Universal Judgment
God's punishment for sin is universal.
Genesis(24) (Part of the Origins(24) series)
by Stuart Johns(25) on August 11, 2024 (Sunday Morning(32))
All-Powerful (Omnipotent)(3), Grace(4), Judgement(1), Mercy(3), Salvation(8)
Origins
Universal Judgment
(Genesis 7:17-24)
INTRODUCTION
“Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) was an American poet who wrote mainly of death and immortality. In 1846, Dickinson's letters to her most intimate friend, Abiah Root, spoke with great compassion of her tears at the news of Abiah's readiness to give her life to Christ. Then Emily confided to her friend that, some time before, she too had professed her faith in Christ: ‘I felt I had found my savior,’ she wrote. ‘I never enjoyed such perfect peace and happiness.’
What happened then? No scholarship has disclosed specifically how much earlier Dickinson had known this ‘perfect peace and happiness’—presumably between the age of six and her then-fifteen years. Apparently, like the seed sown upon rocky soil, the experience of joy in salvation did not find sufficient nurture to survive. The feeling of ‘perfect peace and happiness’ did not last.
‘I soon forgot my morning prayer or else it was irksome to me,’ she wrote. ‘One by one my old habits returned and I cared less for religion than ever.’ Yet, once having tasted the bliss of forgiveness, a lingering nostalgia remained: ‘I feel that I shall never be happy [unless] I love Christ.’
It appears this was too hard for Dickinson, for one year later, while attending Mt. Holyoke Female Seminary, she wrote the following in a letter: ‘I am not happy, and I regret that last term, when the golden opportunity was mine, that I did not give up and become a Christian. It is not now too late, so my friends tell me, so my offended conscience whispers, but it is hard for me to give up the world.’”
Source: D. Bruce Lockerbie, Dismissing God (Baker Books, 1998)
[https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2002/february/13527.html]
How many of us would agree with Emily Dickinson that it is hard to give up the world? My guess is that the pre-flood people struggled with the same thing – giving up the world – and they experienced God’s universal judgment as a result.
BODY
ME
Punished as a child
When I would get in trouble as a child, my Mom would always say, “Wait until your Father gets home!”
I knew what that meant, I would get a spanking when my Dad got home
The dread and anticipation of that spanking was just as much of a punishment for me as the spanking itself, because I would stress about it until my Dad got home
I knew I would not get out of being punished for misbehaving
The same was true for my brother when he got into trouble
My Dad’s punishment was universal for all of his children
WE
Punishment
How many of us know the universal punishment of a parent?
How many of us know the universal punishment of a teacher/principal/administrator (caught cheating, fighting at school, bullying someone at school, etc.)
How many of us know the universal punishment of an employer (too many points at work and you lose your job)
Most of us know the limits and the consequences of exceeding those limits
All of humanity, including animals, experienced the universal judgment of a just God because of universal sin (disobedience/wickedness). As we will see today, no one escaped God’s universal judgment, except Noah and his family. They all experienced death because every inclination of their hearts were only evil all the time. What we learn from this passage is that . . .
BIG IDEA – God’s punishment for sin is universal.
Let’s pray
GOD (Genesis 7:17-24)
Peaked (vv. 17-20, 24)
God kept His promise
Genesis 7:4, Seven days from now I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and I will wipe from the face of the earth every living creature I have made.
The narrator tells us that the flood kept coming on the earth for forty days (he is retelling the events that actually happened)
God allowed the rain to fall for exactly 40 days, as He had said
“The effect of the Flood on the ark is noted in three brief sentences, each of which is in logical sequence, the second being the effect of the first and the cause of the third: ‘the waters increased’; ‘they carried the ark’; ‘it was raised above the earth.’” [Hamilton, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament, The Book of Genesis, Chapters 1-17, 296]
Noah’s handiwork passed the test
God had given Noah wisdom in how to build the ark, so that it would be waterproof
The fact that it floated on the surface of the water meant that he had done an excellent job of following God’s plans
Water level
The floodwaters continued to increase even after the rain stopped
The water peaked at twenty feet above the highest mountains and remained at that level for 150 days
Destruction was certain – there was no escaping the universal punishment of God
God’s punishment for sin is universal.
