Saved by God, the Story of Noah and the Great FloodSample

God intervenes

“And God said to Noah, ‘I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth.’” (Genesis 6:13)

God created the earth; He is its owner. He therefore has every right to do with the earth as He pleases. Seeing all the wickedness on earth, God decides, “I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die” (Genesis 6:17).

This is a shocking announcement. It seems to be diametrically opposed to other Bible verses about God who is love and who gladly forgives. Yet both sides, that God is merciful and that He punishes, belong to the core of His being. When God makes Himself known to Moses, He describes Himself as “forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty” (Exodus 34:7).

God’s love and justice are not mutually exclusive. He offers people forgiveness, but if they refuse, eternal punishment follows. Eventually, all people will be judged by their Creator and the earth will be destroyed again, this time by fire. Only God’s children may then live on a new, perfect earth. Those who reject Him will be ruined.

Does this message scare you? Why or why not?