Justice Shall Be Mixed With Mercy

Devotional

Day 1: God Destroys the Wicked, but Keeps the Righteous

God’s justice is unwavering—He sees the depth of human wickedness and responds with righteous judgment, yet in the midst of destruction, He extends mercy to those who walk with Him. The story of Noah reveals that while the world was filled with violence and corruption, God made a way to preserve the righteous, showing both His holiness and His grace. This pattern is not just a story of the past; it is a truth that echoes throughout all of Scripture and into our lives today. God’s character has not changed—He is both just and merciful, and He calls us to remember Him, to fear Him, and to trust in His ways. [11:48]

Genesis 6:5-8 (ESV)
The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.

Reflection: In what area of your life do you sense God calling you to turn away from compromise or hidden sin, and how can you actively seek His mercy and walk in righteousness today?

Day 2: God Sees the Heart, Not Just Actions

God’s gaze penetrates deeper than outward behavior; He sees every intention and thought of the heart, even before a plan or action is formed. The Lord is not fooled by appearances or external acts—He knows the true motivations and desires within each person. This truth is both sobering and freeing, for it means that God’s judgment is perfectly just, but it also means that His grace can reach us at the very root of our being. We are called to bring our hearts before Him, allowing Him to transform us from the inside out. [29:02]

Genesis 6:5 (ESV)
The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Reflection: What is one hidden thought or motive you need to bring honestly before God today, trusting Him to cleanse and renew your heart?

Day 3: God’s Mercy Provides a Way of Salvation

Even in the midst of judgment, God provides a way of escape for those who trust Him—He establishes His covenant and gives clear instructions for salvation, as He did with Noah and the ark. God’s mercy is not random; it is intentional and specific, offering hope and life to those who respond in faith. Just as Noah was given the ark, we are given Jesus Christ as our refuge from judgment. God’s provision is complete—He not only saves, but also sustains and provides for all our needs as we walk with Him. [43:34]

Genesis 6:18-22 (ESV)
But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ark to keep them alive with you. They shall be male and female. Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, of every creeping thing of the ground, according to its kind, two of every sort shall come in to you to keep them alive. Also take with you every sort of food that is eaten, and store it up. It shall serve as food for you and for them.” Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.

Reflection: Where do you need to trust God’s specific provision and instructions in your life right now, even if you don’t fully understand His plan?

Day 4: Faith in God’s Promise Leads to Righteousness

It is by faith that we are counted righteous before God, just as Noah believed God’s warning and promise and acted in reverent fear. Faith is not merely intellectual agreement; it is a trust that moves us to action, even when the world around us does not understand. God’s call is to believe in the salvation He offers through Jesus Christ, the true ark, and to rest in the assurance that He will keep us through every storm and final judgment. [48:24]

Hebrews 11:7 (ESV)
By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

Reflection: What is one step of faith you can take today that demonstrates your trust in God’s promises, even if it feels costly or misunderstood by others?

Day 5: Obedience Flows from Faith and Abiding in God

True faith is revealed in obedience—Noah did all that God commanded him, not just some. Obedience is not a burden but a response to God’s mercy and grace, a way of abiding in His love and trusting His wisdom. As we believe in Jesus and abide in the truth of His salvation, we are called to walk in obedience, doing all that He commands, knowing that He keeps the righteous and empowers us to live for Him. [52:17]

James 2:14 (ESV)
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?

Reflection: Is there a specific command of God you have been hesitating to obey? What would it look like to take a concrete step of obedience today, trusting that He will keep and sustain you?

Sermon Summary

Genesis 6 brings us face to face with the God who is both terrifyingly just and overwhelmingly merciful. The passage reveals a God who is not to be trifled with—a God whose holiness and power are so great that even the mightiest tremble before Him. Yet, in the midst of His righteous wrath, He is also the stronghold for those who take refuge in Him. The story of the flood is not just about destruction, but about the preservation of the righteous and the faithfulness of God to keep His promises.

