Genesis 9:8-17 I Will Not Destroy The World Again?

Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying: "And as for Me, behold, I establish My covenant with you and with your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you: the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you, of all that go out of the ark, every beast of the earth. Thus I establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth."

As I said in the previous entry, G-d felt bad about destroying the world and all the life in it. However, it was just and had to be done. Here, G-d is promising not to destroy the world again. It amazes me that there are a lot of Christians and others who point to this passage and say, "See. God isn't going to destroy the world again, he's going to transform it."

Well, with many things, the details are in what you decide not to read. Many people read their Bible the same way. They read and absorb the general stuff while ignoring the specifics. Many Christians take in the Faith, Love and Hope message while ignoring the other things. These Christians tend to lose their faith because it is supported by "feel good" theology and not based in the reality of Gods Word. Unfortunately, I feel they are in for a rude awakening.

Anyway, lets' get back to the verse. Yes, G-d does say he is not going to destroy the world again.....BY WATER. See, the specifics are in the details. II Peter, chapter 3 tells us that the world will again be purged, not by water, but by fire.

"...the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men...the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up."


Fortunately, for us, this fire is part of G-ds wrath in the end times. In I Thessalonians 1:10, We are told that we are not subject to G-ds wrath.

"And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, [even] Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come."

Praise G-d for his mercy upon his people.

"And God said: "This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth." And God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth."

One thing you can take to the bank is G-d fulfills all his promises. First, not to destroy the world again with a global flood. He put the rainbow in the sky after each rain to signify his promise not to destroy the world by water. Second, to destroy the world and all the unrighteousness in it with fire. Finally, to save us from that wrath.

Praise G-d and pray for those who need him.

Shalom my friends.