Impact
The Great Flood: God’s Judgment and Salvation
Genesis 7: It’s Starting to Rain
God’s Judgment and Salvation
Introduction:
Genesis 7 recounts a pivotal moment in biblical history—the Great Flood. God, grieved by human wickedness, fulfills His judgment while preserving Noah, his family, and the animals in the ark. This chapter highlights God’s righteousness, faithfulness, and mercy. As we study, consider how Noah’s obedience and God’s provision reflect His justice and grace. What does this passage teach us about trusting God in times of judgment and salvation?
Genesis 7:1–5 Then the LORD said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation. Take with you seven pairs of all clean animals, the male and his mate, and a pair of the animals that are not clean, the male and his mate, and seven pairs of the birds of the heavens also, male and female, to keep their offspring alive on the face of all the earth. For in seven days I will send rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and every living thing that I have made I will blot out from the face of the ground.” And Noah did all that the LORD had commanded him.
— Genesis 7:1-5 (ESV)
- Why do you think God specifically calls Noah “righteous” in verse 1? What does this tell us about Noah’s relationship with God?
- Noah obeyed “all that the Lord commanded” (v. 5). What does his obedience reveal about faith? How does this challenge our own obedience to God?
- Why did God instruct Noah to take both clean and unclean animals? What might this detail indicate about God’s future plans?
- How do you think Noah and his family felt as they prepared to enter the ark? How does this compare to stepping out in faith today?
- God provided specific instructions for salvation through the ark. How does this parallel God’s plan of salvation through Christ?
Genesis 7:6–16 Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters came upon the earth. And Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him went into the ark to escape the waters of the flood. Of clean animals, and of animals that are not clean, and of birds, and of everything that creeps on the ground, two and two, male and female, went into the ark with Noah, as God had commanded Noah. And after seven days the waters of the flood came upon the earth. In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the windows of the heavens were opened. And rain fell upon the earth forty days and forty nights. On the very same day Noah and his sons, Shem and Ham and Japheth, and Noah’s wife and the three wives of his sons with them entered the ark, they and every beast, according to its kind, and all the livestock according to their kinds, and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, according to its kind, and every bird, according to its kind, every winged creature. They went into the ark with Noah, two and two of all flesh in which there was the breath of life. And those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him. And the LORD shut him in.
— Genesis 7:6-16 (ESV)
- Why do you think the Bible emphasizes Noah’s age (600 years old) when the flood began? What does this tell us about God’s timing?
- How do you imagine the people outside the ark reacted when the rain started? What does this say about the consequences of ignoring God’s warnings?
- What stands out to you about the fact that the animals entered the ark “as God had commanded Noah” (v. 9, 16)? How does this reflect God’s sovereignty?
- Verse 16 says, “The Lord shut him in.” Why is it significant that God, not Noah, closed the ark? How does this demonstrate God’s protection and control?
- How does this passage illustrate both God’s judgment and His mercy? How can we apply this to our understanding of God’s character today?
Genesis 7:17–24 The flood continued forty days on the earth. The waters increased and bore up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. The waters prevailed and increased greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the face of the waters. And the waters prevailed so mightily on the earth that all the high mountains under the whole heaven were covered. The waters prevailed above the mountains, covering them fifteen cubits deep. And all flesh died that moved on the earth, birds, livestock, beasts, all swarming creatures that swarm on the earth, and all mankind. Everything on the dry land in whose nostrils was the breath of life died. He blotted out every living thing that was on the face of the ground, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens. They were blotted out from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those who were with him in the ark. And the waters prevailed on the earth 150 days.
— Genesis 7:17-24 (ESV)
- What do you think it was like for Noah and his family as the floodwaters rose? How might this test their faith in God’s plan?
- Verse 18 says the ark “floated on the surface of the waters.” How does this symbolize God’s provision and protection in times of crisis?
- Why does the passage emphasize that “everything on dry land” perished (v. 22)? What does this teach us about the seriousness of God’s judgment?
- How do you think Noah felt knowing he and his family were safe while the rest of the world perished? How should we respond to God’s salvation today?
- The chapter ends by stating the waters “prevailed on the earth 150 days” (v. 24). What does this prolonged period teach us about waiting on God’s timing?
Wrap it Up
- Each of us have violated God’s holiness. Why doesn’t He wipe us out?
He loves us; His nature is love and patience. He gives us hope, peace, shelter…His very presence. He knows us, knows we can do dumb things. But, He offers forgiveness.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
— John 14:6 (ESV)
- So, what do we need to do to get His forgiveness?
- He has a plan for each of us. What is that plan?
- What will you do with this Jesus?