The Flood

According to verse 5, evil has gotten fully out of control in the world. And we’re only into chapter 6! As you read today, look for more insight into what we learned Sunday – what do you learn about God’s intention for humanity? What do you learn about humanity’s desire for evil? And what do you learn about God’s faithfulness?

STUDY THE SCRIPTURE

 

Click here to access the reading from Genesis 6:5-8,17-22   

 

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REFLECTION

 

The Flood of Forgiveness

by Tom Richards

We are sinful!  Every person on this earth is burdened with the reality of sin. In today’s reading we see a description of humanity in Noah’s day: Genesis 6:5 says, “The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.” Sadly, we learn that even after the great flood this problem remained.

Genesis 8:21 says “The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.” We find this truth repeated throughout the bible.

Psalm 51:5 tells us this problem starts early – very early. David proclaims, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.”  And Romans 3:23 says there are no exceptions, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

And… we see the evidence of sin all around us. A quick glimpse at the daily news is all we need to confirm this truth. This is especially true in recent months as our country deals racial unrest, divisiveness, sexual immorality …

Perhaps most importantly, we see it in ourselves. The thoughts that pass through our minds, words that we speak, and actions that we take often surprise and disappoint us but provide plenty of evidence that we are not immune to sinfulness.

In Genesis we read how God provided “salvation” for Noah and his family through the ark, saving a few. In Exodus we read the story of Moses, where God provided a basket (same Hebrew word as ark) to save him from death.  And, in the gospels we read how God provided salvation to all who believe by sending Jesus into the world to live a sinless life, die an unjust death, and rise again. 

In the Lutheran Church we have the practice of confession and absolution that Christians have observed for centuries. We publicly confess that “we have sinned against thee by thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone.  We have not loved you with our whole heart and we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.” The pastor pronounces the absolution, the forgiveness that Christ provides through his death and resurrection. 

While we acknowledge our sinfulness, we also gain the comfort of being told that we have been forgiven. 1 John 1:9 sums it up well: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”   Amen!!

UALC’S CAMPAIGN OF PRAYER

TUESDAY - TRUTH In the midst of all the messages being heard, pray for accurate information to drown out false reporting and click-bait tactics.