report of some sudden accident (the explosion of n mine, the sinking of I\ ship, the collision of a train), in which a number of lives arc lost, it is not wonderful tlll\t the eeho of this stnpendous catnstrophe should hllve vibrnted through the world (see 'Tr_a<litions of the Deluge l . 3. SttJ?ernatural in its origin. It was not an or<lmary occurrence, but a d1shnctly nnraculous phenomenon. 11 Behold, 11 even I <lo _hrin_g a flood of water~ ~pon t)ie ~arth:" 4. Punitive in its purpose. It~ r0!nh11tJYc character was d1stmctly implied m the form of its announcoment- ,, I will destroy." All temporal calamities arc not of this description. That all snffe1ing is p~nal was the mist:~kc ~£ ~ob's friends (Jo~ h•. 7, et passim), though 11ot .?.£ Job h1msel~1 and certainly _1_~ 1s not the tea.clung of the Bible (cf. Job xxxm. 29; Ps. xc1v. 12; Rom. vm. 28; 2 Cor. 1v. 17). But this was - 5. lilelanclwly in ?°t,; occasion-the total, absolute, and radical corruption of the earth's inhabitants. Through unbelief and disobedience they had ruined the morn! nature which God had gfren them; and now there was no help for it but that they should be swept away. 6. Inevitable in it,; comi1l{J, Implied in one interpretation of the words" the end of all flesh" (vule Expos.). Sin ever canies its own retribution in its bosom; not merely, howeYer, in recoiling upon itself with inward misery, sense of loss, weakness, depravation; but likewise in necessitating the infliction on the part of Elohim of positive retribution. 7. Near in its approach. "Behold, I am bringing l" as if it were already at hand. Sec here (1) the danger of sin; (2) the certainty of retribution; (3) the righteousness of the wrath of God; (4) the mercy of God in making this knovm to siriners, as he foretold the Flood to the ante<liluvians. III. THE COMMISSION AND ITS EXECUTION. 1. It related to the safety of the Ohm·ch (rnr. 18). A.t that time the antediluvian Church was small, consisting only of Noah an<l. his family (eh. vii. 1), and in all probability uninfluential and despised, by the Gibborim and Nephilim of the day ridiculed and oppressed. Endangered by the immorality and violence of the times, it was likewise imperilled by the impending Del~fe. Yet God. never leav:es his peop.~e unprotecte~ or unprovided for (Deut. xx:.xm. 12 ; Ps. XDJ.V. 15; xlv1. 5; Zech. 11. 5; 2 Pet. n. 9). The Church of God and Christ is imperishable (Isa. !iv. 17; Matt.. xvi. 18; xviii. 14). That was sym- bolised to Israel by the burning bush (Exod. iii. 2), and to all postdiluvian time by ihe ark. It was impossible that Go,l could be unconcerned about the safety of the believing remDant in antediluvian times. The commission which came to Noah con- cerned the rescue of himself and children. 2. It was IJivinely given (vers. 13 1 14). Sal,ation is of the Lord (Ps. iii. 8; Jonah ii. 9). Manifestly only God could have provided for the safety of Noah and his family. Directions from any other quarter, or even expedients devised by himself, must have proved both futile and presump- tuous. So, whatever instructions may be given to man with a view to salvation must come from God, if they are to be successful. Schemes of redemption may be beautiful, ingenious, attractive, hopeful ; if they are not God's schemes they are worthless (Isa. :xliii. 11 ; Hosea xiii. 4). 3. It was minutely detailed (vers. 14-16). The plan which God proposed to Noah for the salvation of himself and house was building of an ark according to Divinely-prepared specifications. In its construction there was no room left for the exercise of inventive genius. Like the tabernacle in the wilderness, it was fashioned according to a God-given pattern. And so, in all that concerns the salvation of sinful men, from first to last the plan is God's, admitting neither of addition nor subtraction, correction nor improvement, at the hands of the men themselves. 4. It was believingly received (Heh. xi. 7). Perhaps the last device that would ever have suggested itself to the mind of Noah, very likely ridiculed by Lis contemporaries as an act of folly, probably at times regarded with considerable misgivings by the patriarch himself, and certainly an undertaking that would involve immense labour, patient endurance, heroic self-sacrifice, it was yet accepted in n spirit of meek and unquestioning faith. A.nd so should it be with us. When God speaks we should hear. When he directs we sho 11ld obey. 5. It was obediently carried throwJh (ver. 22). This was the best test of his faith. Where obedience is absent, faith it1 not present. Faith always discovern its existence by obedience (Heb. xi. 8). Learn-(1) God's care of his people. (2) The sufficiency of God's pbn of salvation. (3) The wisdom of implicitly following God's directions. OH, vr. 9--22.] 'l'HE BOOK OF GENESIS. 113
Ver, 22.-Tlte obedience of Noah. I. P1otrs in ita rRINCIPLE. II PROMPT in its OPERATION. III. LADOnI0UB in its EXERCISE, IV. UNIVF.RSAL in its EXTENT, V. PERSEVERING in its COURSE, VI. SUCCESSFUL in its END.