“This demonstrates that no living creature could possibly survive by escape to a high place. But not only was everything covered by water; this water remained in place for a hundred and fifty days. The implications of this is that no living creature, even clinging to a floating piece of debris or existing in some air pocket on earth, could live through the deluge.” [Gangel & Bramer, Holman Old Testament Commentary, Genesis, 77]
Local or Universal Flood
Local
Some people, using human logic, say that the flood had to be local, because the earth would not be able to hold the amount of water that it would take to cover all the land to twenty feet above the highest mountain
In their humanness they forget about or doubt God’s omnipotence (all-powerful) and that there is nothing He cannot do
The mistake they make is using human logic and understanding of how the natural world works, which is limited
They marginalize the supernatural world that God has complete control over
I believe that God is eternal, infinite, omnipotent, omniscient, and so much more
My finite mind does not even scratch the surface of His vast and endless knowledge and power
I believe what the literal reading of Genesis says, which points to a universal flood
Universal
If it was a local flood why did God give us a universal sign of His continued covenant through the rainbow [Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, Old Testament, Genesis-Deuteronomy, 46-47]
If it was a local flood why didn’t God just tell Noah to gather up his family and the animals and take them to a place where the flood wouldn’t reach them [Wiersbe, 47]
If it was a local flood then the other humans and animals could have fled to a safe place and not experience God’s universal punishment for sin
If it was a local flood, then God hasn’t kept His promise to never destroy the earth by flood again (Gen. 9:8-17) because there have been some pretty devastating and deadly floods in other local areas [Wiersbe, 47]
If Noah’s flood was a local flood like the ones the world has experienced since then, then God’s promise through the covenant sign of the rainbow are meaningless [Wiersbe, 47]
“Both Jesus and Peter used the Flood to illustrate future events that will involve the whole world: the return of Christ (Matt. 24:37-39; Luke 17:26-27) and the worldwide judgment of fire (2 Peter 3:3-7).” [Wiersbe, 47] (I will be coming back to this)
All of this points to a universal flood that no human or animal would be able to escape or survive
The water level points to a God who is all-powerful
PRINCIPLE #1 – God is all-powerful!
There is nothing God cannot do
Creating everything from nothing is not too hard for God (Gen.1:1-31; Jer. 32:17)
Virgin birth is not impossible for God (Luke 1:35)
Barrenness cannot stop the power of God (Luke 1:36-37)
Salvation may be impossible for humans, but not for God (Matthew 19:23-26; John 3:16-17)
Healing and restoring life is not impossible for God (John 11:38-44; Mark 5:21-43)
God is able to flood the entire world to twenty feet above the highest mountains
Jeremiah 32:26-27, Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah. “I am the Lord, The God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”
What are you facing right now that seems impossible?
Do you believe that God is powerful enough to help you?
Maybe you need to trust His power right now for the situation you are going through
#1 – My Next Step Today Is To: Trust God’s mighty power to _______________.
God’s power was evident through the flood and through His punishment for sin
Passed (vv. 21-23a)
The narrator expressed, in multiple ways, that God’s punishment for sin was universal
The narrator gave the general statement twice – “every living thing,”
Then the narrator gave more specifics
Birds, livestock, wild animals, all the creatures that swarm over the earth, all mankind (v. 21)
Men, animals, creatures that move along the ground, and birds (v. 23a)
It is almost a reverse order of v. 21
Those two lists point to the center, which once again states that “everything . . . that had the breath of life . . .” (v. 22)
The narrator wanted to make sure that we understood “that no one escaped the purging of the floodwaters.” [Mathews, The New American Commentary, Vol. 1A, Genesis 1-11:26]
God kept His promise once again
Through the death of all humanity, animals, and birds, we see “again the process of creation is reversed (2:7).” [Goldingay, Baker Commentary on the Old Testament Pentateuch, Genesis, 146]
God created birds, livestock, wild animals, all creatures that swarm over the earth, and all mankind, but now He is wiping out those same creations – they all perished, died
God’s punishment for sin is universal.
PRINCIPLE #2 – God’s judgment of sin is total and complete.
