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NASB | Genesis 8:21 The LORD smelled the soothing aroma; and the LORD said to Himself, "I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Genesis 8:21 The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma [a soothing, satisfying scent] and the LORD said to Himself, "I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intent (strong inclination, desire) of man's heart is wicked from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done. |
Bible Question:
Hi, Gen 8: I read that God would never "destroy" the Earth's inhabitants again as long as the Earth "endures". Would an inevitable destruction of the earth and its inhabitants by nuclear war or global melt down prove the non-existence of God or His impotence? |
Bible Answer: Hello templescroll The full quotation (KJV) from Genesis 8:21-22 is as follows: "And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease". In 2 Peter 3:9-13 the following is noted: "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness". Gods promise in Genesis 8 is that "everything living" will not be destroyed, and this is qualified by "as I have done". A further expansion of the promise is given in that "While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease". However, as per the quote from 2 Peter 3, there is no soubt that God will judge the world again - not by a flood, but by fire. So, to answer your question "Would an inevitable destruction of the earth and its inhabitants by nuclear war or global melt down prove the non-existence of God or His impotence?" If there was a nuclear war in which there was widespread destruction upon earth I personally feel that this would in no way "prove the non-existence of God". Indeed, if we examine the book of Revelation, I believe that it reveals to us that there will be widespread death and destruction upon earth during the Tribulation period. As to global melt-down - the passage in 2 Peter 3 confirms that the "elements will melt with fervent heat" - this moves on to a later period when God will renew the earth and the heavens again. I hope this helps to clarify. This reply is a bit scattered but i hope understandable! David |