Genesis 7:23 - Exposition

The Deluge.

I. A STRIKING TESTIMONY TO THE DIVINE FAITHFULNESS .

1. In respect of threatenings against the wicked . Whether the faith of Noah ever betrayed symptoms of wavering during the long interval of waiting for the coming of the Flood it is impossible to say; it can scarcely be doubted that the men who for six score years had seen the sun rise and set with unwearied regularity, that had watched the steady and continuous movement of nature's laws and forces throughout the passing century, oftentimes exclaimed, Where is the promise of his coming, for all things continue as they were from the beginning?" And yet God kept his word, and fulfilled his threatening. "The flood came, and took them all away" ( Matthew 24:39 ). Cf. the Divine threatenings against Babylon ( Jeremiah 51:33 ), against Tyre ( Isaiah 23:12 ), against Jerusalem ( 2 Kings 21:13 ; Jeremiah 26:18 ), against the Jews ( Deuteronomy 28:49 ). Let impenitent sinners thereby be reminded that there is one more word of doom which he will yet cause to come to pass ( Psalms 9:17 ; 2 Thessalonians 1:8 ; 2 Peter 3:10 ).

2. In respect of promises to the saints . At the same time that he foretold to Noah the destruction of his licentious and violent contemporaries, he distinctly promised that he would establish his covenant with Noah, and preserve both him and his amid the general overthrow. And that too he implemented in due time and to the letter. Let the saints then learn to trust the precious promises of God ( 2 Peter 1:4 ) which have been given to enable them to escape the corruption that is in the world through lust ( τη ͂ ς ε ̓ ν κο ì σμω ͅ ε ̓ ν ε ̓ πιθυμι ì α ͅ φθορα ͂ ς , i.e. the destruction that is already operating in the world and coming out of, as it is carried in, the world's lust).

II. A SIGNAL DISPLAY or THE DIVINE POWER .

1. In controlling his creatures .

2. In punishing his enemies . That appalling visitation is fitted to remind us that God is able to execute vengeance—

3. In protecting his people . The ark floating on the waters was a visible sermon to all time coming of God's ability to save them who believe and obey him. And, like the shelter enjoyed by Noah, the salvation which God bestows upon his people is

So says Christ, " I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish" ( John 10:28 ).

III. A SOLEMN ATTESTATION OF THE DIVINE HOLINESS . Proclaiming—

1. That the Divine character was holy . A deity who is himself subject to imperfection is inconceivable. But sinful men are prone to forget that God is of purer eyes than to look upon iniquity. In this last age of the world God has discovered that to men by sending forth an image or likeness of himself in the person of his Son, who was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners (cf. John 14:9 ). In the first age he announced the same great truth by the water-flood.

2. That the Divine law was holy . That, besides being himself personally pure, he requires sinless obedience at the hands of his creatures, the Almighty has in every separate era or epoch of human history taken pains to inform men; in Edenic times by the forbidden tree; in ante diluvian by the Deluge; in Mosaic by Mount Sinai; in Christian by the cross of Cal vary.

3. That the Divine government was holy . That from the first the world has been governed in the interests of holiness is unmistakably me a doctrine or scripture. If any in Noah's time believed either that God was indifferent to righteousness, or that it was possible for "the throne of iniquity to have fellowship with him" they must have been terribly undeceived when the crack of doom was heard above their heads. So will it be when the righteous Judge reveals himself a second time in flaming fire to render unto every man according to his deeds.

Lessons : —

1. "It is impossible for God to lie" ( Hebrews 6:18 ).

2. "There is nothing too hard for the Lord" ( Genesis 18:14 ).

3. "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." ( Hebrews 10:31 ).