Why do bad things happen to good people? We hear that question a lot when death, disease and tragedy strike. Some turn to events like the great flood to prove their point about a capricious God who cares not for humanity. Yet when we read Genesis 6–9 in the larger context of what we know about God, we are left scratching our head and asking, “Why did God save anyone at all?”
Justice is getting what you deserve and it is clear from Genesis 6:5–8 that humanity deserved total and complete annihilation. While Noah “found favor in the eyes of the Lord” (v. 8) it is also clear from his post-flood naked drunken stupor that he was far from perfect (9:21). If God let all humanity perish in the flood, they would be getting what they deserve for “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). So, we might wonder instead, why do good things happen to such bad people?
The prophet Jeremiah asked that very question and answered it by saying “His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness” (Lam. 3:22–23). Now mercy is not getting what one deserves. It is a lessening of the punishment, a scaling back, a sun beam of hope in an otherwise volcanic ash storm of judgment and despair. In sparing Noah and his family, God was showing mercy. In commanding them to “be fruitful and multiply” (9:1) God was giving humanity a second chance to fulfill his creation command started with Adam and Eve.
Next time someone tells you how cruel God is, point out to them what they actually deserve and all that God has withheld as he patiently waits for them to turn from their sin to his Son, Jesus Christ the only Ark that can save (2 Pet. 3:9).
Corey J. McLaughlin
