2/20/2022 - Pre-Flood Chaos - Genesis 6:1-9 - Pastor Jason Fritz

Last week we looked into the lives of two brothers who lived long ago. Their names are Cain and Abel. Their relationship was cut short because one killed the other. Family dysfunction within the first family to walk the earth. Cain doesn’t show remorse and has no interest in doing the right thing or in doing what God desires. God gives him the opportunity to make things right but he doesn’t take it. As a consequence God tells Cain he will be a wanderer on the earth. In the last half of Genesis chapter 4 this is exactly what we see. Cain is a nomad but if you remember from last week it didn’t have to be this way. He could have turned things around. He could have changed but instead he remained defiant. He settles into a new life and has a family. But his descendants turn out to be just like him and worse. In fact, Cain has a great great great grandson named Lamech and he brags about how wicked he is by claiming to be ten times more violent than his ancestor. The world is filled with people who constantly think evil thoughts and always take evil action.

But it gets much worse…

In Genesis chapter 6 we learn that demons are inhabiting men and having sex with women. All of this paints a picture of the height of human depravity and the condition which God mercifully brings to an end by a flood. There is one righteous man (not perfect) whom God selects to do a new work: Noah. For over a hundred years he will preach a message of hope but none will listen. All the while he’s building a massive boat. Then one day begins just like any other. People are going about their lives and the sky opens, water falls and it doesn’t stop. People are caught unaware.

Jesus placed a high value on the flood story. (That’s how we know it’s true.) 

For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Matthew 24:37-39

His point is simple. He said his return would be just like the flood. Some will not be ready. You see, one day God’s patience will come to an end. His justice will be brought to the earth by his son. The way of rescue is through him. We make ourselves ready by being obedient to God. Here’s the recipe: Love God + love others = prepared.