The Flood - A short study
Genesis 7:11 through 8:19 covers the incident called “The Flood.” It was a judgment of God on His creation.
There are many other issues addressed which occurred before, during and after the time that the waters covered the Earth. Some are of detail, some are of little note and some are left to the “imagination” of the reader, whether a believer or not.
Of note, in this vein, is “The Creation Museum Ark” which opened July 7, 2016 in Williamstown, Ky. It is supposedly a life size replica of the boat known as Noah’s Ark, though pictures do not depict it as the required design in the Bible. There was no prow. There was no “tailfin.” With exception of a window and a door, the craft was perfectly symmetrical from stem to stern, except there was no stem or stern.
It was an ark, not an ocean “going” vessel. It was not designed to be navigated. It’s only purpose was to “lift” man above the evil works, turmoil and destruction of the world. God set the course. Man rested in the hands and works of God. This brings us to the second of our issues for today, “fear.”
As we look at movies or read commentaries and novels related to the Flood and the Ark, the advent of the water is always depicted as a harsh, violent on rush of water from above and below. The Bible does not state this is the manner in which the water was introduced. On the contrary, it leaves it to the imagination of the reader. However we must consider the purpose noted above.
God was saving a remnant the believed. Faith is what put them on the boat. How much faith they had is not of importance. It is the fact that they were saved by the grace of God through faith. And how do we know they each had faith in God. The eight on the ark got on the boat willingly, Genesis 7:7. This is the opposite of the “eight” that refused to leave Sodom and Gomorrah, Genesis 19:25, and perished which brings us to the final point for today.
One has to consider two items. “ … all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.” That is Genesis 7:11. We see nothing here to say it was tumultuous. When a water line breaks, regardless of the size, the explosive effects of the break only happens at and near the break. The water ripples to nothingness and calm as it continues to rise. So we may assume this was the action regarding the Flood and the Ark. And why do we assume this?
God has just saved eight people for their faith. Would He, then, cause them fear with a horrendous action of waves and rain? It does not fit the circumstances.
We see the Ark slowly but continually rising on the Flood waters to a point where water is above the highest mountain peak, Genesis 7:20. The water is high enough above the mountains so as the Ark’s bottom would not scrape or puncture.
And inside we find Noah, his wife, his sons and their wives, comfortable in their situation. This is not to say they may not have had apprehension. But what apprehension they may have had was in and of themselves. God was in charge and caring for them gently, as a loving Father.
If we can look past the “flood waters” of our lives, we would see the same loving Father.