Week 2: Day 1 

Genesis 6-8

Key Text  

“Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence.” Genesis 6:11                                                                                                     

The Seed of the Woman Preserved through Noah   

The flood represents the most significant and sweeping act of judgement God has ever inflicted upon his creation. When reflecting upon this event, it is especially important for those who have had the blessing of growing up in the context of the church and in Christian homes to divorce the historical flood from cartoon drawings and coloring book pages. This is not a children’s story.  

Perverting the command of Eden to “be fruitful and multiply” (Gen 1:28), man has multiplied (Gen 6:1) for unparalleled and unceasing evil (Gen 6:5). Though there is disagreement among scholars about the expressions “the sons of God” and “The Nephilim,” it is clear that violence, along with perverse and detrimental sexual couplings, was taking place and that the seed of the serpent was strong and spreading through these unholy unions.  

The flood God sent in response marks another instance in Genesis where creation was sacrificed for the sake of man. Just like God clothed Adam and Eve with the skins of slain animals (Gen 3:21), here nearly all life on earth is sacrificed for God’s redemptive purposes for man. Undoubtedly, these twin events served as powerful indications to Adam and Eve, as well as to Noah and his family, of the grave seriousness of sin.  

Ultimately this was a decisive, although grim, victory against the seed of the serpent. At a time when evil appeared to reign unchecked, God solemnly acted to preserve “the seed of the woman.” And though destruction of this magnitude may be hard to comprehend, we must remember that God always has redemption in mind. He not only redeemed Noah and his family, but he preserved and protected their descendants for generations until “Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ” (Matt 1:16). 

Joe Martin, email to the editor, January 5, 2016.

Connection with Newer Testament  

1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 2:5 

For the Kids

Remind your children of a time when they disobeyed. Explain to them that Mom and Dad did not teach them to disobey. We were all born with a know-how to do wrong (a sin nature), and no matter how hard we try, we will never be perfect. We deserve God’s judgment. Yet, God in his mercy chose to save all who trust in him.

Prayer Prompts  

  1. In what ways have you sinned today and reflected the rebellion of the flood generation? Confess those sins and repent before the Lord.
  2.  Because of our sin and rebellion, we deserve to be swept away in the flood of God’s righteous wrath. Praise the Lord for his daily mercy. Christian, praise him for saving a remnant and for including you. Praise him for Christ who is our ark, the one in whom we have shelter from judgment because of his body and blood poured out for us.