Romans 2:14 Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 So they show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts either accusing or defending them 16 on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Christ Jesus, as proclaimed by my gospel. BSB
Early in Romans, Paul describes Gentiles who should have a sense of God through creation yet don’t honor Him along with Jews who have the law but don’t keep it. This second group of Gentiles is different than the earlier mentioned ones because they instinctively do what the law requires, even though they don’t have the law. This would be Noah (and for that matter, Job) who predate Abraham and the law.
Genesis 7:1 And God said to Noah, “Come with all of your household into the vessel, for I have seen your righteousness before me in this generation. 2 You shall take seven pairs of every clean animal with you, the male and his female. Of the animals that are not clean, take two, the male and his female…. 17 The flood was forty days on the earth. The waters increased, and lifted up the vessel, and it was lifted up above the earth. 18 The waters prevailed, and increased greatly on the earth; and the vessel floated on the surface of the waters. 19 And the waters rose very high on the earth. And all the high mountains that were under the whole sky were covered. 20 The waters rose and covered the highest mountains to a depth of more than twenty-six feet. 21 And all flesh died that moved on the earth, flying creatures, and tame animals, and wild animals, and every creature that crawls on the earth, and all humankind. 22 All in whose nostrils breathed the breath of life, of all that was on the dry land, died. 23Every living thing was destroyed that was on the surface of the ground, including people, animals, crawling creatures, and flying creatures of the sky. They were destroyed from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those who were with him in the vessel. 24 The waters prevailed on the earth one hundred fifty days. NHEB
Interesting that “clean” versus “not clean” as we don’t learn about these two categories until Moses comes along around a thousand years later. All in all, the flood lasted 190 days at which time God remembered Noah.
Augustine loved to use the ark as representative of the church. On the one hand, the stench in the ark had to be considerable, especially after a couple of months yet no matter what problems they might have faced inside the ark, the water outside was worse because it would kill you.
Genesis 8:20 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD. And taking from every kind of clean animal and clean bird, he offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 When the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, He said in His heart, “Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from his youth. And never again will I destroy all living creatures as I have done. BSB
In Genesis 6, God blots out humanity because of their evil nature and afterward says that He isn’t going to ever do that again. If the flood’s purpose was to wipe out sin then it was a failure as in Genesis 9 we will see Noah drunk and naked. This leads the process theologians to conclude that God is new to all of this and as a result, is struggling with this Creator thing. For this to be true, we would see other actions by God following along the same lines (which we don’t) that would show us that He is somehow winging it rather than being in control and in charge.
Perhaps the process theologians prefer not to talk about judgment. In Genesis 6:5, we are told that not only was the wickedness of humans great but their thoughts were always focused on evil. Later in 6:13 we learn that the earth is full of violence. It would appear that the depravity on earth is absolute (which is not the same thing as total depravity in Reformed theology). With only eight righteous people, what else would we expect God to do? This isn’t an emotional outburst. Rather, things have gone so far in the wrong direction that there is nothing left to do except start over. This stands as both a reminder and a warning to us that there will be another time of judgment with similar consequences for the people who are following the same path as those who perished in the flood.
Aside from being thankful for our own salvation, we should not wish for others to be cast into the outer darkness. This concern for the lost has led some people throughout church history to believe in a second chance for salvation, after death. They base this on the fact that God wants to save everyone and His grace is unending but our question would naturally be whether or not there is Biblical support for this.
1Peter 3:18 Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit, 19 in whom he also went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who before were disobedient when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ship was being built. In it, few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. WEB
The last words of Jesus (Luke 23:46) were to quote Psalm 31:5 and commit His Spirit to God before dying. Even though His body had died, His Spirit is still alive and preaching to the spirits in prison. Some then would argue that since God regretted His decision to wipe out humanity in the flood, the imprisoned people from this time are getting a second chance. Since they get a second chance, so does everyone else.
Needless to say, the church has never put its stamp of approval on this. While possible, there just isn’t enough evidence that despite an earthly life of sin and being self-centered that a person will immediately have another chance of salvation after death. In the story of Lazarus and the rich man, it doesn’t appear that the rich man has changed by dying nor does it appear that he has the opportunity for a second chance. One also has to wonder why people who didn’t accept Christ in their lifetimes would suddenly change their mind simply because they have died.
Though Jesus gives light to everyone who comes into the world, there are those who would rather have darkness….God is light, but He is also a “consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29). I don’t think this is speaking of two different things, but rather, two aspects of the same thing. For those who love God and walk in His ways, the light and the glory are a blessing; but for those who despise God and embrace evil, the light and the glory are a terrible consuming fire…..Those who love evil are totally unprepared to rejoice in the glory of God. To them, the light of God is a fire of judgment that will not relent. Indeed, it cannot relent, for God cannot cease to be who He is — His glory is eternal….The light of heaven is the fire of hell. Therefore, be reconciled to God through faith in Jesus Christ. (Jeff Doles https://www.thefaithlog.com/2009/01/light-of-heaven-fire-of-hell.html)
Genesis 9:1 And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. 2 The fear and dread of you will fall on every living creature on the earth, every bird of the air, every creature that crawls on the ground, and all the fish of the sea. They are delivered into your hand. 3 Everything that lives and moves will be food for you; just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you all things. 4 But you must not eat meat with its lifeblood still in it. 5 And surely I will require the life of any man or beast by whose hand your lifeblood is shed. I will demand an accounting from anyone who takes the life of his fellow man: 6 Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man his blood will be shed; for in His own image God has made mankind. 7 But as for you, be fruitful and multiply; spread out across the earth and multiply upon it.” 8 Then God said to Noah and his sons with him, 9 Behold, I now establish My covenant with you and your descendants after you, 10 and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth—every living thing that came out of the ark. 11 And I establish My covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.” 12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between Me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set My rainbow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. BSB
Noah is not a Jew yet God is making a covenant with him that is to last throughout all generations. (Our favorite rabbi would say this is why Jews can allow for other religions). The rainbow is the sign of this covenant carrying with it the notion of redemption rather than destruction. Redemption and the renewal of humanity are ideas that the Old Testament prophets take up a little further down the road.
Genesis 9:20 Noah, a farmer, was the first to plant a vineyard. 21He drank of the wine and got drunk. He was uncovered within his tent. 22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father naked and told his two brothers outside. 23 Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it on both their shoulders, went in backwards, and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned the other way, and they did not see their father’s nakedness. 24 Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his youngest son had done to him. 25 He said, “Canaan is cursed. He will be servant of servants to his brothers.” NHEB
Interesting the Canaanites became the long standing enemies of the Jews. There are some mysteries such as what exactly did Ham do. Perhaps he mocked his father. Some will hint at some type of sexual misconduct but more likely is that he did not treat his father with respect (unlike the other two brothers who looked away). This is a part of the family that is disrespectful. The problem of the Canaanites is that they are disrespectful of the Jews and become long standing enemies of the Jews. (Not to mention that they occupied the Promised Land).