In a second case study, Peter gives yet another warning of impending judgment of sinners: "And did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly" (2 Peter 2:5). Here Peter shows how God can destroy the wicked while saving the righteous, keeping them untouched. Again, you see here how God cares for those who are His.
The ancient world had become so wicked that God wiped everyone off the face of the earth, except for Noah and his family; eight people in all. The story is told in Genesis 6:5-8: "Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the LORD said, 'I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.' But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD."
God "did not spare the ancient world" (2 Peter 2:5a). The ancient world had become excessively evil. Note again the description of mankind: "Every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Gen. 6:5b). Judgment was about to come upon them, and they didn't have a clue.
Note how Jesus described the state of the times when He will return: "But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be” (Matt. 24:37-39).
Jesus was saying that people will be going about business as usual, giving no thought to righteousness or judgment, and it will come suddenly and unexpectedly. They won't heed the warnings, they won't understand, they won't believe that something that has never happened before can really happen, and they will be taken by surprise.
So it was with the people of Noah's day. For 120 years, as Noah built the ark, he went about preaching truth and righteousness to the people. He warned them of the coming judgment. He warned them of the coming flood. But the people ignored his warning. They thought he was just a crazy Bible thumper. They paid him no mind, until it was too late. It's the same with so many people today—judgment is coming!
But then, a promise of salvation was given to the righteous. God "saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness" (2 Peter 2:5b). Noah was a preacher of righteousness. He walked with God, unstained by the world, even though the entire world was mired in sin. And "Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD" (Gen. 6:8).
Over the years, while Noah preached righteousness, warned of impending judgment, and built the ark, God waited. "The Divine long-suffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water" (1 Peter 3:20).
The same flood that would destroy the world in judgment, would be used to save Noah and his family. That was God's promise to Noah, this preacher of righteousness. God promises salvation to the righteous still today. All who trust in Jesus for salvation are made righteous. God never loses sight of those who belong to Him.
Along with that promise of salvation comes another warning of impending punishment of sin. Noah and his family were saved as God was "bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly" (2 Peter 2:5c). Judgment of the sinner means sin will be punished. The punishment for sin is death. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 6:23).
While God was bringing judgment on the sinner and punishment for sin, He did not lose sight of the godly! He provided for their deliverance from judgment. He bore them up on the water in the Ark, and they were saved.
We are encouraged to remain faithful in two ways—not only will God bring down judgment on the false teachers and all who oppose Him, but He will save those who know Him. He will save all who are faithful. Trust in Jesus alone for your salvation, and be faithful. Amen.
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