A World in Chaos A God Who Cares Genesis 6:1-8:19

Donald Miller—Blue Like Jazz “I associated much of Christian doctrine with children’s stories because I grew up in church. My Sunday school teachers had turned Bible narrative into children’s fables. They talked about Noah and the ark because the story had animals in it. They failed to mention that this was when God massacred all of humanity…It took me a while to realize that these stories, while often used with children, are not at all children’s stories…

Donald Miller—Blue Like Jazz “I couldn’t give myself to Christianity because it was a religion for the intellectually naive. In order to believe Christianity, you either had to reduce enormous theological absurdities into children’s stories, or ignore them. The entire thing seemed very difficult for my intellect to embrace.” (bolding mine)

Setting the Scene (Gen. 1-11) A world in chaos… A God who cares… God World Us [Genesis 1-11] [Genesis 12-Revelation]

We can assume either… Someone awful has unjustifiably ordained this horrible atrocity Someone awful has unjustifiably ordained this horrible atrocityor… There is something far worse that warrants this response There is something far worse that warrants this response

“Every inclination of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually” (Gen. 6:5) Genesis 3: Sin/Curse enter world Gen. 4: Murder Gen. 6: Ungodly Marriages Gen. 11: Tower of Babel Gen. 9: Ham shames Noah Gen. 6-9: FLOOD

Genesis 6:11-13 The condition of the earth (v.11-12): “Now the land was ruined in God’s sight, and the land was filled with violence. And God looked at the land, and behold, it was ruined for all flesh had caused its ways to be ruined over the land.” The condition of the earth (v.11-12): “Now the land was ruined in God’s sight, and the land was filled with violence. And God looked at the land, and behold, it was ruined for all flesh had caused its ways to be ruined over the land.” The intention of God (v. 13): “So God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh is coming in my sight, for the land is full of violence from them. So behold, I will ruin them and the earth.” The intention of God (v. 13): “So God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh is coming in my sight, for the land is full of violence from them. So behold, I will ruin them and the earth.”

Genesis 6:11-13 “God’s decision is to destroy what is virtually self- destroyed or self-destroying already.” Victor Hamilton

Biblical conclusion Biblical conclusion God’s response is appropriate, just, and reasonableGod’s response is appropriate, just, and reasonable Biblical assertion Biblical assertion Sin is a big deal that leads to death, destruction, and chaosSin is a big deal that leads to death, destruction, and chaos Cultural conclusion Cultural conclusion The God of the flood is irrational and evilThe God of the flood is irrational and evil Cultural assumption Cultural assumption Sin isn’t that big of a dealSin isn’t that big of a deal

Confession On behalf of ourselves On behalf of ourselves On behalf of our culture(s) On behalf of our culture(s) On behalf of humanity On behalf of humanity

A World in Chaos A God Who Cares Genesis 6:1-8:19

Breaking down the biblical God OT God Judgmental Judgmental Law-oriented Law-oriented Powerful Powerful Exclusive Exclusive NT God Forgiving Forgiving Grace- oriented Grace- oriented Humble Humble Inclusive Inclusive

The OT and NT God Grieved by sin and all that harms his beloved Grieved by sin and all that harms his beloved Does not tolerate sin/evil Does not tolerate sin/evil Speaks & Saves us out of love Speaks & Saves us out of love

Gospel Moment Problem of Genesis 1-11 Problem of Genesis 1-11 God loves usGod loves us God is just and committed to hold accountable all that brings chaos death and destructionGod is just and committed to hold accountable all that brings chaos death and destruction We sin, which brings chaos, death, and destructionWe sin, which brings chaos, death, and destruction

God’s just response to all that brings chaos, destruction, and death The just and natural consequences of our lifestyles, choices, sin Jesus’ Death, Resurrection, Kingdom, Life