As humanity multiplied, wickedness abounded to such an extent that every intention of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil continually. God saw this corruption, not just in actions, but in the very core of human motivation and imagination. This grieved Him deeply, and He determined to blot out all flesh from the earth. Yet, even in this, God’s mercy shines through. Noah, a man who found favor in God’s eyes, is preserved—not because of his own merit, but because of God’s grace. Noah’s righteousness, blamelessness, and walk with God set him apart in a generation marked by violence and corruption.

The mysterious episode of the “sons of God” and the Nephilim underscores the depth of rebellion and perversion that had infected creation. Whether these were fallen angels or powerful rulers, the point remains: God will not strive with evil forever. There is a limit to His patience, and judgment will come. Yet, God’s response is not arbitrary; it is measured, just, and always accompanied by a plan for mercy.

God’s instructions to Noah to build the ark are precise and purposeful. The ark becomes a symbol of God’s provision and salvation—a foreshadowing of Christ, the true ark, who saves all who take refuge in Him from the coming judgment. The flood narrative is a sobering reminder that God does not change. The God who judged the world in Noah’s day is the same God who will judge the world again. But just as He provided a way of escape then, He has provided a way now—through faith in Jesus Christ.

The call is clear: believe in the coming judgment and in God’s provision for salvation; abide in the assurance that God keeps His own; and obey, walking in reverent fear and doing all that He commands. God destroys the wicked, but He keeps the righteous.

Key Takeaways

1. The Fear of the Lord Is Foundational To truly know God is to stand in awe of His holiness, justice, and power. The Israelites were commanded to remember and fear the Lord, lest they forget who He is. Our greatest spiritual danger is not external opposition, but the internal drift toward forgetting God’s greatness and losing the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom. [10:58]
2. God Sees Beyond Actions to the Heart God’s judgment is not based merely on outward deeds, but on the intentions and thoughts of the heart. He sees the conceptual plans, the motivations, and the desires that precede any action. This means that true righteousness is not about external compliance, but about a heart transformed and aligned with God’s will. [29:50]
3. Divine Patience Has a Limit While God is slow to anger and abounding in mercy, there is a point at which He will no longer strive with human rebellion. The flood was not a rash act, but the culmination of persistent, unrepentant wickedness. This truth calls us to sober self-examination and to not presume upon God’s patience, but to respond to His warnings with repentance. [21:20]
4. God’s Mercy Is Always Present in Judgment Even in the midst of judgment, God provides a way of escape for the righteous. Noah’s favor with God was not earned, but given by grace, and his obedience was the evidence of genuine faith. In every age, God preserves a remnant, and His mercy is most clearly seen against the backdrop of His righteous wrath. [36:12]
5. Faith That Saves Is Faith That Obeys Noah’s faith was demonstrated by his obedience—he did all that God commanded him, even when it seemed unreasonable. Genuine faith is not passive assent, but active trust that results in obedience. To claim faith without obedience is to deceive ourselves; true belief always leads to action in accordance with God’s word. [52:17]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[05:05] - The Jealous and Avenging God
[06:50] - Prayer and Setting the Scene
[07:13] - The Depth of Human Wickedness
[09:02] - Confronting God’s Supremacy
[10:08] - The Purpose of Genesis for Israel
[11:48] - God Destroys the Wicked, Keeps the Righteous
[14:19] - Two Situations, Two Responses
[15:13] - The Mystery of the Nephilim
[18:13] - Who Are the Sons of God?
[19:04] - Satan’s Attempt to Corrupt the Seed
[21:20] - The Limit of God’s Patience
[23:24] - God’s Judgment on the Nephilim and Fallen Angels
[26:24] - God Responds to Human Wickedness
[29:02] - God Sees the Heart
[32:04] - God’s Grief and Regret
[35:22] - Noah Finds Favor
[38:32] - The Corruption and Violence of the Earth
[40:14] - The Ark: God’s Plan for Mercy
[42:33] - The Covenant and Preservation
[44:43] - Why Genesis 6 Matters Today
[45:03] - Believe, Abide, Obey
[46:26] - God Has Not Changed
[48:24] - Faith, Judgment, and Salvation
[51:35] - The Necessity of Obedience
[52:47] - Communion Invitation

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Genesis 6:1–22 (ESV) — (You may want to read the whole chapter together as a group.)

