Genesis Part 1 - Week 13

Day 1 

READ 

Genesis 6:7-8 

7 And the Lord said, “I will wipe this human race I have created from the face of the earth. Yes, and I will destroy every living thing—all the people, the large animals, the small animals that scurry along the ground, and even the birds of the sky. I am sorry I ever made them.” 8 But Noah found favor with the Lord. 

God was so broken hearted over how the human race had devolved. He had given Adam and Eve the free will to choose His way or their way and they rejected God’s way. He decided to wipe every living thing from the earth. There was still grace being offered because anyone could have repented and turned to God.  

REFLECT 

God seems to always offer grace before judgment falls. Judgment will fall, however, on those who do not repent and turn to Him. 

RESPOND 

Talk with a friend about this passage and be sure to dwell on the statement in Genesis 6:8 that “Noah found favor with the Lord.” The following verses will explain why that was so. 

Day 2 

READ 

Genesis 6:9-10 

9 This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God. 10 Noah was the father of three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 

Notice the characteristics of Noah. He “was a righteous man”; he was “the only blameless person living on earth at the time”; “he walked in close fellowship with God.” Enoch had walked close with God and God took him to heaven (see Genesis 5:24). Noah was left on earth to perform a task God ordered him to do. His three sons are mentioned again: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 

REFLECT 

Noah was not perfect but he was blameless and walked closely with God. That should be the desire of each Christ-follower today. 

RESPOND 

God’s desire for church leaders is that they be above reproach or blameless (see 1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:6). This indicates if a person has done wrong he has admitted it and sought to make things right with those who have been wronged.  

Day 3 

READ 

Genesis 6:11-13 

11 Now God saw that the earth had become corrupt and was filled with violence. 12 God observed all this corruption in the world, for everyone on earth was corrupt. 13 So God said to Noah, “I have decided to destroy all living creatures, for they have filled the earth with violence. Yes, I will wipe them all out along with the earth!” 

God tells Noah what He planned to do and why He would do it. Because everyone, except Noah, had become corrupt and filled the earth with violence God would wipe them out “along with the earth.” The topography of the earth would not be the same after the worldwide flood.  

REFLECT 

Think of the drastic changes that would come to the earth and living creatures after God’s judgment. 

RESPOND 

Today you and a friend should think about the “throne of grace” mentioned in Hebrews 4:16. For those who believe in Jesus the throne of justice becomes a throne of grace. No believer is turned away from that throne. 

Day 4 

READ 

Genesis 6:14-16 

14 “Build a large boat from cypress wood and waterproof it with tar, inside and out. Then construct decks and stalls throughout its interior. 15 Make the boat 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. 16 Leave an 18-inch opening below the roof all the way around the boat. Put the door on the side, and build three decks inside the boat—lower, middle, and upper.” 

God instructs Noah to build a large boat and even gave him the precise dimensions. Consider the faith it took for Noah to do this. He had never seen even a local flood, but he did what he was told because of his confidence in God.  

REFLECT 

Think about the kind of faith this took for Noah. What would you have done had you been Noah? Would you have wanted more direction from God? 

RESPOND 

In Part 2 of Genesis the life of Abraham will be examined. Read Romans 4:20-21 that tells about his faith. Visit with a friend about whether the two of you have this kind of faith. 

Day 5 

READ 

Genesis 6:17-19 

17 “Look! I am about to cover the earth with a flood that will destroy every living thing that breathes. Everything on earth will die. 18 But I will confirm my covenant with you. So enter the boat—you and your wife and your sons and their wives. 19 Bring a pair of every kind of animal—a male and a female—into the boat with you to keep them alive during the flood.” 

Even though Noah had never seen even a local flood, the Lord tells him He will “cover the earth with a flood.” No local flood could “cover the earth.” This and other details show this was to be much more than a local flood. God promised to confirm His “covenant,” or agreement, with Noah. That will be spelled out later in detail. In addition to Noah’s immediate family, he was to put a pair, male and female, of every kind of animal into the boat. This was to keep them alive during the flood. 

REFLECT 

What do you think Noah must have been thinking as God told him more details and gave him more responsibility? 

RESPOND 

Read Matthew 24:37-39 to see how Jesus compared the time of His second coming to earth with the conditions before the flood. Visit with a friend about whether these conditions are seen today. The catching up of believers to meet Jesus (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) will occur before Jesus’ second coming to earth (Revelation 19:11-16). Everyone needs to be ready to meet Jesus at any time.