What Every Descendant of Adam Deserves
A Devotional Series from Genesis
Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)
6/9 Reading Portions: Deuteronomy 13-14; Psalms 99-101; Isaiah 41; Revelation 11
Genesis 6:17
“For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die.”
JUSTICE
The Triune God had already declared by His holy counsel with Himself that His judgment upon wicked mankind would occur (Gen 6:1-7). Here in this verse, YHVH God reveals the reason for the ark Noah was commanded to build—His holy justice upon an evil and adulterous generation.
This judgment is what every descendant of Adam deserves. God’s judgment, however, is tempered with mercy, as it is written:
Mercy triumphs over judgment. James 2:13
What do we mean by this? God would have been justified to wipe Adam and Eve out immediately when they sinned. Yet we have seen since Genesis 1:1 that the purpose for the creation was to demonstrate all of God’s glory through the promise and fulfillment of the incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, and return of His one and only Son, Jesus Messiah. Moreover, God is merciful in this judgment, as the next two verses speak of God establishing His covenant with Noah. The statement in our verse today prophetically foreshadows the final judgment in that Day.
This verse reminds us that vengeance belongs to God and that He will dispense holy justice upon those who have rejected the gospel (Rom 12:19). We need not take vengeance upon the wicked done to us. Neither should we become violent with those who have rejected the gospel.
This allows us a tremendous liberty to share the gospel to a lost and dying world.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
