Read Genesis 7:1-6
Questions for Littles: Who speaks in Genesis 7:1? To whom is He speaking? Where does He tell him to come? Who has seen [to it!] that Noah is righteous? Before Whom is Noah righteous? How many pairs of each clean animal is Noah to take (Genesis 7:2)? How many unclean? How many pairs each of the birds (Genesis 7:3)? What reason does verse 3 give? How many more days at this point until God acts (Genesis 7:4)? What is God going to make happen? For how long? What determined what Noah would do (Genesis 7:5)? How much of what was commanded did Noah do? How old was Noah when the floodwaters came on the earth (Genesis 7:6)?In the Scripture for this week’s sermon, the Holy Spirit points out to us several things about Noah’s salvation from the flood that teach us about our own salvation from Hell—and, ultimately, He teaches us about Jesus, our Savior.
First, we learn that God provides righteousness to Noah. It seems obvious that Noah is different, and that Yahweh has chosen him to be saved and to save humanity, but Yahweh underscores this for him: “I have seen (provided!) that you are righteous before Me.” This is no small righteousness. This is righteousness before the eyes of the Holy, Holy, Holy God—before Him whose eyes are too holy to look upon evil, and who dwells in unapproachable light. This can only be God’s own righteousness. And so only God can provide it. And, we know that it only comes by believing into Jesus.
Next, we learn that worship is the purpose of Noah’s salvation. There is a minimum of seven—probably 14—of every clean animal here. What are they there for? Not eating (yet, Genesis 9:3-4). For the eight of Noah, life is literally over-complicated and over-crowded with worship. The Lord is making it very clear to him (and to us) why they (and we) are being saved: for the worship of God. This points us to Jesus in two ways: first, the ultimate meaning of these sacrifices is not that God delights in roast meat but that God delights in His Son and His Son’s obedience. When we believe into Jesus, God’s delight in Jesus includes us.
Finally, we learn that we are unworthy of salvation. There is a seven-day-long drumroll as they sit in the ark, on the ground, waiting for everything to begin. The perishing people on the outside, and the animals that exist to perish as sacrifices on the inside, are a testimony to them of what they deserve. They are like the thieves on the cross—reminding us that the pouring out of God’s wrath upon Christ is a display of what we deserve and would suffer forever, if we do not believe into Him.
Why do you need Jesus to be your righteousness? Why does God save sinners? How should your unworthiness to be saved make you feel toward Jesus? How should it make you feel toward others?Suggested Songs: ARP130A “Lord, from the Depths” or TPH425 “How Sweet and Awesome Is the Place”
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