Episode 250 - "Only Noah was left and those with him" - Genesis 7:17-24

Gen. 7:17 The flood continued forty days on the earth. The waters increased and bore up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. 18 The waters prevailed and increased greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the face of the waters. 19 And the waters prevailed so mightily on the earth that all the high mountains under the whole heaven were covered. 20 The waters prevailed above the mountains, covering them fifteen cubits deep. 21 And all flesh died that moved on the earth, birds, livestock, beasts, all swarming creatures that swarm on the earth, and all mankind. 22 Everything on the dry land in whose nostrils was the breath of life died. 23 He blotted out every living thing that was on the face of the ground, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens. They were blotted out from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those who were with him in the ark. 24 And the waters prevailed on the earth 150 days.

As one who’s had the privilege of studying under very accomplished scholars in the original languages of the Bible and who specialize in researching the ancient people in the Bible, one learns that even the experts disagree on interpretation and meaning at times. We can learn a lot by listening to these scholars. But we also need to discern where there is a splitting of hairs on issues that, quite frankly, are not helpful in understanding the big picture of what is being revealed. One example, in my mind, is the argument for a “local flood” rather than a global flood. This is the idea that the flood of Genesis did not encompass the world but the region where Noah lived. Scholars who hold this view have their reasons for interpreting this story as such. However, the reason why I believe it’s irrelevant is evident in this text.

In order to show this, let’s return to one of my favorite indicators that help us understand the message of this section of the flood story of Genesis. That indicator is “repetition.” Things that are repeated bring emphasis or focus upon what’s important. The first thing that I see repeated is “the waters prevailed.” This is not to say that there was a lot of water. There was a lot of water. But the point here is not the quantity of water, as it is the collective power and destructive effect that the water had upon the earth. In the beginning, God had separated the waters above from the waters below and caused the dry earth to appear (a separation of the water from the dry land). Now, the picture that is painted is one of the waters coming together to overwhelm the dry land and all life on it. The curse upon the earth was brought on by mankind’s disobedience. Now, mankind’s disobedience is being judged, seemingly, by the natural elements negatively impacted by that disobedience. Perhaps this overwhelming and chaotic scene was God’s way of saying, “I’m going to put the earth back under the chaotic, watery condition it was in before I separated the waters, brought forth dry land and filled these spheres with living things.” Humanity was given the authority to rule over creation, but in this divinely willed act, the waters prevailed and ruled over mankind and all living things on the dry land.

Verse 20 tells us that the waters prevailed fifteen cubits deep over the mountain tops. What’s the point in telling us that? It’s like the author is telling us how big this “monster” is that is prevailing. It’s certainly giving us details that nothing was going to be able to escape this judgment, with the exception of those who were on the ark. That which prevailed over all the dry land and all the living things on the dry land also bore up the ark and did not prevail over its inhabitants.

The next few verses (21-23) give us the next repetition. “All flesh died.” The statements in these few verses make it clear that nothing survived that was not on the ark, except for sea creatures. It emphasizes that what God said he was going to do, he did it exactly as he said he would.

This is where we see the pointlessness of arguing over a global versus local flood theory. Either way, the text does not seem to indicate any hyperbole, but rather a clear and precise fulfillment of God’s prophesied judgment upon the earth and the life therein.

If we need any more help, the second half of verse 23, “Only Noah was left, and those who were with him in the ark,” tells us plainly that nothing else survived. Why? The reason that has already been emphasized to the reader is that God deemed Noah righteous. Noah was the one who did “all that God commanded him.”

The message to the reader then is, first, God perfectly and completely judges disobedience. Nothing will escape God’s notice, and he will not let some things slide. Secondly, God alone perfectly judges who is righteous. God will rescue and protect from his prevailing judgment all those he deems righteous. Romans chapter three explains that Jesus Christ alone is perfectly righteous, and those who place their trust in him have his righteousness imputed to them. Because of that, those who have trusted in Jesus can rest knowing that we will be delivered from the ultimate coming judgment and enjoy eternal life in the presence of God. What a great hope!

