The Days of Noah…4

I trust you will take time to read this…it can change your life for all eternity!

Right there in Gen 3 there is a picture of salvation for all mankind.

God’s gracious promise of a Saviour, also foretold that the woman’s seed (who is Jesus) would bruise Satan’s head. We also read that innocent animals were killed, and blood was shed…to make coats of skins to cover the nakedness of Adam and Eve. This is such a clear picture of salvation, which foreshadowed the dying of Jesus on the cross and then the remission of sins and not just the covering of them.

Gen 5 also tells us of a man called Enoch who…walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. 

Jude tells us in the NT, that Enoch was God’s servant and that he warned the people of coming judgment.

And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints, To execute judgment upon all and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him (vs. 14-15). 

Prophetic statements of judgment were made long before the judgment actually came. Repentance was preached; a turning away from sin was spoken many times. So people were without excuse.

They could have turned to the Lord, but they refused, and deliberately kept on in their sinful ways. Finally God makes a definite statement in Gen 6:3 where He says…My Spirit will not always strive with man.

We learn from Genesis 6:3 that the ministry of the Holy Spirit was very real in those days…And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man. The Spirit of God strove with men by sending men like Enoch, and Noah, and perhaps others, to preach to them and to stir conviction in their hearts that leads to repentance. But they were toughened in their sin and full-grown and ripe for destruction.

God was dealing with the people patiently, but He said there would come a time when He would stop. His Spirit would not strive with men always.

In this same way…God is warning this Final Generation of the coming judgment upon this earth. 2 Peter 3:7, “But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.”

Yes, judgment is coming and the main reason why God delays is that He is “longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

My petition to you now is just this…if you have never known who God is, then begin today. Turn to Him. Jesus will not only forgive you, but cleanse you, restore you and use you for His glory…if your repentance is true, and your heart is set on God!

Despite God’s warnings they would not listen. Genesis 6:12,13, “And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.”

This was God’s final declaration upon these people because of their sin.

Whenever God’s judgment is pronounced, you will find that a way of escape has been provided. The Ark of Noah was His first provision for such an escape and it is a marvellous picture of salvation in Christ.

What did the Ark speak of…?

More next time.