God’s judgment of sin is not just reserved for the pre-flood people
His judgment of sin is for us as well (the post-flood people)
Matthew 24:37-41, As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
2 Peter 3:3-9, First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
God was patient with the pre-flood people for perhaps hundreds of years, but He has been patient with the post-flood people for thousands of years
In the same way that the window of grace closed for the pre-flood sinners, the window of grace will close for the post-flood sinners, and they will be just as surprised as the pre-flood sinners
God is aware of the condition of our heart and soul
We may be able to fool other human beings, but we cannot fool God
Hebrews 4:12-13, For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Everyone will stand before Jesus one day and He will judge fairly and rightly
Matthew 25:31-34, 41, 46, “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.’ … Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’ … Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
God’s punishment for sin is universal, total, and complete.
We intuitively know right from wrong, but we try to justify our wrong so we can continue to do it without feeling guilty
Children will look you right in the eye and do exactly what you told them not to do (they know right from wrong)
Some people will ask you for your opinion about something, hoping you will answer the same way they would (they are trying to justify doing something they know is wrong)
As we will see in just a moment, we do not have to experience God’s total and complete judgment of our sin, because He made a way for us to be in a right relationship with Him
#2 – My Next Step Today Is To: Prepare for God’s final judgement by evaluating my actions and attitudes to determine if they are pleasing to the Lord.
God’s punishment for sin is universal, but we can avoid that punishment like Noah and his family did
Preserved (v. 23b)
Noah, his family, and the animals on the ark were preserved and spared from God’s universal punishment for sin
They were saved through faith, patience, and God’s grace and mercy
Hebrews 6:12, We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
The writer of Hebrews understood that it takes faith in Jesus in order to inherit God’s promised blessing of eternal life
The writer also understood that it takes patience to wait for Jesus’ return in order to inherit the kingdom of God
We are in the period of “already but not yet”
Saved
Already saved in Christ (Ephesians 2:8, For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.) [NIV]
Not yet saved (Romans 5:9, Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!) [NIV]
We are saved by faith in Jesus, but we have not experienced the full measure of that salvation until Jesus returns and we are saved from God’s final judgment
Adopted
Already adopted in Christ (Romans 8:15, For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”) [ESV]
Not yet adopted (Romans 8:23, And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.)
We are adopted into God’s family through Christ, but we have not fully experienced that adoption until Christ returns and we are transformed to be like Him
So, we have to believe in Jesus by faith and then patiently serve the Lord until Jesus returns
It is God’s grace and mercy that provides salvation through faith in Jesus and the strength to wait patiently for His return
PRINCIPLE #3 – God is gracious and merciful.
1 Peter 3:18-22, For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also – not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand – with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
Out of God’s great love for us, He sent His perfect Son to die in our place, so we could be in a right relationship with Him
God approved and accepted Jesus’ perfect sacrifice on the cross by allowing Him to come alive again
It is through Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection that we can experience the resurrection of our body some day
#3 – My Next Step Today Is To: Accept God’s grace-gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
YOU
What do you need to trust God’s mighty power to accomplish?
Are you ready to prepare for God’s final judgement by evaluating your actions and attitudes to determine if they are pleasing to the Lord?
Do you need to accept God’s grace-gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ?
WE
What do we need to trust God’s mighty power to accomplish as a church body?
Are there some actions and attitudes that we need to evaluate as a body to determine if they are pleasing to the Lord?
CONCLUSION
“The British expositor Alexander Maclaren said:
For a hundred and twenty years the wits laughed, and the ‘common-sense’ people wondered, and the patient saint went on hammering and pitching at his ark. But one morning it began to rain; and by degrees, somehow, Noah did not seem quite such a fool. The jests would look rather different when the water was up to the knees of the jesters; and their sarcasms would stick in their throats as they drowned.
So is it always. So it will be at the last great day. The men who lived for the future, by faith in Christ, will be found out to have been the wise men when the future has become the present, and the present has become the past, and is gone for ever; while they who had no aims beyond the things of time, which are now sunk beneath the dreary horizon, will awake too late to the conviction that they are outside the ark of safety, and that their truest epitaph is, ‘Thou fool.’”
[Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, Old Testament, Genesis-Deuteronomy, 47].