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Revision as of 02:50, 29 September 2024
Theological Proposition/Focus: Obedience to God in the face of opposition brings blessings and is a testament to our faith in Him. Through obedience, we align our will with God's and experience His faithfulness in our lives.
Homiletical Proposition/Application: In times of moral decay and disobedience, Christians are called to remain obedient to God, even when it goes against the tide of society. Just like Noah, we must trust in God's guidance and follow His commands faithfully.
Genesis 6:11-22 Remain Obedient
Big Idea: Obedience to God in the face of opposition brings blessings and is a testament to our faith in Him. Through obedience, we align our will with God's and experience His faithfulness in our lives. Christ Focus: Noah's obedience in building the ark foreshadows Christ's obedience in fulfilling God's plan for salvation on the cross. Both instances showcase unwavering faith and submission to God's will.
Introduction Skip the verse
Image: Sometimes Obedience Seems Impossible, the Dreaded Diet.
Have you ever tried to diet or eat healthy for a period of time? It seems like whenever I try to commit myself to healthy eating, I am bound for failure. Back in August, after returning from vacation, I told Emily that I was going to start eating healthy. Guess what? The next day, we had a get-together with the college students to watch a movie, and what did we order to eat? Pizza, popcorn, and cookies. It almost seems inevitable. If I determine to eat healthy, my next several meals will involve fast food, eating huge portions at some restaurant, or some other food that is nothing like the healthy food I had imagined I would be eating. It never fails. Sometimes, I feel like it is the same for obedience. Obedience is hard, and the world is constantly pulling us away from obedience into something else.
Preview: Genesis 6:11-22 teaches us the importance of obedience to God's will, regardless of the circumstances around us. It emphasizes the blessings that come from following God wholeheartedly.
Setting the Stage:
Last week, we started a series on Noah, and we saw that righteousness matters.
It is striking: Genesis starts with creation but quickly moves from the wonder of creation to the devastation of the fall.
Genesis chapter 4 is no better, as we see the first murder when Cain kills Abel.
In Genesis 5, we see a genealogy, and then by chapter 6, we are back to the wickedness of man.
If you carefully look at the first few chapters of Genesis, you will see a gloomy picture. Mankind fails, epically. Obedience is hard! But that doesn’t mean obedience is impossible.
Let’s dig into the text.
Text: Genesis 6:11-22 read all at the beginning
Body
Corruption Calls for Conformity - Obedience may require you to stand against the tide of society (11-13).
Moral corruption was abundant at the time of Noah.
Corruption was rampant as evidenced by the word corrupt being used three times.
That corruption was abundant is no surprise. The text says exactly that in verse 11. In fact, the word "corrupt" is repeated three times in verses 11-12. What I want us to see today is the reality of the corruption present at the time of Noah.
So, what was the corruption?
Well, the verse tells us: the corruption was violence. God had given humanity the job of being fruitful and filling the earth. Now, humanity is doing quite the opposite and taking life through violence. The violence that Cain started in Genesis 4:8 apparently continued. I don’t know all the details of the violence—the text doesn't say—but what I do know is that the corruption that caught God’s attention was violence.
The phrase earth is used three times - the earth was not filled with life but rather with violence.
Next, notice that the word "earth" is also used three times. Instead of filling the earth with people who bear God’s image, the earth was filled with violence. In order to fully understand the problem, I think we need to look at it from a theological perspective. God created mankind in His own image. We bear the image of God. Violence against another person is literally the destruction of God’s image.
It seems that one of the ultimate forms of moral corruption is violence done against image-bearers of the Creator.
Moral corruption was rampant at the time of Noah, but I believe it is also rampant today.
Moral corruption has become the norm today.
We could talk about all sorts of forms of moral corruption. Our world is full of it! But what about the problem of violence? Violence is rampant today.
- Movies glorify violence.
- TV shows are based on violence. Think about it—how many shows have violence as their primary plot tool?
- News stations use violence to generate ratings.
