Two Things to Remember about the Flood – Genesis 6:9-22; 2 Peter 3:1-13
Genesis 6:9-22
6 (9) This is the record of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, one who was blameless in his day; Noah walked with God. (10) And Noah became the father of three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
(11) Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and the earth was filled with violence. (12) And God looked upon the earth, and, indeed, it was corrupt; for all mankind had corrupted their way upon the earth.
(13) Then God said to Noah, I have determined to bring all mankind to an end, for the earth is filled with violence because of them; surely, I will destroy them together with the earth. (14) Therefore make an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out. (15) This is how you are to build it: The ark is to be four hundred and fifty feet long, seventy-five feet wide and forty-five feet high. (16) Make a roof for it and finish the ark to within eighteen inches of the top. Put a door in the side of the ark and make lower, middle and upper decks. (17) I will most certainly bring the flood waters upon the earth to destroy all mortal life from under heaven—every creature that has the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall perish. (18) But I will establish my covenant with you; and you shall enter the ark—you, and your sons, and your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. (19) And you shall bring into the ark two of every kind of living creature, male and female, in order to keep them alive with you. (20) Two of every kind of bird, and two of every kind of livestock, and two of every kind of creature that creeps upon the ground shall come to you to be kept alive. (21) Take every kind of food that is eaten, and store it up; it shall be provision for you and for the animals. (22) Noah did this; indeed, everything God commanded him, he did.
2 Peter 3:1-13
3 This is now, beloved, the second letter that I am writing to you. By means of them I am awakening your sincere mind by reminding you (2) to remember the words previously spoken by the holy prophets and the commandment of our Lord and Savior by your apostles.
(3) You may be sure that in the last days scoffers will come, expressing their scoffing, and living for their own evil desires. (4) They will say, Where is the fulfillment of the promise that he will come? From the time the fathers fell asleep in death everything goes on as it has since the beginning of the creation. (5) But this they intentionally forget; namely, that long ago there were heavens and an earth formed out of the water and in the midst of the water by the word of God. (6) By those same waters the world of that time was destroyed, being deluged with water. (7) And by that same word the present heavens and earth are being preserved for fire, reserved for the day of the judgment and destruction of ungodly mankind.
(8) Do not forget this one thing, beloved, namely, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like one day. (9) The Lord is not negligent with regard to the promise, as some consider negligence; on the contrary, he is exhibiting great patience toward you. He does not desire anyone to perish, but all to come to repentance. (10) But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. On that day the heavens will disappear with a loud noise, and the elements will be destroyed by being burned up, and the earth together with the works that are in it will be exposed.
(11) Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be?—You ought to live in holy conduct and godliness, (12) as you watch for and eagerly await the coming of the day of God. On that day the heavens will be destroyed by fire and the elements will be dissolved by the intense heat. (13) But, according to his promise, we are watching for a new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness resides.
Now proceed to the next section of this study, entitled, Exploring the Passage.