Episode 249 - "And the Lord shut him in" - Genesis 7:6-16

Gen. 7:6 Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters came upon the earth. 7 And Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him went into the ark to escape the waters of the flood. 8 Of clean animals, and of animals that are not clean, and of birds, and of everything that creeps on the ground, 9 two and two, male and female, went into the ark with Noah, as God had commanded Noah. 10 And after seven days the waters of the flood came upon the earth.

Gen. 7:11 In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the windows of the heavens were opened. 12 And rain fell upon the earth forty days and forty nights. 13 On the very same day Noah and his sons, Shem and Ham and Japheth, and Noah’s wife and the three wives of his sons with them entered the ark, 14 they and every beast, according to its kind, and all the livestock according to their kinds, and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, according to its kind, and every bird, according to its kind, every winged creature. 15 They went into the ark with Noah, two and two of all flesh in which there was the breath of life. 16 And those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him. And the LORD shut him in.

To begin this day’s observations of the flood story of Genesis, I want you to notice Noah’s age. When the flood began, he was six hundred years old. Just a little over a chapter ago, he was only five hundred years old. It was after he turned five hundred that he fathered his three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. The LORD’s instructions to him to build the ark commanded Noah to take his wife, sons, and daughters-in-law. Apparently, there are no grandchildren in the picture yet. The point I’m getting to is that it may have taken 70-80 years to build the ark according to the instructions given by the LORD. That’s a long time for the word to get out what Noah is doing and for people to come by and ask, “What’s this all about?” We don’t know that they did. But I think it’s safe to say that if anyone undertook this project today, the word would get out pretty quickly. It strikes me that God never told Noah not to allow other people on the boat. The Scriptures only tell us that God was showing grace and mercy to Noah and his family because Noah was obedient to the LORD. God was telling Noah, “This is how I’m going to deliver you and your family from this destruction I’m bringing.” While it’s outside of the context of what the Scriptures tell us explicitly, it seems entirely possible, and likely even, that if someone had heard about God’s coming judgment and repented, I think God would have spared them as well. But that’s an argument from silence. There’s no indication that happened, even though the ark was possibly under construction for 70-80 years.

I make this conjecture because people often interpret a story like this as God being mean. In reality, however, this story shows God’s patience in that he did not bring this judgment until people were so wicked that nothing God did would bring them to repentance. They had plenty of time as Noah constructed this ark to ask questions and consider the implications, yet refused to respond to God’s mercy and revelation. I think they were likely cursing God as the flood waters rose.

Much of this text emphasizes the obedience to God’s commands to Noah, his family, and the animals. They entered the ark. The other thing that is highlighted is that what God had been telling Noah for nearly 100 years was fulfilled precisely. The text is so detailed that it mentions the day the flood started, with the rain continuing non-stop for forty days. This detail is joined with a description of how violently it began. Water came from every direction. It burst forth from the ground and from the sky above. It’s a frightening scene to imagine and one that I believe should inform our thoughts about God’s wrath. God consistently shows himself to want the best for people. The Scriptures speak of his desire for us to enjoy the life he has given us, his desire to commune with us, and his patience and love for mankind. But he is also a holy God who does not turn a blind eye to rebellion, violence, injustice, and other manners of evil. He justly and righteously judges sin. We should fear that wrath and respond to his loving and patient offer to deliver us from any judgment we might deserve.

My final thought on this section is the concluding remark in verse 16: “And the LORD shut him in.” God instructed Noah to make one door on the side of the ark. Noah had put pitch on the ark's outside and inside to help waterproof it. But what about the door? How did the door get sealed after Noah and his family were inside the ark? Verse 16 tells us, “the LORD shut him in.” I think this is an important image for us as well. In Christ, we are invited to enter into the one door into God’s protection and blessing and God makes that a secure place to be. Whatever we think might be a liability, God has it covered.