Topical Bible: The Deluge: The Wicked Warned of

◄ The Deluge: The Wicked Warned of ►

Jump to: Torrey's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

The Deluge, commonly referred to as the Great Flood, is a pivotal event in biblical history, marking a divine judgment upon a world steeped in wickedness. This cataclysmic event is detailed in the Book of Genesis, chapters 6 through 9, and serves as a profound narrative of both judgment and redemption.

Context of Wickedness

The narrative begins with a description of the moral decay that had permeated the earth. Genesis 6:5 states, "Then 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." This pervasive corruption grieved God, prompting His decision to cleanse the earth through a flood.

Noah: A Righteous Man

Amidst the widespread depravity, Noah stands out as a beacon of righteousness. Genesis 6:9 describes Noah as "a righteous man, blameless in his generation; Noah walked with God." His faithfulness and obedience set him apart, making him the chosen instrument through whom God would preserve humanity and the animal kingdom.

The Warning

God, in His mercy, did not execute judgment without warning. Noah was instructed to build an ark, a massive vessel that would ensure the survival of his family and representatives of all living creatures. This act of building the ark served as a tangible warning to the wicked generation. Hebrews 11:7 reflects on Noah's faith, stating, "By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family."

The construction of the ark, likely spanning many years, was a visible testament to the impending judgment. It is implied that Noah, as a "preacher of righteousness" (2 Peter 2:5), warned his contemporaries of the coming deluge, though his message fell on deaf ears.

The Response of the Wicked

Despite the clear warning embodied in the building of the ark and Noah's likely exhortations, the wickedness of humanity persisted. The people of Noah's time continued in their sinful ways, dismissing the warnings and the looming threat of divine retribution. Jesus, in the New Testament, reflects on this period, stating in Matthew 24:38-39 , "For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. And they were oblivious until the flood came and swept them all away."

The Deluge

Ultimately, the floodwaters came as God had foretold. Genesis 7:11-12 describes the onset of the deluge: "On that day all the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened. And the rain fell upon the earth for forty days and forty nights." The floodwaters covered the earth, eradicating all life outside the safety of the ark.

Divine Judgment and Mercy

The Deluge stands as a testament to God's holiness and justice, demonstrating His intolerance for sin. Yet, it also highlights His mercy and grace, as seen in the preservation of Noah and his family. The ark symbolizes salvation, a foreshadowing of the ultimate deliverance found in Jesus Christ.

Legacy of the Deluge

The account of the Deluge serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of sin and the importance of heeding divine warnings. It underscores the necessity of righteousness and faithfulness in a world often characterized by moral decay. The narrative of the flood continues to resonate as a call to repentance and a reminder of God's sovereign authority over creation.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Peter 3:19,20
By which also he went and preached to the spirits in prison;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Peter 2:5
And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Sins of Communities Noted and Punished.
... till the extinction of his race by the deluge. ... The divine judgments executed on other
wicked communities, have ... an half God waited with them, and warned them of ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon xxix the sins of.htm

On the Incarnation and Redemption
... they became numerous they soon forgot the deluge and its ... See, then, how the wicked
pretend at times to do ... deceive God, who, knowing his heart, warned the Wise ...
/.../kinkead/baltimore catechism no 4/lesson 7 on the incarnation.htm

The Flood.
... an evil leaven, lest each generation from a wicked seed, being ... And for this purpose,
having warned a certain righteous man ... in an ark, He sent a deluge of water ...
/.../unknown/the clementine homilies/chapter xvii the flood.htm

God Willing that all Men Should be Saved.
... of the old world occasioned the deluge; but it ... death of the wicked; but that the
wicked turn from ... Redeemer called those sinners to repentance"warned them of ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon xvii god willing that.htm

Psalm XC.
... in the night," ought to have warned them that ... of degrees." Hence the waters of the
deluge overtopped the ... vain and seductive prosperity of the wicked is judged ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xc.htm

Noah's Faith, Fear, Obedience, and Salvation
... storm was gathering, and before long the deluge would end ... I have warned you of those
dread waves of fire ... pit which God hath digged for the wicked, into which ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 36 1890/noahs faith fear obedience and.htm

Epistle Lxxiv. Firmilian, Bishop of C??sarea in Cappadocia, to ...
... who in their epistles execrated heretics, and warned us to ... of this woman, by which
a most wicked demon baptized ... but at once perished in that deluge; so now also ...
/.../cyprian/the epistles of cyprian/epistle lxxiv firmilian bishop of.htm

Rahab's Faith
... in another place, wresting with time; Noah, warned of God ... wrestled with time, which
placed his deluge a hundred ... it is a kind of sanctuary for wicked men, unto ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/rahabs faith.htm

The "Demonstrations" of Aphrahat.
... first commandment"that in which He warned them saying ... silver and goodly stones, and
the wicked shall be ... because he believed, was preserved from the deluge. ...
/.../aphrahat/aphrahat select demonstrations/the demonstrations of aphrahat.htm

The Cause and Cure of Earthquakes
... furiously forward, and overflowed, with so vast a deluge of water ... Once, yea, twice,
hath the Lord warned us, that he ... who can "rain upon the wicked snares, fire ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 129 the cause and.htm