A Heartbroken God Deals with Rebellion: A Theology of Calamity Based on the Flood Story (Genesis 6:5-9:17)

Abstract

God created a good world and wills the well-being of all creation. Humankind, however, has sinned against God from the very beginning, following its own will and keeping its ways that oppose the loving and good will of the creator for the creation’s well-being. The foregoing study has established the Old Testament understanding that what we now call natural calamities are acts of God through nature, in judgment of a world that has turned against God. Judgment, however, is to be understood as God’s action of transforming a corrupt world towards wholeness and well-being. The study of the text and related interpretational resources
point to the sovereignty and power of God who uses nature as instrument for judgment and blessing. God, therefore, deals with the corruption of the world by humankind and paves the way for renewal and blessing, though not without pain and grief on God’s part.