- What about video games? You know, there was a time when the main theme of video games was rescuing the princess. Now, the main theme is almost universally violence.
Violence is not just a problem in our media; it is a problem in our culture.
- Fight clubs, sports, and even in our protected places like schools.
- Perhaps our most egregious use of violence is in abortion culture.
We have a culture in which we tell people that if they don’t want the baby, it’s okay to take its life. Then we defend that choice by saying people have the right to choose. No, people don’t have the right to choose! Violence is the norm, and corruption in our world is the norm.
The calls for compromise can be overwhelming.
Think about it.
when everyone else cuts corners will you?
When everyone around is cutting corners at work, it can feel like you're swimming against the current. It’s like being the only one at a potluck who brought a salad to share while everyone else brought donuts and cakes! Yet, we are called to stand firm in our integrity, even when it feels like we’re the odd one out.
When the world shouts down those who oppose corruption will you remain firm?
We have a world that shouts down those who take a stand against moral corruption.
We label those who take a stand as intolerant. But maybe we should accept that. Maybe we should respond and say, “You are right, I refuse to tolerate corruption.”
The reality is that corruption calls for conformity. We must stand against corruption and instead choose obedience, even against the tide of society.
Why should we stand against a society that insists on moral corruption? Because God is the judge and the truth. God judged the world of Noah for their failure. God judges sin not because He is vindictive, but because the world God made was not made for sin. God’s judgment on sin is actually an act of mercy.
I think the perfect example of one who chose obedience in the face of great pressure is the example of Joseph.
Image: Example Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife - Genesis 39
Joseph, in the Bible, faced great pressure to conform to the immoral advances of Potiphar’s wife. Despite the temptation and the potential consequences, he chose to maintain his moral integrity. His story reminds us of the enduring value of standing firm in the face of corruption, even when it seems easier to give in.
MTR: Prepare yourself to be obedient even when nobody else is obedient.
In the workplace, uphold your commitment to integrity and righteousness, even if it means standing alone.
Trust that God sees your faithfulness and will reward it in due time, so do not compromise your values for the sake of fitting in.
Let your actions and words reflect the love and truth of Christ, and trust that God will use you to impact those around you for His kingdom.
Commands Clarify Commitment - Obedience may require a significant investment of time and resources (14-16).
We have life pretty easy, my lawnmower not starting is pretty minor. Daisy's response to seeing my lawn.
We have life pretty easy. Think about it: my idea of a rough day involves my lawnmower not wanting to start. I guarantee you that for most of history and most people, a lawnmower not starting would be the least of their concerns. My sister-in-law is from China, and the first thing she told me about my lawn was something to the effect of, "Why do you spend so much money and time growing something that you cannot eat? Don’t you realize how many vegetables you could grow?"
Why talk about this? Because I want us to realize that we are spoiled, and what we think of as taking time and resources is really pretty insignificant. But that doesn’t change the fact that a commitment to obedience may require your investment.
Let’s look at Noah’s investment.
Construction of the ark was no small task.
The Ark Encounter reminded me of the enormity of the ark.
If you so desire, you can visit the Ark Encounter in Kentucky and see a replica of what engineers believe Noah’s Ark must have looked like. Emily and I visited the Ark this year, and I will say—it is impressive.
The dimensions given in Genesis describe a boat 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high.
This boat is longer than a football field and would not fit inside Memorial Stadium!
Overall, the Ark would have had a displacement of some 43,300 tons.
It is hard to say how long building the Ark took. Genesis 6:3 tells us that God put in place a 120-year countdown to the flood, but that does not mean Noah started building the Ark right then.
Writers at Answers in Genesis have estimated that Noah spent between 20 and 40 years building the Ark.
Regardless of how long it took, it was a long process that involved an incredible investment of time and resources.
I want us to understand that this was not God merely telling Noah to go and wash the dishes before going out to play baseball with his friends. God asked Noah for no less than 20 years of his life and productivity! God’s command to Noah demanded a level of commitment that is unfathomable to most of us. [1]
Construction of the ark involved following some explicit directions.
