Charles Spurgeon Commentary Genesis 7:4

"For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living thing that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the ground." — Genesis 7:4 (ASV)

It is the prerogative of the king to have the power of life and death, and it is the sole prerogative of the King of kings: "He can create, and He can destroy."

But what destructive power is brought into operation because of human sin! Sin must be a very heinous thing, since God, who does not despise the work of His own hands, will sooner break up the human race and destroy everything that lives rather than allow sin to continue to defile the earth.

He has destroyed the earth once by water because of sin, and He will the second time destroy it by fire for the same reason.

Wherever sin is, God will hunt it; with barbed arrows He will shoot at it; He will cut it in pieces with His sharp two-edged sword, for He cannot endure sin.

Oh, how foolish are they who harbour it in their own bosoms, for it will bring destruction to them if they keep it there!