Genesis 6:11–18; 7:11–14

Explore the Bible
Assistant Professor of Christian Ministries, University of Mobile

GOD SAVES

Genesis 6:11–18; 7:11–14

This section of Scripture recounts how Noah and his immediate family are rescued from the flood. The whole process is presented as the undoing of creation and then the “re-creation” of the earth as it emerges from the flood. But after the flood not everything returns to its pristine condition. The people’s nature has not been transformed. The heart of the human problem is still the problem of the human heart (Mark 7:21–23).

Wickedness Observed (6:11–13)

Noah was a righteous man who walked in fellowship with God. Noah’s personal righteousness explains why he is warned about God’s plan to judge the earth because of the people’s sin. In contrast to Noah the earth was corrupt in God’s sight. The horror of sin in the human heart is evident as every intention of the thoughts of mankind was continually evil. Sinful, evil thinking manifested itself in the sinful behavior of the people on the earth. 

In verses 11–12 the emphasis is on the violence that fills the earth. The mention of “corruption” here may lie behind the apostle Paul’s “bondage to corruption” (Rom. 8:21). The creation suffers as mankind corrupts its way and as God punishes that corruption. Originally created and designed to rule and reign the earth as God’s representatives, humans have aggressively asserted their rule over all others.

The Bible teaches here in Genesis that God is going to destroy the people He has created because of their immoral behavior. Hearts corrupted by sin led the people to abuse others. This sinful behavior always grieves God’s heart and results in His righteous judgment.

Promise Unfolded (6:14–18)

In the midst of God’s judgment there also is mercy. God makes a covenant with Noah and provides a way for Noah and his immediate family to be saved from the judgment to come. God gave Noah specific plans for him to build a large boat, or the ark. In modern measurements the ark would have been around 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet tall. The inside capacity would have been 1.4 million cubic feet with a deck area of 95,700 square feet.

God revealed to Noah His intention to bring a flood upon the earth to destroy every person and animal that has the breath of life. Everything that is on the earth shall die in God’s righteous judgment. Everything, that is, except what was in the ark. Just as “Captain Noah and the Good Ship Grace” were saved from the judgment there is only one way anyone in the world can be saved from God’s righteous judgment of sin and that is in the true Ark, Jesus Christ. The Church’s mission is the Great Commission. We are to make disciples of all nations and we need to do so with urgency because the judgment day is approaching. When was the last time you sought to introduce someone to Jesus?

Action Taken (7:11–14)

A peculiar feature of the story of the flood is the number of detailed chronological notices (8:4–5, 13–14). By pinpointing the exact date of the flood within Noah’s life the Scripture emphasizes that it was a real event.

All those who entered the ark, male and female, went in as God commanded and then the Lord shut the door on the ark. Their salvation was secure. And today our salvation is found not in a place but rather in a person, Jesus Christ. God is saving people all around the world as people respond with repentance and faith to the gospel of Christ. And God seals all of His children of faith with the Holy Spirit. We are saved and kept by the power of Jesus.