Destruction and Hope

1. Destruction and Hope God’s certain purpose

2. Intro • Who were the Nephilim (giants?) • Was the flood global or local? • Can we find the ark? • Was it right for God to kill all the people of the world except Noah and his family?

3. Intro • Point to bear in mind • Pre-literary history (Genesis 1-11) • Literary pre-history (Genesis 12-50) • Literary history (Exodus onwards)

4. I. Destruction is necessary for good to flourish 11 Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence. 12 God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. 13 So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth.

5. I. Destruction is necessary for good to flourish • The flood a necessary act of great mercy

6. I. Destruction is necessary for good to flourish Matthew 1028 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

7. Revelation 19 After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: “Hallelujah!Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,2     for true and just are his judgments.He has condemned the great prostitute    who corrupted the earth by her adulteries.He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”

8. 3 And again they shouted: “Hallelujah!The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever.” 4 The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried: “Amen, Hallelujah!”

9. 5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying: “Praise our God,    all you his servants,you who fear him,    both great and small!” 6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah!    For our Lord God Almighty reigns.

10. 7 Let us rejoice and be glad    and give him glory!For the wedding of the Lamb has come,    and his bride has made herself ready.8 Fine linen, bright and clean,    was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.)

11. 9 Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”

12. II. You have hope because God delivers you from judgment to flourish in his will 1. I flourish when I procreate and create

13. II. You have hope because God delivers you from judgment to flourish in his will Genesis 9 Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.

14. II. You have hope because God delivers you from judgment to flourish in his will • The Bible celebrates the procreation of life, not the culture of death. Human life the highest value in creation.

15. II. You have hope because God delivers you from judgment to flourish in his will • Procreate and create. We are given the desire to create and find satisfaction in our creation.

16. II. You have hope because God delivers you from judgment to flourish in his will Affirmation #1. I flourish when I procreate and create

17. II. You have hope because God delivers you from judgment to flourish in his will 2. I flourish when I relate rightly to plants and animals.

18. II. You have hope because God delivers you from judgment to flourish in his will Genesis 9 2 The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth, and on all the birds in the sky, on every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your hands.

19. II. You have hope because God delivers you from judgment to flourish in his will • People before plants and animals – more about this in “Veganism.”

20. II. You have hope because God delivers you from judgment to flourish in his will • It is good to have plants and animals in your life. Leadership through ownership and responsibility over creation.

21. II. You have hope because God delivers you from judgment to flourish in his will Affirmation #2. I flourish when I relate rightly to plants and animals.

22. II. You have hope because God delivers you from judgment to flourish in his will 3. I flourish when I enjoy all food.

23. II. You have hope because God delivers you from judgment to flourish in his will Genesis 9 3 Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.

24. II. You have hope because God delivers you from judgment to flourish in his will Affirmation #3 I flourish when I enjoy all food.

25. II. You have hope because God delivers you from judgment to flourish in his will 4. I flourish when I respect all life and give the highest value to human life.

26. Genesis 9 4 “But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it.5 And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each human being, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of another human being.

27. Genesis 9 6 “Whoever sheds human blood,    by humans shall their blood be shed;for in the image of God    has God made mankind. 7 As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it.”

28. II. You have hope because God wants you to flourish • The different value of human and animal life. Animal life – blood goes back to God. Human life – life for life.

29. II. You have hope because God wants you to flourish Affirmation #4 I flourish when I respect all life and give the highest value to human life.

30. II. You have hope because God wants you to flourish 5. I flourish because every good work I do will not perish.

31. Genesis 9 8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: 9 “I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you 10 and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you—every living creature on earth. 11 I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”

32. II. You have hope because God wants you to flourish • Incorrect connection: the next time God will destroy the earth by fire.

33. 2 Peter 3 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. …

34. 2 Peter 3 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. … 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

35. II. You have hope because God wants you to flourish • Jesus: the unity of heaven and earth. The work Jesus did on earth are carried on into the new heaven and the new earth. Likewise our kingdom work.

36. II. You have hope because God wants you to flourish Affirmation #5. I flourish because every good work I do will not perish.

37. Conclusion • God rescuing Noah is a prefigure of Jesus rescuing us from judgment. • Heaven and earth united in Jesus when we came. • Great judgement before the return of Jesus. • Heaven and earth will be united in Jesus when he returns.