The Flood

Genesis 7-8 and Psalm 3

The Ark was a huge vessel, to say the least. I imagine it was the largest ever built in its day–why would anyone build such a large boat? From the images I’ve seen from those who have studied the biblical description of the Ark, it didn’t look like a sailing ship at all. Noah must have been questioned by neighbors on many levels, perhaps called crazy, insane, whatever, but he did what God said for a purpose beyond explanation.

One day I hope to make it to The Ark Encounter. I think it will be great fun to get a sense of the scale and magnitude of the Ark and support a Christian brother’s business. This will be a great trip, but much like visiting the Holocaust Museum, I’m quickly reminded of the somber atmosphere that surrounds the oft-portrayed children’s story of Noah and The Flood. The waters flooded the earth for 150 days. Even if someone built a raft and hung in there for the beginning of the flood, or perhaps in their own boats, they wouldn’t have had 150+ days of provisions. No. Mankind was wiped out. Pause.

Seven pairs of birds and clean animals, one pair of unclean. God included specific details for Noah; thus, he has enough animals to offer a sacrifice when the flood was over.

The long journey of building the Ark, collecting animals and birds is done on the 27th day of the second month of Noah’s 601st birthday, about a year after the rain began, The Flood was now over. Noah’s first action is to offer a pleasing sacrifice to God. The sense I get from reading that last verses in chapter 8 is one of great respect and appreciation to God for saving Noah and his family.

It’s interesting to read, “God said in his heart…” Here Moses is giving us some insight he has gained by communing with God himself. Honestly, I can’t wrap my mind around the thought, but the thought of God being introspective is astounding and incredibly humbling.

As long as the earth endures,
seedtime and harvest,
cold and heat,
summer and winter,
day and night
will never cease.Genesis 8:22

There are many stories of how The Flood happened, many plausible scientific explanations have been offered to explain how. There’s no denying that something happened in ancient times to change the course of history. My prayer is that we learn to understand that God is the master architect behind it all. I hope we can learn this truth deep inside so that the light shines clearly from within to those who are far from Christ. Lord help me to be patiently filled with love for your people and especially those who don’t know you or who have turned their backs on you. May your light shine into their hearts.