The Flood (Chantilly Sermon)
July 19, 2026
Genesis 6:5-9 CSB – When the Lord saw that human wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every inclination of the human mind was nothing but evil all the time, 6 the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and he was deeply grieved. 7 Then the Lord said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I created, off the face of the earth, together with the animals, creatures that crawl, and birds of the sky—for I regret that I made them.” 8 Noah, however, found favor with the Lord.
These are the family records of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among his contemporaries; Noah walked with God.
Can Smart People Take the Account Seriously?
2 Peter 3:3-7 CSB – be aware of this: Scoffers will come in the last days scoffing and following their own evil desires, 4 saying, “Where is his ‘coming’ that he promised? Ever since our ancestors fell asleep, all things continue as they have been since the beginning of creation.”
“We take the side of science in spite of the patent absurdity of [our denial], because we have a prior commitment, a commitment to materialism. … …materialism is absolute, for we cannot allow a Divine Foot in the door.” –Richard Lewontin (evolutionary biologist)
Four reasons to take Noah & the flood seriously
- The Bible says so
Isaiah 54:9; Ezekiel 14:14,20.
Hebrews 11:7; 1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 2:5, 3:6
- Jesus taught the Flood as factual
Matthew 24:37-39 – But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
- The prevalence of flood narratives indicate the flood really happened
- The flood explains geological anomalies
The Flood Reveals God’s Nature
- The Flood Shows That God is Love
Genesis 6:5-6 CSB – When the Lord saw that human wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every inclination of the human mind was nothing but evil all the time, 6 the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and he was deeply grieved.
Numbers 23:19 CSB – God is not man… that He should change His mind.
Exodus 34:6-7 CSB – The Lord—the Lord is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth, 7 maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin.
- God’s Plan to Destroy the World is Evidence of the Righteousness of God
Genesis 6:7 CSB – Then the Lord said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I created, off the face of the earth, together with the animals, creatures that crawl, and birds of the sky—for I regret that I made them.”
Psalm 92:15 CSB – “The LORD is just… and there is no unrighteousness in him.”
Ezekiel 18:23 CSB – Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked?” This is the declaration of the Lord God. “Instead, don’t I take pleasure when he turns from his ways and lives?
Micah 6:8 NLT – O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
- The Flood Shows us the Grace of God
Genesis 6:8-9 CSB – Noah, however, found favor with the Lord.
Noah was a righteous man, blameless among his contemporaries. Noah walked with God.”
Hebrews 11:7 CSB – By faith Noah, after he was warned about what was not yet seen and motivated by godly fear, built an ark to deliver his family. By faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
Genesis 6:13 CSB – Then God said to Noah, “I have decided to put an end to every creature, for the earth is filled with wickedness because of them; therefore I am going to destroy them along with the earth.
- The Flood Reveals that God is Just
Psalm 89:14 CSB – Righteousness and justice are the foundation
of your throne;
faithful love and truth go before you.
C.S. Lewis – ‘Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.’
Genesis 6:14 CSB – Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it with pitch inside and outside.
- The Flood Shows the Patience of God
1 Peter 3:20 CSB – …God patiently waited in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared.
Romans 3:10 CSB – There is no one righteous, not even one.
Romans 3:23 CSB – For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;
Romans 6:23 CSB – The wages of sin is death.
2 Peter 3:8-9 CSB – Dear friends, don’t overlook this one fact: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.
God patiently waited in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared. (1 Peter 3:20)
Romans 2:4 CSB – Or do you despise the riches of his kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
- The Flood Reveals the Faithfulness of God
They enter the ark. The rain starts falling—just as God promised.
Genesis 7:1,4,5 CSB – Then the Lord said to Noah, “Enter the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you alone are righteous before me in this generation.
Seven days from now I will make it rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and every living thing I have made I will wipe off the face of the earth.” 5 And Noah did everything that the Lord commanded him.
Genesis 7:16 CSB – Those that entered, male and female of every creature, entered just as God had commanded him. Then the Lord shut him in.
Genesis 7:11,12 CSB – …On that day, the vast watery depths burst open, the floodgates of the sky were opened, and rain fell for 40 days.
2 Peter 3:4 ff, [scoffers will say] …all things continue as they have been since the beginning of creation.” 5 They deliberately overlook this: By the word of God the heavens came into being… and… Through these the world of that time perished when it was flooded
- The Flood Displays the Power of God
Genesis 7:17-24 CSB – The flood continued for forty days on the earth; the water increased and lifted up the ark so that it rose above the earth. 18 The water surged and increased greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the surface of the water. 19 Then the water surged even higher on the earth, and all the high mountains under the whole sky were covered… more than twenty feet.
21 Every creature perished…
23, Only Noah was left, and those that were with him in the ark.24 And the water surged on the earth 150 days.
2 Corinthians 2:4-5 CSB – …with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not be based on human wisdom but on God’s power.
- The Flood Shows the Providence of God
Genesis 8:1 CSB – God remembered Noah, as well as all the wildlife and all the livestock that were with him in the ark. God caused a wind to pass over the earth, and the water began to subside.
Genesis 8:4 CSB – The ark came to rest in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on the mountains of Ararat.
Genesis 9:1 CSB –God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.
- The Flood Reveals the Humility of God
Genesis 8:5,6 CSB – And I will require a penalty for your lifeblood;
I will require it from any animal and from any human; if someone murders a fellow human, I will require that person’s life.
6 Whoever sheds human blood,
by humans his blood will be shed,
for God made humans in his image.
Genesis 9:11-13 CSB – I establish my covenant with you that never again will every creature be wiped out by floodwaters…
12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all future generations: 13 I have placed my bow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.
Genesis 8:22 CSB – God says,
As long as the earth endures,
seedtime and harvest, cold and heat,
summer and winter, and day and night
will not cease.”
How Should We Respond to the Flood? Live Ready!
Matthew 24:37-39 CSB – Jesus said, As the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. 38 For in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah boarded the ark. 39 They didn’t know until the flood came and swept them all away. This is the way the coming of the Son of Man will be.
Matthew 23:44-45 CSB – This is why you are also to be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Who then is a faithful and wise servant,…
Matthew 23:48 CSB – …the evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delayed,’
How would your life change if you live ready?
- Would you be more thankful?
- Would you be more generous?
- Would you be more bold?
Matthew 24:35 CSB – Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
- Would you share like Noah?
