Genesis 6:17-22 And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters on the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life… I. Consider the record of THE FLOOD AS A HISTORY: a history having a two-fold aspect — an aspect of judgment, and an aspect of mercy. 1. "God," St. Peter says, "spared not the old world," He "brought in a flood upon the world of the ungodly." He who made can destroy. Long trifled with, God is not mocked: and he who will not have Him for his Father must at last know Him as his Judge. 2. The record of judgment passes on into a record of mercy. Mercy was shown: (1) in preservation; (2) in reconstruction. II. Consider THE FLOOD IN ITS USES: AS A TYPE, AS A PROPHECY, AND AS A WARNING. 1. The water through which Noah and his family passed into their ark was like the water of holy baptism, through which a Christian, penitent and believing, finds his way into the Church of the living God. 2. St. Peter exhibits the flood to us also as a prophecy. The flood of waters becomes in its turn the prediction of a last flood of fire. He who foretold the one — and notwithstanding long delay the word was fulfilled — may be believed when He threatens the other; and no pause or respite can defeat the certainty of the performance. 3. There is one special warning appended by our Lord Jesus Christ Himself to the Scriptural record of the great deluge: "As the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be." (Dean Vaughan.) Parallel Verses KJV: And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die. |
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