Matthew 24:36-39 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 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.
Right before Jesus comes back the whole world will be like it was in the days of Noah. Here is what it was like in the days of Noah.
Genesis 6:5-9 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.
Since the fall of man God had a plan to reconcile and restore His creation. God’s plan would be resisted by those, whether angelic or human, who desire to sit and rule as god over creation. So yes, God had to resort to many things in order to protect His plan. These things were against His nature to do but they were necessary in light of the big picture.
Ezekiel 33:11 Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’
We must not use the old ways to form our understanding of God. The old ways in which God had to do things that were strange and against His loving nature in order to protect His plan of reconciliation to redemption, a plan that is even resisted today.
Today we are to look to Jesus to see the true character of God, not the Old Testament.
Hebrews 1:1-12 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son…
When we see Jesus, we see the true image of God. Here is what God reveals through Jesus about His true character and nature. In other words, this is what God is really like.
Matthew 5:38-45 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
Let’s be fair with God and not use the old ways to judge His character. The hand of God was forced to do what He did in times past because of the condition of man's heart and what He was working with. It would be like the United States trying to make friends with ISIS as they kill and behead people.
In the end, when we get the clear picture of what God was forced to do to bring about His plan of reconciliation to redemption, He will be vindicated.
Revelation 7:9-10 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindred, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
We must learn not to judge a man’s character or motives by what he does under extreme conditions.