Surviving the Flood (Genesis 6:9-22)
In West Virginia, we lived in the church parsonage next to the church building next to a creek. When we moved into the house, we were assured that the creek would never present a problem; the water had never gotten near the house, and all would be good.
Well, one Wednesday afternoon, it started to rain and to rain hard. The creek began to rise. The only way for us to leave the house was over a tiny bridge over the creek. As the creek continued to rise, Tammy told me I had to decide if we were evacuating or staying in the house—she did not, she said, want her mother to see us being rescued on the evening news.
Why would we leave? Everyone had assured me we were safe in the house. That was a huge mistake. No, water never entered the house; it came about a fourth of an inch of doing so. However, our boys stood at our big picture window in the living room and watched their swing set float away; we lost nearly all our outdoor belongings. And our HVAC system was under the house, so mud and water filled our ductwork. That house required so many repairs that we had to stay with my parents for a few weeks.
I know many of you have dealt with flooding. I’ve heard many stories about Harvey; most of you here were spared devastation, but many of you helped with disaster relief. How many of you have been downtown Houston and needed to turn around because of high water? How many times do you drive under an overpass and notice the flood gauges?
Noah didn’t need a flood gauge, for water covered the surface of the entire earth. But because of his righteousness, Noah experienced that deluge from the safety of an ark. And Noah’s family—his wife, three sons, and three daughters-in-law—accompanied Noah on that ark.
On this Father’s Day, Noah’s example shines bright, and he teaches us: “You can guide your children to live righteously.” You might think to yourself, “That’s fine, Justin, but my children are grown, and there’s really nothing more I can do.” Folks, Noah saved his children when they were grown, and I’m convinced that following Noah’s example “You can guide your children to live righteously” even when they are grown.
Scripture (Genesis 6:9-22)
verse 9:
“Noah was a righteous man.” “Righteous” in Hebrew means that someone conforms to a moral standard; throughout the Hebrew Bible, the word is applied to God’s character. Thus, Noah lived a God-like life.
Noah was “blameless in his generation.” “Blameless” in Hebrew means being complete; the word was used for unblemished animals which were sacrificed. Thus, Noah was a man at whose feet you could lay no blame.
Noah was vastly different from everyone else in his generation, for God “saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Gen 6:5).
How could Noah live righteously in the midst of a crooked generation? “Noah walked with God.” In other words, Noah sought and found and lived a relationship with his God.
verse 10:
Noah was a father, for he “had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.”
verses 11-14a:
Once more the author notes that while the earth is filled with evil, Noah is different. God told Noah that he would destroy the world because of its evil. However, Noah was to construct for himself “an ark of gopher wood.”
verses 14b-16:
God gave Noah the instructions for how to construct the ark for the saving of his household.
verse 17:
God himself differentiated between Noah and the rest of the world; God said, “Everything that is on the earth shall die.” But Noah and his family aren’t a part of “everything.”
verse 18:
When God flooded the earth, Noah was to bring himself, his wife, his sons, and his daughters-in-law into the ark. I’m convinced this verse shows that Noah was probably the greatest father who has ever lived. If Noah’s wife or his sons or his daughters-in-law had been evil, do you really think God would have saved them in the flood? Noah led his wife, his sons, and his daughters-in-law in righteousness.
verses 19-21:
God gave Noah instructions for the care of the animals he was to take upon the ark.
verse 22:
Noah faithfully “did all that God commanded him.”
Application
“You can guide your children to live righteously.” Noah guided his wife, his adult children, and his daughters-in-law in living righteously. We need fathers (and mothers) today who lead their children in righteousness. A father has no more important role: “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph 6:4).
How can you lead your adult children in righteousness like Noah?
One: Distinct
You, like Noah, must be Distinct from the world. Noah was Distinct from the world. “The earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence. . . . [A]ll flesh had corrupted their way on the earth” (Gen 6:11-12). Noah, however, was the exception: “Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God” (Gen 6:9).
You must be Distinct from the world to influence your children. “Go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you” (2 Cor 6:17). “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness” (Eph 5:11). “Be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Phil 2:15).
What do your children see in your life? Do they see you as Distinct from this world? Or, do they see you living like this world? Just what do they see?
Two: Duty
You, like Noah, have a Duty. God gave Noah a Duty to save his family and the animal kingdom: build an ark.
To influence your children, fulfill your Duty; in other words, let your children see how active you are in the church. “My beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Cor 15:58).
Your Duty is determined by your talents: “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace” (1 Pet 4:10).
What ability do you have? Notice that Peter said, “As each has received a gift.” What do your children see when they look at you? Do they see you performing your Duty? Or, do they see you shirking your Duty?
Three: Discharge
You, like Noah, must Discharge obedience before the Almighty. “Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him” (Gen 6:22).
The Almighty has likewise given you commands to Discharge. Jesus: “You are my friends if you do what I command you” (Jn 15:14). “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome” (1 Jn 5:2-3).
You must Discharge obedience to enter heaven: “Being made perfect, [Jesus] became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him” (Heb 5:9). If you Discharge obedience before the Almighty God, you will have eternal salvation. Likewise, if your children Discharge obedience before the Almighty God, they will have eternal salvation. What better way to encourage your children to be obedient than to be obedient yourself? How obedient are you?
This sermon was originally preached by Dr. Justin Imel, Sr., at Church of Christ Deer Park in Deer Park, Texas.