If the Israelites needed to be prepared mentally and spiritually for the exodus, wouldn’t it be good to have an idea of the power of God, even exhibited in His wrath? For a few months, our Tuesday studies are designed to look at Genesis, the “Book of the Fathers,” from the perspective of the Israelites in Egypt.
An outline of the biblical text:
6:1-7 – The intensity of the wickedness is emphasized in verse 5. “Earth” is mentioned eight times from verse 5-13. Jehovah decided to “blot out” everything, “from man to animals.”
6:8-10 – Thankfully, Noah found “favor” (“favor, popularity”) in the eyes of the Lord. Sarna points out that “Noah” and “favor” form an anagram: nh-hn (47). Noah was righteous, blameless (with the basic meaning of “complete, unscathed, intact”) and walked with God (as did Enoch: 5:22, 24).
6:11-12 – The word “corrupt” is used three times in four verses and seven times total. Sarna, familiar with ANE literature, says the idea that “God holds men and society accountable for their misdeeds, is revolutionary in the ancient world” (53).
6:13-22 – God speaks to Noah seven times. The command to build the ark is issued to Noah and verse 22 summarizes Noah’s response. “God speaks. Noah implements” (Hamilton, 280).
8:1-19 – “God remembered (The verb is found in the OT 73 times with God as the subject.) Noah” and provides for his departure on dry land.
8:20-22 – Noah worships God, building an altar, the first altar built in the Bible and shows Noah’s faith that God brought him through the flood. Then, Noah offers burnt offerings (These were sacrifices that were “wholly burned.”). In Noah’s worship, he recognizes a renewed relationship between humanity and God. The Lord smelled the aroma and promised to never destroy the world again.
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The Lord was “sorry”. Do not let God being “sorry” lead you to believe that God did not know what mankind was going to do. You and I experience emotions even when we know completely what is going to happen. For example, after watching “It’s a Wonderful Life” a multitude of times, our family can nearly repeat the final scene word for word. But that does not keep us from shedding tears of joy when we see it happen! God knew the world would sin. But He still felt strong emotions when He saw them engaging in such behavior.
Israel serves a God who can be touched, emotionally impacted, by the wickedness of man. “But verses like this remind us that the God of the OT is not beyond the capability of feeling pain, chagrin, and remorse” (Hamilton, 274). Moses will later ask God to “change His mind” at the creation of the golden calf in Exo 32:12-14.
God threatens to “utterly blot out” the nation of Amalek (Exo 17:14). The flood of Noah’s day shows Israel what God is capable of doing. Following the righteous slaughtering of 3,000 men who engaged in idolatry (Exo 32:25-39), Moses prays to receive “favor” in God’s eyes (33:12-16). Noah found favor in Jehovah’s eyes because he was “righteous.” Israel was to be righteous as well: Exo 23:7-8; Deut 16:19. Noah was also “blameless.” Israel will be commanded, also, to be blameless: Deut 18:13. Abraham (17:1) was commanded to walk with God. Israel was promised that God would walk with them: Lev 26:12; Deut 23:15.
The verb translated “corrupt” in Gen 6:11-12 is translated “destroy” in verse 13. God promises He will “destroy” Israel if they are found to be corrupt: Deut 9:26. God will remember Israel in her bondage in Egypt: Exo 2:24; 6:5. In contrast to inanimate idols (Deut 4:28), God can “smell.” These reactions suggest that only Jehovah God can react so as to bless acts of obedience (cf. Lev 26:31). In emphasizing the “soothing aroma” of their sacrifices (38 times in the Law), Israel would be reminded that God is pleased with obedience.
Lessons for the present generation:
What does Noah’s experience teach us? Faithfulness in some matters (6:8) brings greater responsibility and greater blessings (7:1). God requires obedience as a part of His covenant (6:18, 22; 7:5). God will remember His disciples, even in their time of isolation and need (8:1).
Paul Holland
