Tag: Ark

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Genesis Chapter Eight. God Remembered Noah, and Every Living Thing.

And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters asswaged;
[2] The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained;
[3] And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated.
[4] And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat.
[5] And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen.
[6] And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made:
[7] And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth.
[8] Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground;
[9] But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark.
[10] And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark;
[11] And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.
[12] And he stayed yet other seven days; and sent forth the dove; which returned not again unto him any more.
[13] And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry.
[14] And in the second month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, was the earth dried.
[15] And God spake unto Noah, saying,
[16] Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons’ wives with thee.
[17] Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth.
[18] And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him:
[19] Every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl, and whatsoever creepeth upon the earth, after their kinds, went forth out of the ark.
[20] And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
[21] And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.[22] While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease

Commentary On Genesis Chapter Eight

This chapter opens with an expression of great compassion on the part of God. The opening phrase concerning God remembering Noah does not indicate in any fashion that God has the capacity to become forgetful or frail as do men sometimes. What is meant to be conveyed is the attention which God gives to the care and preservation of the man, Noah, and his family after the completion of the necessary judgement which was sent upon the earth. Other instances recorded in Scripture which are similar in their intent to convey the heart of God as He interacts with people would include the following passages.

  • “And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.” (Genesis 19:29)
  • “And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. [24] And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.[25] And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.” (Exodus 2:23-25)
  • “And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD:
    [3] And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.
    [4] And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers.
    [5] And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant.
    [6] Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments,” (Exodus 6:2-6)
  • “And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
    [40] But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
    [41] And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
    [42] And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
    [43] And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:39-43)

Let us remember that throughout the study of Scripture we are to look for what is revealed unto us concerning God Himself. To focus intently upon other lessor matters is a common error that people make and in doing so do not see the most important things which are before their eyes. Having said this it is to be noted that throughout the Old Testament one will come upon various items which are symbolic of The Christ as events therein unfold. The familiar term “typical”, in use today, is derived from these illustrations known as “types.”

Throughout the account of God’s flood upon the earth there are several of these to be found. The ark itself is a type of Christ, for it speaks of the salvation of those who by faith entered into the safety of God’s prepared refuge for deliverance. The invitation of God to enter in was proclaimed, as we have seen, for all men to hear and yet only those who responded in faith came aboard.

In like manner the gospel of God has been proclaimed around the world for over two thousand years inviting men to enter into the safety from the wrath of God, which is to come, by faith in Jesus Christ. As we progress through the Old Testament Scriptures, we shall repeatedly see the use of this methodology to show forth the coming of The Christ.

Known as the study of typology, this method of examining the Scriptures has been employed by many to add to the understanding of the content which is set forth therein. Not only can The Christ be found set out in this manner in The Old Testament, but in the course of examining the Scriptures The Holy Spirit of God may be ascertained here as well. In the chapter which is now before us take note of the birds which were sent out by Noah. The raven represents a connection to the dead world which was rebellious against God. The raven is known to be a carrion eater and therefore very comfortable with the company of rotting flesh. It is written.

“And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made:
[7] And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth.”

(Genesis 8:6-7)

Note that the raven did not return to the safety of the ark, but rather sought to join the remnants of the world which perished. instead. Pictured in this is the truth that there remains within those of us who have been sheltered in the Ark of Christ that old Adamic nature which still would desire the things of this world. One does not lose their salvation but rather having entered into union with Christ one still finds that as long as we are upon this earth, we do possess two natures when we have been born again. To deny that we are capable of sinning against God once we have been born anew is to deny the plain teaching of Scripture. It is written.

‘For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
[15] For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
[16] If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
[17] Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
[18] For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
[19] For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
[20] Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
[21] I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
[22] For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
[23] But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
[24] O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
[25] I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.”

(Romans 7:14-25)

The Apostle Paul wrote these words in reference to his struggle with the old nature as a believer who had been washed in the blood of Calvary’s lamb! It is for this reason that we find it necessary to come before The Lord in prayers of repentance, from time to time, in order to restore fellowship with Him. This is indicated by the following Scripture which were written unto believers.

“And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
[5] This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
[6] If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
[7] But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
[8] If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
[9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
[10] If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

(IJohn 1:4-10)

As I have stated, those who have been saved possess two natures. The second nature is symbolized, in this account of the ark coming to rest, by the employment of the dove which Noah sent forth after the raven. It is written.

Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground;
[9] But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark.
[10] And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark;
[11] And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.

(Genesis 8:8-11)

Take note of the actions of the dove. When there was found no place suitable for the parties which had been brought safely through the waters to go forth into the new world which they would find, the dove returned to Noah thereby communicating that the timing was not right to sally forth.

