Both the prophet Isaiah and the Lord Jesus Christ referred back to the days of Noah and the flood to illustrate key spiritual concepts about the shortcomings of human behavior versus the eternal grace and holiness of God.
Noah lived in a time when evil dominated the entire earth. We have seen events in our history where this type of evil has been in control in extensive geographic areas. In our times, God has used other people to defeat and put down this evil, at least for a season.
Mankind has demonstrated a lot of good and love for others throughout history. But without faith and a true connection to and devotion to God, evil can get a foothold, spread out, and eventually take over in the hearts and minds of people. Without divine protection, people can fall prey to various doctrines of demonic thinking, then follow these up with evil action. When the whole world threatens to becomes like this, filled with violence against one another, God must take action to deal with it.
Things got so bad in Noah’s time that God’s heart was grieved. He even regretted creating people and placing them on this good earth. But through all of this, there was one man, Noah, who pleased God. The Lord decided to preserve and bless His highest creation, people, through faithful Noah and his resulting line. Though it broke God’s heart, the pervasive evil of Noah’s day was judged using a global flood. Afterwards, God promised to never judge the earth in this way again.
The prophet Isaiah told Judah that, just as the Lord had promised no more global floods, He would also withhold further acts of judgment against them once they returned from exile in Babylon. They would of course face further severe trials and hardships, but those would not originate with God.
Isaiah prophesied words from the Lord regarding His coming “moment of wrath” against them. It was the only way to cure them of persistent idolatry and unfaithfulness, yet still preserve their holy line. Their defeat by Nebuchadnezzar and a seventy-year exile in Babylon would come, but it did succeed in ending their idolatry for good. Once Judah was chastised, the Lord promised to end His judgment and to extend His love to them forever. The next time, He Himself would bear all the punishment required to atone for the wicked deeds of the world, doing so on the cross at Calvary.
9 “For this is like the waters of Noah to Me;
For as I have sworn
That the waters of Noah would no longer cover the earth,
So have I sworn
That I would not be angry with you, nor rebuke you.
10 For the mountains shall depart
And the hills be removed,
But My kindness shall not depart from you,
Nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,”
Says the Lord, who has mercy on you. Isaiah 54:9-10 (NKJV)
Centuries after Isaiah, Jesus also used a Noah analogy to describe the condition of the earth at the time of His return, the Second Coming. Just as in Noah’s time, Jesus’ return will come when few are ready to receive Him.
36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Matthew 24:36-39 (NKJV)
Genesis chapter six tells us that the earth in Noah’s time was corrupt and filled with violence, and Jesus warned His disciples that the hearts of people would be similarly wicked at the time of His return, with lawlessness and coldness towards others commonplace.
12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. Matthew 24:12 (NKJV)
Jesus even wondered if He would find any faith at all on the earth when the Father decides the time is right to send Jesus back to gather His people.
8 Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:8b (NKJV)
We pray that we will all be ready and about the work of the Father when Jesus returns to bring in His kingdom and to put down suffering, death, and evil forever. We look forward to a joyful and peaceful eternal kingdom once the storms of Noah have passed, once and for all.
Reflection
When wickedness becomes too great in the hearts, minds, and intentions of people, God has to do something about it to put an end to it.
But, God has a tender heart. It grieves Him when things go this far. His love for us is so great that He took the full burden of punishment upon Himself on the cross at Calvary. His forgiveness and salvation is offered to all women and men who would humble themselves to receive Him. God has extended His love, and He promises to never take it away from us.
Lord, we reach out to You for blessing and protection today. We pray for the restraining power of the Holy Spirit to keep the spread of evil in check, granting blessing and protection to all who seek it. Keep the spread of evil from taking hold in our own hearts and minds, and help us to better reflect Your loving heart to those around us. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
May the Lord richly bless you as you walk with Him today.
Daily Meditations from the Genealogy of Jesus 