GOD'S JUDGMENT DURING NOAH'S TIME

God's commandments are good for us. The reason God gives us His laws is so that we can live according to His will, for we are created for Himself. When sin entered the world, the mindset of humanity changed from being God-centered to becoming self-centered. It is no longer about God, but it is about us. God's laws became a burden, instead of a delight. The reason people do not want to follow God is that they want to do whatever they want to do. They want freedom from any rules; however, the moment they free themselves from God's ways, they become enslave to Satan's ways. Eve chose to eat the forbidden fruit because it was desirable to her. She wanted to explore what it looked like to know what is good and evil, regardless of the consequences. As a result, her disobedience to God led her to suffering and death. Proverbs 14:12 says, "There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death." During Noah's time, people decided to live according to their own desires and wishes. They disregarded God's ways, and they became very corrupt, so much so that God decided to destroy the human race, except Noah and his family.

Genesis 6: 11-14 says, "Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight and was full of violence. God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. So God said to Noah, 'I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out.'" The reason God brought judgment to the people of the earth was because of their sins. They became full of violence, so the only way to save the human race was to wipe them out. God knew that the people on the earth would never change, and they would eventually destroy themselves. Some people would look at God's judgment in Noah's time as very harsh. However, God's judgment in Noah's time was good for humanity because God preserved Noah and his family who followed God's ways. It was because of Noah's faithfulness to God that we are living today. 

We need to remind ourselves that righteousness brings life, but sin brings death and suffering. The more we walk with God, the more we appreciate and enjoy life, but the moment we walk away from God, we may experience brief excitement and happiness, but it will eventually lead us to suffering and death. Let us continue to follow God and trust Him. 

Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you.) What is it important for me to persevere in walking and trusting God? What happens when I decide to walk away from God and do my own thing? What lesson did I learn in today's devotion? 

Take a moment to write down all your worries today. Then, lift them to God in prayer, surrendering them to His will and trusting in His guidance.

Prayer:

Dear Father in Heaven, your ways lead to life, but sin leads to suffering and death. Please help me to continue to walk with you. Do not let my heart stray away from you. When temptations come my way to lure me to pursue my own way and disregard your ways, please help me to overcome them. I want to follow and trust you, especially in times of uncertainty. In your name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.