Genesis chapter 6 reveals that God was fed up with humanity because of the evil and wickedness they displayed at that time, so He purposed to destroy the earth, not sparing anything. The Bible also reveals that
Noah was the best in his generation, thereby he found grace in the eyes of God.
So why did God save Noah.
God saved Noah because somebody had interceded years back. Noah was the best in his time, but he wasn't the only one saved, his household also was saved too, Gen. 6:6-8.
It is necessary to state that Noah's children was corrupt even as the other humans on earth then - one would wonder why evil continued after the destruction of Noah's world. Noah's sons and their wives knew everything that other humans knew. Gen. 7:1.
Despite the evil that was displayed by humans, it wasn't God's intention to destroy the whole earth, so He sought for someone that could stand in the gap to avert the calamity that was to befall them. Amos 3:7 tells us that God will do nothing till He reveals it to His prophet. Before the warnings to Noah and his generation, the vision has already been revealed to Enoch-the man that walked with God in his time more than a thousand years ago before Noah.
Enoch was terrified by the visions he saw and was confused, his grandfather Malalel already has understanding of the vision; God must have shown him the vision too, so he tells Enoch not to be terrified but to pray instead and intercede for planet earth.
Enoch tells his vision to his son Methuselah in the book of Enoch.
En Chapter 82
1) And now, I have shown you my vision Methuselah, every sight which I saw prior to your birth...4) I was lying down in the house of my grandfather Malalel, when I saw in a vision heaven purifying and snatched away( thrown down and removed).
5) And falling to the earth, I saw likewise the earth absorbed by a great abyss and mountains suspended over mountains...7) Being alarmed at these things, my voice faltered, I cried out and said, the earth is destroyed. Then my grandfather Malalel raised me up, and said to me, why thus cry out, my son? and wherefore thus do you lament? 8) I related to him the whole vision which I had seen. He said to me CONFIRMED is that which you have seen my son. 9) And potent the vision of your dream respecting every secret sin of the earth. Its substance shall sink into the abyss, and a great destruction take place.
PRAYER FOR GOD TO SAVE A REMNANT
10) Now my son, rise up; and beseech the lord of glory( for you are faithful) that a remnant may be left upon earth, and that he would not wholly destroy it. My son, all this calamity upon earth comes down from heaven upon earth, upon earth shall there be a great destruction. 11) Then I arose, prayed and entreated; and wrote down my prayer for the generation of the world, explaining everything to my son Methuselah.
En chapter 83
PRAYER FOR POSTERITY TO REMAIN ON EARTH
...6) Now then, o God, lord and mighty King, I entreat you, and beseech you to grant my prayer, that a posterity may be left to me on earth and that the whole human race may not perish 7) that the earth may not be left destitute, and destruction take place forever. O my Lord, let the race perish from off the earth which has offended you, but a righteous and upright race establish for a posterity forever. Hide not your face, o Lord from the prayer of your servant.
This shows that God is constantly seeking for intercessors so He could save His people from the evil ahead. Enoch prayed earnestly, he did not give up like Abraham did in the case of Sodom and Gomorrah, he prayed for the righteous to be saved and remained on the earth.
Let me make it clear here, God does not plan to destroy the righteous with the wicked together, but what if the righteous does not speak out against evil? What if the righteous are silent and refused to act?
Let's look at the case of Sodom and Gomorrah, on His way to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, God stopped by to see Abraham, He revealed His plan to Abraham Genesis 18:17, Abraham with his heart of love and because of friendship with God stood and began to tell God you cannot destroy
the righteous and the wicked together, what if there were fifty righteous persons, will you destroy them...you know the rest of the story, Gen 18:23-33. He gave up, even while his nephew Lot was still in Sodom and Gomorrah.
What saved Lot?
Lot was saved because of his good deeds. He didn't support evil. He fought against it. What if Lot hasn't ushered those angels into his house? What if he saw them and ignore them and say whatever happens to them is not my business, even while the angels refused to follow him to his house, Lot insisted for them to come in, knowing fully well that the terrain is not safe for strangers, Gen 19:1-3.
So Lot was saved on his own account, Gen 19:4-25, his good will saved him. The digression was necessary. Evil today has grown so much in our society because the righteous has refused to speak. They are afraid of the unknown.
Bad policy doesn't know if you are righteous or not, everyone feels the effect of it. So, it behoves on us to say and stand for the truth always and never relent.
God knows everything. He allows you to see what's going on so you could act. God allowed Lot to see those angels to see if he will act, fortunately he acted and was saved.
So the next time you see oppression, resist it, whether its coming for you or not, do not say its not my business.
Have you been blessed by this article?
Share your view with us, drop your comment in the comment box below.
God bless you.
Supporting material: The Book of Enoch by Rev. David Ogbueli
No comments:
Post a Comment