Mike Parsons
A very literal perspective
A lot of our understanding of the Old Testament comes from what we’ve been taught from a very literal perspective. However, much of the Old Testament can also be figurative. There’s poetry, and all sorts of things which can have a deeper meaning for us. In Noah’s day, the flood is often referred to in terms of Jesus being the Saviour, and it’s illustrative of how God came and rescued those who were willing to get on the ark.
What we must be careful of is not taking this too literally, as it was written with a different understanding of God. They didn’t have the New Testament understanding of God, nor did they know God in the way Jesus revealed Him. Their perspective was through their own understanding at the time. When we look at it now, we see it doesn’t line up with the God that Jesus came to reveal. So it’s our understanding that needs adjusting, not the idea that God was ever like that. God didn’t destroy the world.
Figuratively as well as literally
Now, there are those who say, “Yes, but the world was totally corrupt, and there were no genetically pure people left other than Noah.” Illustratively, of course, God desires that nothing within us be contrary to His image, the image He created us in. Our lives are being transformed by the renewing of our minds so that we come into that correct image. You can view these things figuratively as well as literally.
When it comes to questions like Sodom and Gomorrah—who caused the fire and brimstone? Well, who causes earthquakes? God doesn’t cause them. Who causes many other things? These are often the result of the natural world being in tension, not yet restored, groaning and longing for the sons of God to be revealed.
Fire and brimstone
Now, when you look at fire and brimstone—fire is often seen as God’s consuming fire. But we tend to think God destroyed them with fire. Fire could also be seen as a purifying force, a purification of what Sodom and Gomorrah represented, rather than a literal destruction of two cities. Some people believe they’ve found Sodom and Gomorrah, pointing to tar pits in the Middle East.
Brimstone actually means “God’s presence”—it’s the word “sulfur.” Brimstone is mentioned in the Book of Revelation, and the word used is “Theon,” from “Theos,” meaning “God.” So, brimstone signifies the presence of God, and God’s presence is purifying. These stories can be seen in that light. I know God didn’t cause these events because He doesn’t pour down judgment on people in that way. However, He does judge things that operate against the truth and will bring fire and brimstone to anything in our lives that hinders us from knowing and experiencing the truth and His love. But He’s not destroying people—He’s destroying the obstacles in our way.
There are different ways to look at it. Ultimately, I believe that God is love, God is good, and what He intends for us is to know His goodness and love. A lot of the Old Testament stories are figurative, but they’re written in a way that often doesn’t differentiate clearly between sowing and reaping. If someone sowed something bad, they reaped the consequences, not from God, but as a result of their actions.
The one who accuses
So, who brings about the consequence? The one who accuses and then comes to execute that accusation. We sow, and we reap the accusations against us for what we’ve sown. You could say the enemy brought the fire. In the undifferentiated view of God, if something bad happened, they thought God must have done it. But it could have been the enemy bringing the consequences of their behaviour, as the enemy seeks to rob, kill, and destroy.
Jesus said the enemy comes to do just that. So, who brought fire and brimstone? The enemy. Who brought the flood? You could say the enemy, or you could say the Earth itself reacted to the violence and horror, as described in Genesis 6, where violence was continual. The Earth washed itself clean. There are different ways to view it.
God is good
What I do know is that God is love, God is good, and He doesn’t kill or punish anyone, even if the Old Testament seems to say otherwise. Jesus came to reveal the truth. He said, “You’ve heard it said, but I’m saying to you,” and “If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father.” Jesus didn’t destroy anyone. He only wanted to gather them to Himself because that’s what love does.
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Sons of Issachar 