Genesis 6:9-22

The concept of walking with God emerges again in this passage. Noah is described as 'blameless in his generation'. I would imagine this passage is making a contrast between Noah and his corrupt generation rather than suggesting Noah was completely without sin. The evil that pervades society is suffocating the world of life and goodness. God is left with no choice but to bring judgment.

Passages such as these may be uncomfortable for many of us to digest. Judgment and justice are concepts and characteristics of God that are easily ignored in our times. However they are foundational to our understanding of God's plan and the world we live in. God's sense of justice permeates his character completely. With God "Right is right, even if nobody does it. And wrong is wrong, even if everybody's wrong about it." (G.K. Chesterton). God holds men accountable for those actions and punishes wrong. Until God draws the line above our own lives we are usually comfortable with God's justice. However when we fall short of his standard our excuses begin to multiple and our tendency is towards outrage that God could be so unfair. Did the thief you despise chose his poverty? Sin is sin and we should be prepared to face the consequences of our actions whatever our circumstances. Humanity without accountability is the slope to destruction and this proverb is played out in our papers daily.

What manifest next is a demonstration of the outrageous nature of God's grace and the limitlessness of His kindness. As I have already pointed out Noah was surely guilty of sin and deserving of death just as his generation was. What takes place next is God's miraculous intervention. Responding to Noah's heart, which sought to walk with the Lord, God unfolds a detailed plan for salvation. The ark that Noah faithfully builds is not attributable to Noah's own genius, God's means of salvation is divinely provided with every detail carefully delivered by God himself. What a beautiful picture of how God would work time and time again in Israel and the Church's history. Just when it seems impossible for us to be saved, when our weakness is laid bear and hopelessness would be the logical emotion, God steps in and provides the gift of salvation and deliverance. The ark becomes an inspired picture of Christ. Those choosing to abide in it are safe from waves of judgement that battered its decks. The execution of justice fell all around but those sheltering inside this boat were preserved from the consequences of their own actions and the actions of their generation. When we are least deserving and most in need of God our response should not be to stand in the rain but to run for cover under the water tight walls of God's ark - Jesus. With God justice does not have be settled through the judgment of the guilty because repentance and faith are the pathway to a shelter from all the punishment we deserve.