In preparation for the bible studies this year, Dorothee and I are reading the NET translation of the bible which has an interesting translation (and footnotes)for Genesis 6:3. This seems to open a very reasonable explanation for taking the position that God did not send the flood, but that rather the flood was the result of the ensuing chaos that occurs when God’s spirit is withdrawn from the earth – once again leading to a toho wabohu (“formless and void”) planet earth.
It’s interesting to consider that Methuselah died the year of the flood (the name Methuselah means, “when he dies, it shall come”) and that Lamech died 5 years before the flood. According the biblical account, God was literally down to the last person that had a trusting relationship with Him. The fact that no one got on the boat except for Noah’s family would also support this position.
Is there a destructive natural consequence as God’s Spirit – the sustaining Spirit of love and goodness (Hebrews 1:3) – is shut out from the earth? Does the planet function without the presence of its Maker? See what you think!
In the video below, Dr. Brad Cole narrates his powerpoint slide presentation.
[soundcloud id=’139029164′ height=’false’]