Topical Bible: The Deluge: That It Shall Never Again Occur: Confirmed by Covenant

◄ The Deluge: That It Shall Never Again Occur: Confirmed by Covenant ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

The Deluge, commonly referred to as the Great Flood, is a pivotal event in biblical history, described in the Book of Genesis. It represents a divine judgment upon a world that had become exceedingly corrupt and violent. The narrative of the Deluge is found in Genesis chapters 6 through 9, where God decides to cleanse the earth by sending a flood to destroy all life, except for Noah, his family, and the animals preserved in the ark.

Divine Judgment and the Flood

The account begins with God's observation of humanity's wickedness: "The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time" (Genesis 6:5). In response, God declares His intention to "wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth" (Genesis 6:7). However, Noah finds favor in the eyes of the LORD due to his righteousness and blamelessness among his contemporaries (Genesis 6:8-9).

God instructs Noah to build an ark, specifying its dimensions and materials, to preserve his family and pairs of every living creature. The floodwaters come as foretold, covering the earth and destroying all living things outside the ark (Genesis 7:21-23).

The Covenant of Preservation

After the floodwaters recede, Noah, his family, and the animals disembark from the ark. Noah builds an altar and offers sacrifices to the LORD, who is pleased with the offering. God then establishes a covenant with Noah and his descendants, promising that such a flood will never again destroy the earth: "I establish My covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth" (Genesis 9:11).

The Sign of the Covenant

To confirm this covenant, God sets a rainbow in the clouds as a sign of His promise: "I have set My rainbow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth" (Genesis 9:13). The rainbow serves as a perpetual reminder of God's mercy and faithfulness, assuring humanity that the earth will not be subjected to such a cataclysmic flood again.

Theological Significance

The Deluge and the subsequent covenant highlight several key theological themes. First, it underscores the seriousness of sin and God's righteous judgment. Second, it demonstrates God's grace and mercy, as seen in His preservation of Noah and the establishment of a covenant. Finally, the rainbow as a sign of the covenant serves as a symbol of hope and divine assurance, reflecting God's commitment to the stability and continuity of creation.

The narrative of the Deluge and the covenant with Noah is foundational in understanding the relationship between God and humanity, emphasizing both divine justice and mercy. It reassures believers of God's sovereign control over creation and His unwavering promise to preserve it.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Genesis 9:9-11
And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

On the Words Incarnate, and Made Man.
... Afterwards a deluge was poured abroad because of the great ... take place, and is that
which is possible never to occur ... the Son of God with him who "shall rule with ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/lecture xii on the words.htm

Preparation for Revival
... the covenant, and saved from the deluge of divine ... our highest moments with God, and
never imagining or ... behold your faith, unless that faith shall be confirmed ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 10 1864/preparation for revival.htm

Manner of Covenanting.
... When the deluge of wrath was descending, and all ... by the name of Jacob; and another
shall subscribe with ... and reverence; but are these feelings never in exercise ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter ii manner of covenanting.htm

The Priesthood of Christ
... in the holy patriarchs, both before and after the deluge. ... the image of the invisible
God," I shall have expressed its ... the first, but because it was never to be ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/oration iv the priesthood of.htm

Natural Science and Theological Science.
... the Patriarchs,"the account of the Deluge;"if these ... eaten record of dynasties which
never were, by ... Whither shall we betake ourselves, amid the overthrow of ...
/.../burgon/inspiration and interpretation/sermon ii natural science and.htm

The Marvels of Holy Scripture, --Moral and Physical. --Jael's Deed ...
... to convince a certain class of persons of the historical reality of the Deluge,
to find ... My sympathy shall be reserved for those who have never so offended ...
/.../burgon/inspiration and interpretation/sermon vii the marvels of.htm

Against Jovinianus.
... wine as well as flesh was consecrated after the deluge. ... What shall I say of Abraham
who had three wives ... baggage, and there swore that he would never return to ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/against jovinianus.htm

The First Chaldaean Empire and the Hyksos in Egypt
... the period immediately subsequent to the Deluge, mention of ... "Until when, oh lady,
shall the impious ... Hostilities never completely ceased between Elam and Babylon ...
/.../chapter ithe first chaldaean empire.htm

An Essay on the Scriptural Doctrine of Immortality.
... accessions to knowledge just because they never doubt but ... The translation of Enoch,
the Deluge, the destruction of ... sound, the mystery of God shall be finished ...
/.../an essay on the scriptural.htm

Bunsen's Biblical Researches.
... his worthy conception of the divinity.' Our deluge takes its ... 34.that, not a bone
of the righteous shall be broken ... Father of an Age; and he can never listen to ...
/.../essays and reviews the education of the world/bunsens biblical researches.htm