Re-Creation (Genesis 6:9-9:17)
Big Idea: God responds to evil by recreating the world.
Introduction
Our response to evil is to excuse it (WTBD – what’s the big deal?) or to judge it. We have questions about God’s response to evil. Why is he so hard on some types of evil? Why is he so slow to judge gross acts of evil?
Outline
- God experiences grief and regret as a result of evil (6:9-13)
- God responds to evil by re-creating the earth (6:14-9:17)
- God is concerned with the condition of this world
- God responds by removing the evil
- God responds by re-creating what he has destroyed
The imagery in this passage echoes the creation of the earth (creation from water, image, blessing, etc.)
Application
In 2 Peter 3, this passage is used to remind us that God is one day going to end the evil on this earth and re-create it for the final time. This time, it will be perfect. God is in the re-creation business.
We sometimes wonder why God judges sin so harshly. It seems extreme that so many were killed by the Flood. We shouldn’t underestimate the seriousness of our condition.
The good news: God is in the re-creation business. He invites us to become agents of re-creation.
