When God's Patience Ends
Genesis 7
In Genesis chapter 6 we read about how evil had prevailed over the entire earth and how God had decided to blot out all of mankind except Noah and his family. Chapter 7 details the Great Flood that God used to execute His divine judgment on the entire earth as it existed at that time (“Every living thing on the face of the earth was wiped out; men and animals and the creatures that move along the ground and the birds of the air were wiped from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those with him in the ark.” – Genesis 7:23). Noah had spent 120 years building the ark and preaching to all those around him, but no one would listen. They all laughed him off and went on living in disobedience to God, completely oblivious to the coming judgment.
What we see here is that humankind’s wickedness had reached a point where judgment was necessary (“The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil CONTINUALLY.” – Genesis 6:5). We have a pure and holy God who by an act of his great mercy tolerates sin and withholds judgment for a time, but that time cannot last forever. Here in Genesis 6 & 7 God says enough is enough. At no other point in human history has God’s judgment been as severe and as universal as it was at the Flood.
But Noah believed God and that faith saved him and his family (“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.” – Hebrews 11:7).
This story of the flood and of Noah demonstrates both judgment and salvation to us. God is a righteous judge who must punish sin, but who also provides a way of salvation for us that allows us to escape that judgment.
The flood is a picture of God’s future judgment that is coming for the entire earth when Jesus returns (“But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and 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).
The ark symbolizes how God graciously provides a way of escape from the coming judgment and it points to Jesus Christ. There was only one way to enter the ark and you had to exercise faith to do it … the same is true with Jesus (“I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” – John 14:6).
Let’s not be like the people from Noah’s generation and ignore the coming judgment. God’s patience will not last forever and Judgment Day is coming. Make sure you are ready for it by placing your faith in Jesus Christ and living your life right now in a way that honors God and brings him glory.
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.” – 2 Peter 3:9-13
written by Joe Hust