Like this dove, The Holy Spirit of God will go before those who are in Christ into uncertain circumstances and discern whether or not one should go forth into a certain place or venture or even a relationship. It is the Holy Spirit who tells us that all is not right to go forth, if we would but listen. Far too often that gentle prompting of The Spirit is ignored, and the unpleasant consequences of a decision made without heed to God’s discernment, as He would reveal it unto us, is the sad result.

Seven days after the initial dispatch of the dove, Noah again sent out the bird of peace to try to discern the status of the world which awaited them. This time the dove came back and communicated that now it was safe to venture out by bringing an olive branch in its beak. When the timing is right for an endeavor in the life of a believer, there will be the witness of The Holy Spirit to affirm this to be true.

Having received affirmation of an awaiting world to be inhabited, Noah and his family did not yet rush out to a journey of discovery. We are told that they waited seven days more before taking action. It is written.

“And he stayed yet other seven days; and sent forth the dove; which returned not again unto him any more.
[13] And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry.
[14] And in the second month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, was the earth dried.
[15] And God spake unto Noah, saying,
[16] Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons’ wives with thee.
[17] Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth.”

(Genesis 8:14-17)

There is set out before us here a clear pattern by which believers ought to be able to truly discern the situations of life correctly. Do not miss the fact that the affirmation of the dove was not the deciding factor concerning the matter of when the company who had been brought through the flood were to move forward into their new habitat. Learn from the typology involved that certainty of a decision made by a believer will hinge upon the affirmation of the Spirit AS WELL as the word of God!

Verse fifteen of this chapter indicates that the word of God is necessary in conjunction with the affirmation of The Spirit before taking or delaying an action. The Spirit will never contradict the word so if you find your emotions at odds with the clear teaching of the word of God you may mark it down that whatever action you are contemplating is not directed by God. In the case of Noah God spoke audibly and directly unto Him to affirm the witness of the Spirit.

In our time the witness of God’s speaking unto us is to be acknowledged by the Scriptures which we have in the form of the sixty-six books of The Holy Bible. While some do claim to have been spoken unto in dreams, emotional revelations, or some other manner granted by God as a special revelation unto them, it is a dangerous thing with potentially eternal negative consequences to accept such a declaration without searching the teachings of Scripture for affirmation of what is being said.

Often Christians complain that knowing the will of God is difficult. In reality it is not so. God intends to reveal Himself and His will unto those who will follow Him. As one searches the Scriptures it will be discovered that the phrase. the will of God, will be found over twenty times within its pages. Consider a few of these as set forth in the following passages.

  • “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
    [27] And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8:26-27)
  • “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
    [2] And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2)
  • “For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
    [4] Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
    [5] And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God. ” (II Corinthians 8:3-5)
  • “Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
    [6] Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
    [7] With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
    [8] Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.” (Ephesians 6:5-8)
  • ” For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.
    [3] For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
    [4] That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;” (I Thessalonians 4: 2-4)
  • ” In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (Thessalonians 5:18)
  • “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
    [14] Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
    [15] For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
    [16] As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.” (I Peter 2:13-16)

I have found that it is often the case that the issue is not knowing the will of God, but rather; submitting unto what God reveals as His will in a given circumstance due to conflict with what we desire and what that will commands us to undertake. Noah waited until he had the combined affirmations which we have noted here. It was not until God spoke that Noah and all other living creatures within the Ark of God took their leave.

Take note of the priorities which were immediately established by Noah. when he led all life from the ark. It is written.

“And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him:
[19] Every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl, and whatsoever creepeth upon the earth, after their kinds, went forth out of the ark.
[20] And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
[21] And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
[22] While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

(Genesis 8:18-22)

The first recorded act after all were set free from the confines of the ark was an act of worship directed unto the creator and sustainer of life. God was Noah’s first priority. Humanity was designed to have communion with our creator. He also is designed in such a manner that an object of worship will be sought out and acknowledged through actions which place that object or person above all else. That is the essence of worship.

It is evident that the humanity which inhabits the world in which we live has chosen to deny and defile the One True God, who we were designed to worship, by subordinating Him unto lessor, unholy things. The people of today are fulfilling the prophecy found in the book of Romans without even knowing or caring for the most part. It is written.

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
[19] Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
[20] For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
[21] Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
[22] Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
[23] And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
[24] Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
[25] Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
[26] For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:”

(Romans 1:18-26)

This text is plainly dealing with the same issues which we have seen demonstrated by those who perished in the great deluge. False worship always leads to a downward spiral. While not everyone engaged in this descends deep into immorality and debauchery it is to be noted that such does always lead to misery. God takes note of worship. It rightfully belongs unto Him and Him alone. Worshipping God is a fountain source of blessing for those who practice it. All else leads to loss even though there may appear to be temporal gain. Remember that all which we see, touch, and deal with daily in this life, is in the act of perishing over time. Only the worship of The One True God will acquire eternal benefit which cannot rust, rot, decay, nor be corrupted in some other manner.

