06.26

Promises Concerning the Flood ""Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of
the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth." (Genesis 9:11)"

The history of the great flood in Genesis is a striking illustration that our God is a God
of promises. The cause for the flood was the exceeding sinfulness of man. "Then the LORD
saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the
thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Genesis 6:5). God set forth His plan to
deal with this problem by a promise of judgment. "So the LORD said, 'I will destroy man
whom I have created from the face of the earth'" (Genesis 6:7). Thus, through promise,
judgment by floodwaters became a certainty.

Along with a promise of judgment, God made a promise of deliverance, a promise of grace.
"But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD" (Genesis 6:8). This grace was available
through the promised ark of protection. "But I will establish My covenant with you; and
you shall go into the ark" (Genesis 6:18). Noah trusted in the Lord's plan and provision
and was thereby preserved from judgment. "Thus Noah did; according to all that God
commanded him, so he did" (Genesis 6:22). Then, the Lord promised Noah (and all humanity)
that a judgment of floodwaters would never again destroy mankind. "Never again shall all
flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy
the earth." Additionally, God established by promise a sign for this covenant. "I set My
rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the
earth" (Genesis 9:12-13).

These promises concerning the flood (and God's "ark of salvation") are a picture of Jesus'
being our "ark of eternal salvation." Peter wrote of the flood and the ark. "The
longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in
which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water" (1 Peter 3:20). Then, he
likened Noah's rescue through the ark and the floodwaters to our rescue through Christ and
the waters of baptism. "There is also an antitype [a prefiguring] which now saves us,
namely baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good
conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 3:21). When we
identified by faith with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (which is the
significance of water baptism), Jesus became our "ark of salvation," whereby we are
brought to God (rescued from the judgment due our sins). Now every rainbow can remind us
of God's faithfulness to keep His promises of salvation.

"Lord Jesus, I rejoice in You as my ark of safety from judgment for my sins! Please remind
me with every rainbow that You keep all of Your promises of salvation, Amen."