Genesis 6:5 declares that humankind is bad. “The Lord saw that there was much wickedness in the world and that all of man’s intentions and thoughts were always evil.” What then does the Almighty God do? “I will wipe out man whom I have created from the face of the land,” he declares. Genesis 6:6-7 Next, the flood occurs.
Man is also described as evil in Genesis 8:21, where it states that “the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth.” What then does the Almighty God do? “I will never curse the ground because of man again,” he declares (Genesis 8:21).
Two different responses
The same remark can be made of these two verses: man’s heart is evil in intention. However, the outcome is entirely different. Furthermore, this is not a contrary conclusion drawn from two distinct books of the Bible, allowing theologians to conjecture about how one writer of the Bible could have quite different views on God than another.
There isn’t a conclusion from the start and a conclusion from the finish of a Bible book, which begs the question of whether the author forgot what he had previously written. No, one story has both of these contradictory conclusions. God declares before the deluge that since man has an evil heart, he will annihilate him. Following the deluge, He declares, “I will never again kill all living things, as I have done,” because of the wickedness of man’s heart.
How could that be true? One could argue that the Almighty God is seeking an occasion to show mercy to humanity. “They are how they are, and I will not correct them.” We witness the holiness of God in Genesis 6. He and sin are incompatible. He renders judgments. We see the grace of God in Genesis 8. God does not punish people, even though they deserve it.
There is only one God
Who is the true God? Which God is it that speaks in Genesis 6 or 8? Is He the benevolent God or the God of punishment? Naturally, the response is that there is only one God. Regarding God, these two statements are accurate. And we must cling to both realities if we are to remain faithful to the real God.
Speaking of God’s judgment in a way that implies His grace will only be extended to those few who are permitted to board the ark is risky. Speaking of God’s grace in a way that implies He will ignore everything and that there won’t be any more judgment is risky.
Additionally, it is risky to attempt to find a middle ground where we believe in mercy and judgment in equal measure—that is, just enough. The water of the flood and the flames of hell are a great challenge, and you must not minimize them. Don’t minimize the gravity of God’s grace, which grants eternal life to sinners and permits them to live.
The sacrifice
How can you maintain the unity of these two things? By examining the intermediary, a sacrifice (Genesis 8:20), that stands between Genesis 6’s judgment for man’s sinful heart and Genesis 8’s grace. Making a sacrifice to God is the first thing Noah does after exiting the ark. With that offering, he gives thanks to God for His continued protection. He asks God to keep watching over him in that sacrifice.
Using that offering, he aspires to have communion with God. The ancient world is no more. Stepping out of the ark is Noah. It is unsettling to be in this new environment. Mud, dead animals, hardly any green at all—he needs to start over, and nobody can assist him save his family. “I survived the flood, but am I going to survive this new world?” must have crossed his mind. How does he start over in that terrifying environment? He presents the Lord God with a sacrifice. He looks up to the Lord God. He conveys his appreciation and faith in the Almighty God.
And to that the Lord God answers. Indeed, God is in charge of everything, has predetermined everything, and [knows everything beforehand]. In addition to the theological fitting of all of this, we observe that [the Lord God answers our prayers and searches] in this way. It touches him. The sacrifice’s “pleasant aroma” was detected by the Lord. Does a sacrifice have a lovely smell? The aroma of a charred animal? The meaning is obvious: the sacrifice has a “pleasant smell” because the Lord God is pleased with it. And because it is via this connection that man seeks with the Lord God, there is grace in addition to judgment over the wicked heart.
Seek the Lord! It’s clear from this that God loves sinners. This sentence might be interpreted in a highly irrational way: God uses any excuse to show mercy rather than pass judgment, and even the depravity of human nature is included as an excuse. You’re correct, too. It doesn’t make sense. God has affection for transgressors. It is not necessary for you to “earn” God’s compassion and attention by “polishing” your heart. Here is what the Lord God is saying: “I will show mercy to those who have a wicked heart.” That is not limited to Noah’s era. It still holds true today.
Learn more about [sacrifices, and the Lord Jesus’ last sacrifice]