A good airplane builder knows the most important rule, follow the instructions.
I am a part of the Experimental Aircraft Association. This is a group of pilots and mechanics who build and maintain airplanes outside of normal factory and standard airworthiness regulations from the FAA. What does this mean? We have some freedom in what we do with airplanes. However, there is one rule that, while unwritten, is still pretty closely followed: When you build the airplane, follow the instructions. If you want to make some changes later, go for it, but to start with, follow the instructions.
God's instructions were detailed.
- God told Noah the dimensions of the Ark,
- the materials,
- and even how to waterproof the Ark.
But God's instructions prove he knew exactly what he was doing.
A fun archaeological fact is that the story of the Ark and flood is common throughout the world. Most cultures have a flood story, and the similarities to Noah are striking. In fact, there is a Babylonian flood story that is very well known. The problem? The dimensions of the ark in the Babylonian story are absurd and unseaworthy. Engineers have evaluated Noah’s design, and it is incredibly seaworthy. I am sure that Noah could have said, "I want my bedroom to be a little bigger, so I will make the Ark a little taller," or, "I want a bigger room for the elephants."
Instead, Noah followed God’s plans, and now with modern computers and simulation techniques, we are finding that God’s plans are good plans.
Within the world of experimental aviation, there are many stories of builders who decided to make the cockpit just a little bigger or add something to the plane, only to find out that the plane became completely unstable and difficult to fly. They quickly realize that they should have just followed the directions!
Sometimes obedience demands that we follow directions that we think leave something important out or could be modified just a little to improve. We must realize that we need to follow God’s plan.
Construction of the ark was part of God’s plan, not necessarily Noah’s plan.
I wonder howNoah felt about:
- God destroying the earth
- being the one responsible for building the ark
- giving up so many years of his life
- sacrificing his resources for God's plan
Something worth considering: everything here was God’s plan. I don’t know how Noah felt about God destroying the world, but he may not have been thrilled. I don’t know how Noah felt about being responsible for building the ark, but it probably felt like a lot of pressure. I don’t know how Noah felt about giving up so many years of his life, but it was a lot. I don’t know how Noah felt about sacrificing his resources for God’s plan.
In short, this was really not Noah’s plan; it was all about God’s plan. Nevertheless, Noah did it because God asked for it.
We need to follow God’s plan, God’s model, even when it doesn’t make sense.
Image: History proves that the church should follow God’s plan - the conservative resurgence in the SBC.
As a church, we must adapt to a changing culture while never sacrificing God’s plan for our church. This is hard, but history has an important lesson. One of my favorite seminary courses was my historical theology course—actually two courses. I learned so much about the history that led us to where we are today. One thing that really hit me hard was the study of the church in the post-modern period. As the world moved into modernism and then post-modernism, a large divide occurred between denominations. Some denominations sought to make religion relevant by embracing what they saw as a more culturally enlightened approach. Their motives were good; they did not want Christ to lose relevancy in a changing culture. Many of these churches adopted a more liberal interpretation of Scripture, allowing for Scripture to be metaphorical. Some of the traditional stances of Scripture were softened, such as the stance on homosexuality, leadership in the church, and morality. These denominations sought to speak to a changing culture in a relevant fashion. On the surface, this approach made sense—people don’t want to hear a religion that is irrelevant or behind enlightened thought. But the approach backfired, and many of these denominations saw a drastic decline in membership. Meanwhile, a few other denominations held to traditional interpretations, even when it was hard. These denominations did not see the decline. Now, we could stand up and take pride in the decision to stay true to traditional interpretations, but that is not the point. The point we need to make is that we must choose obedience first. Even when we feel we are going to lose relevancy, impact, or power, we must choose obedience.
MTR: Prepare yourself to be obedient even when it is not going to be easy.
- When facing a tough decision at home that requires obedience, take time to pray for wisdom and strength. Ask God to guide your actions and give you the courage to do what is right, even when it is difficult.
