Genesis
Lesson 14Genesis Chapters 6:1 - 8:22
In this lesson, we will examine one of the best known stories in the Bible, the story of Noah and the Ark. In the course of our study, we will observe God’s great judgment brought upon an evil and wicked people whose hearts are continually seeking sin and not His righteousness. We will also encounter the first use of the word "grace" in the Bible, as Noah finds grace with God, and he and his family are saved from the coming judgment.
Read Genesis Chapters 6-8, and consider the following:
- How long before the flood did God pronounce judgment? (see Gen. 6:3)
- How long did it take Noah and his three sons to build the ark? (see Gen. 5:32 and Gen. 7:6)?
- What caused God to want to rid the earth of man and all God had created? (see Gen. 6:5)
- Why was Noah allowed to be saved from this judgment? (see Gen. 6:8-9)
- Noah lived 500 years before his three sons are mentioned. What can we infer about Noah, his children in general, and these three sons in particular?
- From this one judgment, God reveals several truths to us about the coming judgment on the earth during the Great Tribulation when man will be on the verge of self-destruction, and about the coming White Throne judgment. What are some principles that we can already see at work in the "days of Noah"? See the following passages: Genesis 8:21, Matthew 7:13-14, Matthew 24:37-38, 1 Peter 3:20, and Revelation 3:10-11.
- When was the first time that God sent rain on the earth, and why is this significant? (see Gen. 2:4-6 and Gen. 7:12.)
- Upon examining the facts surrounding Noah’s proclamation of what God was about to do and how He was to do it, what parallels can we draw regarding Christ’s proclamation concerning his return and the final days of the Great Tribulation? (see Matthew Chapters 24-25)
- How long did it take Noah and his sons to gather up all of the pairs of animals that lived in the ark? (see Gen. 7:4-10)
- Once the ark was loaded with everything that was needed, including all of Noah’s family, how did they close the very large and extremely heavy door? (see Gen 7:16)
- Did the floodwaters literally cover the entire planet or simply the known earth at the time? How do we know this? (see Gen. 7:17-20)
- Was the flood caused simply by the fact that it rained for forty days? Aren’t there places on earth today where it can rain for forty days straight while not covering the entire earth with floodwaters? What caused such a cataclysmic flood? (see Gen. 7:11-12)
As we reflect on our findings for this study, we see that God’s judgment is sure and specific. Furthermore, we find that even in times of severe judgment, God is full of mercy and grace; and He spares those who are righteous from His judgments — just as He will the Saved when His Son Jesus returns at the conclusion of the Great Tribulation. The story of Noah is one of both terrible judgment and great hope, as God demonstrates his love and mercy on those who put their trust in him.
In the next lesson, we will examine the concepts of restoration and renewal, as God calls Noah and his family out of the Ark to rebuild and repopulate the earth; thus providing a new beginning for man, animal, and earth.
Thanks for studying with us.
Yours in Christ,
Wes
[2010]