SUBJ: The narrative of the Flood and the picture of redemption that it presents and an examination of the sacrifice and acceptance of Noah.

AIM: That we are ever aware that we are kept from destruction by the grace of another.

INTR: Chapter 6 ended with the declaration that Noah did all that the Lord commanded and so acted in faith. Chapter 8 begins with "And God remembered Noah and every living thing."
1. The faith of Noah was such that obedience and full confidence in the Lord was shown and so he became an integral part of the operations of the Lord in it all.
2. The human race was delivered through Noah’s family and a new start for creation followed.
3. We will first consider the narrative and the many wonders of grace that are seen it what took place, and then we will look to the testimony of the Lord following the flood.

THESIS: Redemption is always in view throughout Biblical history, and such is the nature of assurance given to Noah and to us.

I. The narrative – Genesis 7 and 8
1. Noah alone was seen as righteous – that is the righteousness which is by grace through faith.
2. The provision was set in order for a new beginning for all of creation (it is to be remembered that the curse remained, but a divinely enforced turn from manifest evil).
3. Consider then:
1) The animals by twos and by sevens (possibly 3 pairs of clean animals with a seventh for sacrifice.
2) It is thought that this happened in the Spring and that the earth was beautiful (noted as Noah might have seen it).
3) Noah and his family went in and the animals followed and
4) The Lord shut him in
i. Consider the size that the door must have been to accommodate elephants and other large animals.
ii. A spiritual component to this all.
5) The fountains of the great deep broken up and the windows of heaven opened
6) Forty days and nights followed by 150 days of waiting (an extended stay indeed).
7) The raven and the dove

II. The Promise (8:15-22)
1. The Lord had sent a wind to evaporate the flood waters and the Ark had finally rested.
2. It was time to come out and face a new earth to be filled up by Noah, his sons and the animals that had rode the waters of judgment.
3. And Noah worshiped the Lord in a way that continues until this day:
1) We note Noah’s understanding of the place of sacrifice and had long know it.
2) Here we understand the reason of the seventh of the clean animals (one of each).
3) The sweet savor smelled by the Lord: And we are reminded of: For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: (2 Corinthians 2:15)
4. Consider the reason as the condition of the imagination of man’s heart as evil from the days of his youth (see 6:5)
1) The essential nature of man was not changed – such is the basis of the natural man.
2) It would require a continual purging
5. Seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night – The promise that the Lord is sovereign and will not abandon His determination to redeem.