Additional Passages: —
- Hebrews 11:7 (ESV)
"By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith."

- Matthew 24:37–39 (ESV)
"For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man."

Observation Questions

According to Genesis 6, what did God see in the hearts and actions of humanity that led to His decision to bring judgment? (see Genesis 6:5; [29:02])
What set Noah apart from the rest of his generation, according to the text? (see Genesis 6:8–9; [35:22])
What specific instructions did God give Noah regarding the ark, and what does this tell us about God’s plan for mercy? (see Genesis 6:14–21; [40:14])
In Hebrews 11:7, what is highlighted about Noah’s response to God’s warning?

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says, “God’s judgment is not based merely on outward deeds, but on the intentions and thoughts of the heart.” Why is this distinction important, and how does it challenge the way people often think about sin? ([29:50])
The story of the flood shows both God’s justice and His mercy. How do these two aspects of God’s character work together in this passage? ([36:12])
The sermon mentions that “divine patience has a limit.” What does this mean for how we understand God’s patience and the urgency of repentance? ([21:20])
Noah’s faith led him to obey God’s commands, even when they seemed unreasonable. What does this teach about the relationship between faith and obedience? ([52:17])

Application Questions

The Israelites’ greatest danger was forgetting God and losing the fear of the Lord. What are some ways you personally drift toward forgetting God’s greatness? What practical steps could help you remember and stand in awe of Him this week? ([10:58])
Since God sees not just our actions but the intentions and motivations of our hearts, is there an area in your life where you need to ask God to transform your heart, not just your behavior? ([29:50])
The sermon warns that God’s patience with human rebellion has a limit. Is there a warning or conviction you’ve been ignoring, assuming you have more time? What would it look like to respond to God’s warning with repentance now? ([21:20])
Noah’s obedience was evidence of his faith. Is there something God is calling you to do that feels unreasonable or difficult? What would it look like to trust and obey Him in that area? ([52:17])
The ark is described as a symbol of God’s provision and salvation—a foreshadowing of Christ. In what ways do you take refuge in Christ as your “ark” from judgment? Are there areas where you are tempted to rely on your own strength instead? ([48:57])
The sermon says, “God destroys the wicked, but He keeps the righteous.” How does this truth affect the way you view God’s judgment and mercy in your own life and in the world around you? ([46:26])
The call is to “believe, abide, and obey.” Which of these three is most challenging for you right now, and why? What is one step you can take this week to grow in that area? ([45:03])

Sermon Clips

The common belief in our culture is that God just isn't like this anymore. That was the Old Testament God. We want the New Testament God, the God of love, not wrath. We want the God of sunshine and rainbows, not the God who destroyed all things with a flood. He isn't all fire and brimstone-y anymore. God's not an angry God anymore. He's not a wrathful God anymore. I don't want that God. He seems like a mean God. Give me the one that is all love and grace and peace. You might have heard that before. My question is, has God changed? What if God changed? God hasn't changed. [00:45:11] (50 seconds) #GodHasNotChanged

Those who tried to swim in their own strength when the flood came, they all perished. And likewise, they needed rescue from outside of themselves. They needed an ark. The same is true today. Your works will not save you from the coming judgment. It will be like treading water in a global ocean. Only faith in Christ saves you. Jesus Christ is that ark that will save you from the wrath of God. [00:48:39] (33 seconds) #FaithSavesNotWorks

If you believe that the wrath of God is coming and you believe that Jesus is the only way to be saved from that wrath, then you will be saved. If you believe in Jesus, then it will be counted to you as righteousness and you will be saved, just as Noah's was. God destroys the wicked, but he keeps the righteous. [00:49:17] (16 seconds) #SavedByFaithInJesus

Noah could have had all the faith in the world, but if he did not obey, then he would have not only perished like the rest of them, but he would have been proven as himself, as one who actually doesn't have faith, or believe. Because Noah believed, he constructed an ark. He obeyed. [00:51:59] (19 seconds) #FaithAndObedience

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Justice Shall Be Mixed With Mercy - Genesis 6