debauchery or decadence, but of normality—business as usual. Men in the last days will be doing what they always have. There is nothing wrong with eating and drinking, giving in marriage, or buying and selling. What is wrong is doing so without God, and supposing that we may sin as we please without paying its penalty. The age of grace will end. Let us respond rightly to God’s grace.

Second, we are instructed in the matter of the wrath of God. We learn from the flood that while God’s wrath is slow, it is also certain. Judgment must eventually be meted out to those who reject God’s grace.

Be very clear that while wrath and judgment are certain, they do not delight the heart of God. Nowhere in this passage is there one scene of suffering and anguish described in detail. Even Noah’s eyes were kept from beholding the torment suffered by those who died in the flood. The ark had no portholes, nor picture windows to look out on the destruction God wrought. The only opening was that at the top of the ark to allow light to shine in.

God does not delight in judgment, nor does He needlessly dwell upon it, but it is a certainty for those who resist His grace. Do not deceive your­self, my friend, there is a time when the offer of salvation will be with­drawn.

Many people seem to think that they will wait until one foot is in the grave and the other is on a banana peel to be saved. It usually doesn’t happen that way. God still closes the door of salvation. When we have lived our lives in sin and rebellion against God, we most often will not be given the luxury of making a deathbed decision. It sometimes happens, I grant, but seldom.

Then, too, God’s judgment is often allowing things to take their own course. The account of the flood seems almost like creation reverted to the conditions of the second day of creation (cf. Genesis 1:6‑7).

In the book of Colossians we are told that our Lord Jesus Christ is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe (Colossians 1:16‑17). Men who reject God live as though God did not exist at all.

Finally, let us consider the subject of the salvation of God. In the case of Noah we must observe that God’s way of salvation was restrictive. God provided only one way of salvation (an ark) and only one door. Men could not be saved any way they wished, but only God’s way. Such is the sal­vation which God offers men today.

Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me’ (John 14:6).

The salvation of the ark was also instructive. It provides us with a picture of the salvation that was accomplished in Christ. It was for those in Moses’ day a type of Christ. The difference between those who were saved and those who perished in the flood was the difference between being in the ark and being outside it.

Those who were saved and those who died all went through the flood. But those who survived were those in the ark which sheltered them from the effects of God’s divine displeasure on sin. Those outside the ark, as well as those within, knew the ark existed and were informed that God had warned of a judg­ment to come. Some chose to ignore these facts, while Noah acted upon them.

So it is today. God has said that there must be a penalty for sin—death. Those who are in Christ by faith have suffered the wrath of God in Christ. On the cross of Calvary the wrath of God was poured out upon the sinless Son of God, Jesus Christ. Those who trust in Him have experienced the salvation of God in Christ. Those who refuse to trust in Him and be in Him by an act of the will, must suffer the wrath of God outside of Christ, our ark. Knowing about Christ no more saves a man than knowing about the ark saved men in Noah’s day. It is being in the ark, being in Chri