Scripture Series: Genesis 5-8.

EXPLORING GENESIS SERIES.

THE BIBLE-: EXPLORING GENESIS SERIES.

Scripture Series: Genesis 5-8.Genesis 5 and 6-8The Family Tree and the Flood.

From chapter 4:17 to Chapter 5, God’s word provides for us an account of the family tree of Adam and his descendants before the flood. They may sound unusual names to us, but interestingly enough their names had a meaning or represented their personality.  How are we named? Think of the expectant parents who carefully choose the name for the forthcoming baby. What does your name mean?   God also calls us by name also. ‘And now, thus says the Lord: Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name, you are mine.’ (Is 43:1). 

Chapters 6-8 which are parallel accounts of the flood, teach us of man’s wickedness and God’s mercy. God destroys sin, but in His mercy He saves all that that is good, and has pity on all who repent. ‘Noah was found perfectly virtuous, in the time of wrath he became the scion: because of him a remnant was preserved for the earth at the coming of the Flood.  Everlasting covenants were made with him that never again should every living creature perish by flood.’ (Eccles 44)

There are references to the flood in the New Testament also.   Christ, in Matthew 24: 37-39 referred to the episode of the flood when he spoke of his coming and the last judgement.

In I Peter 3, the early Church saw there a clear symbol of Christian baptism, in which guilty humanity is judged from which is born a new humanity of ‘water and the Spirit’.  Also Hebrews 11 exalts the faith of Noah.  The Fathers of the Church saw in the ark an image of the Church.

So what about us? Are we being swept away in the flood of life? Are we like Noah obedient to the voice of God, follow the order He gives us and find favour with the Lord? At times, Chapter 6:1-2 may resonate with us. We may feel like we are drowning in the flood of life, with so much disaster and wickedness around us. 

Let us take heart in the mercy of God, endeavour in the ways God calls us to build the ark of God around us and find favour with our God.