Genesis 6-7
Theme: Our theme for this week is “Noah”. Up to this point we see a cycle of God showing grace and mankind responding with rebellion. Because of man’s unrighteousness, the earth was flooded to rid it of all the evil thoughts and intentions of man. However, Noah found favor with God. Because he walked with God he was chosen to establish a new covenant between God and man. God leaves Noah with instructions to prepare for something unseen (the flood). Because Noah was faithful to the commands of the Lord, his family was spared from the flood.
Major Points:
(Ch. 6) The short version of this chapter: God is exercising judgment for unrighteousness by cleansing the earth through a flood. Since the fall happened, man has had a wickedness in their heart that breeds more wickedness. We see here that the thoughts and intentions of man were “only evil continually”. It’s interesting to track the results of sin all the way from the Garden. However, Noah found favor with God. This doesn’t mean Noah had lived a perfect life, only that Noah had put his faith in God and not the world. It was Noah’s faith that earned him his place on the ark not his good works. With that said, as you look at the second half of the chapter we get to see what Noah’s faith produces- obedience! Noah walked with God when the rest of the world lived in rebellion. He was faithful to build the ark when everyone else thought he was insane. That resulted in God preserving his family for the new covenant.
(Ch. 7) God was faithful to fulfill his words to Noah: he sent the flood. Notice however that Noah had to step in the direction of obedience first. Faith is taking the first step even when you can’t see the whole staircase. God not only sent the flood but also the animals and the rainbow that represented the new covenant. This new promise to Noah and his family was that he would never deal with sin by destroying the earth again, but by destroying His only Son. Jesus has become the new ark. Our version of getting on the ark is putting our faith solely in Jesus Christ who is the new covenant. Think of it like rebooting a computer only to find the computer virus is still there: God had a new plan to deal with the virus of sin.
Question Bank:
How has your week been spiritually? / What is God teaching you?
What sins are you struggling with that you need to confess?
(Ch. 6) What exactly gave Noah favor with God and how does your life relate to this example?
(Ch. 6) How has your faith produced obedience, and in what areas are you disobedient?
(Ch. 6) How do we as humans distinguish between our faith producing works, or trying to use works to produce faith ?
(Ch. 6) What step of faith is God asking you to take right now?
(Ch. 7) How have you seen God’s faithfulness in your own life?
(Ch. 7) How has your faith impacted the family around you? Ex. what spiritual state are your (children, spouse, relatives, friends) living in under your leadership?
- (Ch. 7) In what way(s) does the story of Noah and the ark point us to the Gospel?