This Is the Condition of Man Before the Flood • in Genesis 2 God
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__________________________________________________ GENESIS INTRODUCTION: • This is the condition of man before the flood • In Genesis 2 God commanded man to fill the earth and man filled the earth with violence • Because man allowed mankind to be corrupted through sexual union with fallen angels man was on a path of self-destruction • The Bible says all flesh was corrupted... which includes animal life • Some suggest fallen angels had sexual unions with animals which explains why God said sex with animals is forbidden (Exodus 22:19-20) • In Genesis 6:13 God says the end of all flesh has come before Me • God holds man responsible because He gave man the authority to rule and reign over the earth • So God tells Noah He will destroy man whom He created with the earth and every living thing... • Something to keep in mind... there is no such thing as personal sin • All sin has far reaching consequences that we don’t see Genesis 6:14–16 (NKJV) 14 Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch. 15 And this is how you shall make it: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. 16 You shall make a window for the ark, and you shall finish it to a cubit from above; and set the door of the ark in its side. You shall make it with lower, second, and third decks. • “Ark” is the noun “tevah” which means “a chest-shaped vessel” • According to God’s instructions, the dimensions were to be 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide and 30 cubits high The question is... how long is a cubit? • The Babylonian royal cubit is 19.8” • Th Egyptians had a longer cubit (20.65”) and a shorter cubit (17.6”) • Most writers believe the Biblical cubit is 18”, the length of the tips of the fingers to the elbow... however the Hebrews had 2 cubits • Solomon’s Temple was built according to the cubits of “the former measure” (2 Chronicles 3:3) speaking of the royal or long cubit (20.4”) • The Hebrews also had a common cubit (17.5”) THROUGH THE BIBLE / GENESIS © 2019 Holland Davis __________________________________________________ GENESIS • Based on the time that Moses wrote the book of Genesis, the cubit Noah used was most likely the common cubit (17.5”) • [SLIDE 2] This is a built to scale replica of the Ark in Kentucky using the Royal Cubit or 20.4” • This Ark is 510 ft. long (300 x 20.4), 51 feet tall (30x20.4) and 85 feet wide (50x20.4) • [SLIDE 3] Shows the inside of the Ark with 3 decks according to the scriptures • It’s over 100,000 square feet of space, which is more floor space than 21 basketball courts • It’s been estimated the Ark could hold 125,000 sheep The Ark is a type of salvation (Hebrews 11:7) • The Ark was to be covered with “pitch” (“kopher”) which is a derivative of “kaphar” (covering) • “kaphar” is the same word used for “atonement” in Leviticus 17:11 • Thus we have the first mention of the atonement in it’s most basic form • The covering around the Ark keeps Noah and his family safe from judgment just like the atonement (blood of Jesus) keeps us safe from judgment • The Ark had one window (“tsohar”) which allowed daylight and ventilation to preserve life representing the work of the Spirit who illuminates the darkened minds of unbelievers • The Ark had only one door representing there is only one way to be saved... • [SLIDE 4] Here’s a picture of the One Door in the Ark John 10:9 (NKJV) 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. John 14:6 (NKJV) 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. • The Bible says the preaching of the cross is foolishness to them who are perishing • There is no doubt Noah’s preaching about a coming flood must have been ridiculed... but when the floods came... everyone realized Noah was right... but it was too late THROUGH THE BIBLE / GENESIS © 2019 Holland Davis __________________________________________________ GENESIS Genesis 6:17–21 (NKJV) 17 And behold, I Myself am bringing floodwaters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die. 18 But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall go into the ark—you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. 19 And of every living thing of all flesh you shall bring two of every sort into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female. 20 Of the birds after their kind, of animals after their kind, and of every creeping thing of the earth after its kind, two of every kind will come to you to keep them alive. 21 And you shall take for yourself of all food that is eaten, and you shall gather it to yourself; and it shall be food for you and for them.” Now we understand WHY the ARK is being built • Everything that is on the earth is going to die... including vegetation • BUT God says I will establish My covenant with you • Only those who enter the Ark will be saved The word “covenant” is “berit” • A covenant is an agreement or contract between 2 people that governs their relationship... • There is always one person making the Covenant and another person receiving the benefits of the Covenant • It’s important to understand the relational foundation to covenants • A covenant cannot be broken because a relationship never ends • However, like a relationship, if you break the terms of the covenant there are consequences In the Bible, God makes 8 Covenants with man... • We will name them but not study them in depth • Adamic Covenant (Genesis 3:14-19) • Noahic Covenant (Genesis 8:20-9:17) • The Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12:1-3) • The Mosaic Covenant (Exodus 20, 21, 25 and 31) • The Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7:4-17) • The Palestinian Covenant (Deuteronomy 30:1-10) • The New Covenant (Hebrews 8:7-13) • 6 of these covenants were given to an individual THROUGH THE BIBLE / GENESIS © 2019 Holland Davis __________________________________________________ GENESIS • 4 are distinguished by a sign... that is your homework to find out which 4 and what is the sign There are 2 types of Covenants... conditional and unconditional • A Conditional Covenant is dependent on the faithfulness of the recipient for it’s fulfillment • An Unconditional Covenant is dependent on the faithfulness of God for it’s fulfillment • The Covenant God is making with Noah is unconditional which means it is totally dependent on the faithfulness of God The Covenant God is making Noah is for salvation • God tells Noah... I’m going to save you, your sons, your wife and your sons’ wives with you • Salvation comes to Noah and his household... where do we hear that? • 2 places... Luke 19:9 and Acts 16:31 (Remember the OT / NT Seamless) Vs. 19-21 God gives instructions to Noah for the preservation of animals • God commands Noah to bring 2 of every living thing of all flesh... male and female... each after their own kind (there is no missing link) • Noah was also to gather food for animals • Authorities on biological taxonomy estimate there are less than 18,000 species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians living today • You could double this figure to allow for known extinct land animals as recorded by the fossil record • Based on 2 of each species, it’s been estimated there were between 72,000 and 75,000 animals on the Ark... how is that possible? [SLIDE 5] God brought the animals... they will “come to you” • God created in animals genetic migratory and directional instincts • God used this genetic trait to bring them to the Ark • The animals God brought to Noah were not full grown including larger animals like giraffe’s and elephants • Based on the size of the animals and the capacity of the Ark, no more than 60% of the Ark’s capacity was used to house animals and that includes animals that were used for sacrificial offerings THROUGH THE BIBLE / GENESIS © 2019 Holland Davis __________________________________________________ GENESIS Genesis 6:22 (NKJV) 22 Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did. • This last verse summarizes 120 years of God’s mercy while Noah preached righteousness to those who disobeyed God • 3 more times in Genesis we are told Noah obeyed all God commanded (Genesis 7:5, 9, 16) • Noah’s obedience to God was the demonstration of his faith in God and the indication of his fellowship with God • 7 times we read that God spoke to Noah... Genesis 6:13, 7:1, 8:15, 9:1, 8, 12, 17) Hebrews 11:7 (NKJV) 7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. There is always a connection between faith, obedience and fellowship • That is why James says... show me your faith without your works and I’ll show you my faith by my works (James 2:18) • If your walk with God isn’t characterized by obedience to His Word then you have to ask yourself..