- In the workplace, when tempted to cut corners or compromise your values, remind yourself that obedience to God is more important than success or approval. Seek accountability from a trusted colleague or mentor to help you stay on track.
- As a student, prioritize obedience to God’s commands over the pressure to cheat or take shortcuts in your studies. Seek opportunities to share your faith and values with classmates, setting an example of integrity and obedience.
Covenant Confirms Conviction - Obedience requires conviction, but God’s promises make it worth it (17-22).
In the real world, obedience can be incredibly hard. Sometimes the costs of obedience are staggering. Consistent obedience will require nothing short of firm convictions. Nevertheless, the one who obeys will not be stuck holding the tab. God has promised to care for His own, and while that might not mean abundant worldly wealth, we do know that in eternity it will be worth it. We serve a God who saves!
In verses 17-22, three things stand out to me. First, Noah and his family were saved.
While everyone else was destroyed, Noah and his family were saved.
The destruction from the flood was total. Noah deserved to die too but God is gracious.
Look at verse 23. Every person on earth was destroyed in the flood. I want us to understand God’s salvation here. Noah was a sinner; Noah too deserved to die. But God saved Noah and his family. Noah’s conviction was to obey God, and God made it worth it. While everyone else received the just consequences for sin, Noah was spared.
If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, then you have a promise from the God of the universe to save you. Take a second and reflect on that. God has promised to save those who accept His offer of salvation.
When you feel like everyone around you is being led astray or facing destruction, remember Noah's story. Just as God saved him and his family, He can protect and guide you. Stay faithful to God's word and His commands, even when it's challenging.
While everything else was destroyed, God used Noah to preserve creation.
Not only was every person destroyed but every living thing was destroyed.
If we again look at verses 17-22, we see that not only was every person destroyed, but every living thing was destroyed. The world was forever changed, but God, through Noah, preserved His creation.
Think about this: for all eternity, there is one person (besides Christ) to whom we will be able to trace responsibility for preserving creation—Noah. Noah’s obedience had a profound impact on the world for as long as the world remains.
n moments of chaos and destruction in your personal life, remember that God can use you as a vessel of preservation.
Just as God used Noah to preserve creation, you can be a source of hope and restoration in your family, your work, and your friend circle. Take time to pray for wisdom and strength, and actively seek opportunities to bring peace and restoration to your loved ones. Be a beacon of light in the darkness, showing your faithfulness to God through your obedience.
While the world fell apart, Noah obeyed.
At any point, I imagine Noah could have given up, and maybe he even felt like giving up. The world literally fell apart, but Noah obeyed. Noah’s conviction was that he should obey God, and God honored Noah by saving him, his family, and preserving the world.
Image: Martin Luther and the Reformation
During the Reformation era, Martin Luther stood firm in his convictions despite facing intense opposition from the religious authorities of his time. Martin Luther was a German monk and theologian whose work sparked the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century. His 1517 publication of the *Ninety-Five Theses* criticized the Catholic Church’s sale of indulgences and questioned the authority of the Pope, arguing that salvation could be reached through faith alone, not by purchasing forgiveness. Luther’s writings emphasized the importance of the Bible as the sole source of religious authority, leading to the translation of the Bible into vernacular languages, making it accessible to ordinary people. Ultimately, Luther’s contributions brought freedom from religious tyranny that had dominated Europe and provided the catalyst for the lasting transformation of Christianity. Luther’s conviction that Christianity must be based on the Bible cost him everything, and at the same time, it was completely worth it.
MTR: Prepare yourself to be obedient by considering the promises of God.
- When studying or facing exams, focus on the promises of God's wisdom and understanding. Trust in His ability to help you grasp difficult concepts and give you clarity as you learn.
- Before engaging in public activities or interactions, remember God's promise of peace and protection. Allow His assurance to calm any anxieties or fears you may have about the world around you.
- As you face decisions at home, remind yourself of God's promises of guidance and wisdom. When unsure, spend time in prayer seeking His direction, and trust that He will lead you.