In the case of Noah’s conduct of worship God blessed him with the following promise. It is written.

“And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
[22] While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.”

(Genesis 8:22)

My friend, as we end our examination of this chapter, I invite you to stand outside on a pleasant night and look upward at the stars. Look carefully at the various constellations which make their appearance during certain seasons of the year and move along across the sky until they are on longer visible to you. In many places upon this earth that certain rotation of these groups of stars is depended upon by farmers who plant their crops based upon when certain ones of them appear. As you gaze into the heavens, I urge you to remind yourself that what you are looking at is an affirmation of the promise from God to Noah at the end of Genesis chapter eight. I would also urge you to remember that this promise which benefits you and I today was made in response to an act of proper worship by one who walked with God.

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Genesis Chapter Seven, Come Thou Into The Ark.

 And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.
[2] Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.
[3] Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth.
[4] For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.
[5] And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him.
[6] And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth.
[7] And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood.
[8] Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of fowls, and of every thing that creepeth upon the earth,
[9] There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah.
[10] And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth.
[11] In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.
[12] And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.
[13] In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark;
[14] They, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort.
[15] And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life.
[16] And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in.
[17] And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth.
[18] And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters.
[19] And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered.
[20] Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered.
[21] And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man:
[22] All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died.
[23] And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.
[24] And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days.

Commentary On Genesis Chapter Seven

Having preached the pending judgement of God for one hundred and twenty years as he built the ark of God, Noah and his family have come to the point when the grace of God toward those who rejected His warnings was expired. The opening verses of this chapter carry a certain finality concerning the offer of deliverance which God ceased to extend unto humanity other than this one family. It is written.

“And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.
[2] Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.
[3] Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth.”

(Genesis 7:1-3)

At this point in our journey of discovery one must pause to ask the question of why God chose this one family out of all peoples upon the earth to deliver. Certainly, it was not due to any merit upon the part of Noah whereby he could claim that God was indebted unto his family to do this for them. What was it that caused God to choose them?

Indeed, one must ask why God would deliver anyone from the human race at all? There are answers to these questions which I hold to be of great importance to the veracity of the Scriptures and to the character of God Himself as He reveals Himself in those Scriptures. To begin with, God had made a covenant promise with Adam and Eve concerning the redemption of mankind while they yet dwelt within Eden, The Garden of God. God cannot break any covenant which He chooses to commit Himself unto fulfilling. It is written.

“And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”

(Genesis 3:15)

To this point within the revealed record of Scripture it has been shown that Adam and Eve expected God to abide faithful to this prophetic declaration. Remember that when Eve bore Cain and Able, she declared that she had gotten the man from The Lord. She believed erroneously that one of her male children was the deliverer. In fact, it was Cain that she had expected to fulfill that role! Obviously, that was not the case and therefore The Seed of The Woman had not yet appeared upon the earth.

Had God, in His righteous Sovereignty, chosen to eradicate the entirety of the human race He would have of necessity reneged upon the first prophecy concerning the coming Messiah found within Scriptures. God would have to be untrue to the faithfulness of His own character and therefore no longer be found trustworthy upon any matter. While we would not be around to be concerned with this do not forget that we are not the only intelligent beings that inhabit the created universe of God.

It was this point that Satan chose to employ in his discourse with Adam and Eve in Eden. The trustworthiness of God was called into question. Satan presented God as a liar who was deliberately withholding something good, something better to which they were entitled yet not allowed to possess. A failure on the part of God to honor His integrity would be viewed by the entirety of the Angelic population and therefore justify the claims of Satan to the throne of God for Himself.

The family of Noah was chosen by God in order to keep His integrity intact. There were other reasons which caused God to extend HIs grace unto this man and his household. We are told that Noah was a man of faith. It is written.

“By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.”

(Hebrews 11:7)

We are also told that Noah was a man of righteousness. it is written.

“And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.“

(Genesis 7:1)
Be careful in your understanding of this term, righteousness, as it is used here. The meaning of righteousness, as it pertains to God is intended to convey absolute perfection of which no man is capable. What then does this mean when we read that God had seen the righteousness of Noah in that generation upon the earth?

The righteousness of Noah speaks to the right living before God which is demonstrated by unquestioning obedience to the revealed will of God. Read carefully the entire account of Noah’s interaction with God up to this point and you will not find any instance of challenge or disobedience which Noah displayed. It was this which is spoken of here.

Having done as God had commanded, with nothing more to be done by him, Noah and his family were graciously invited to enter into the ark. The ship which they had built in accordance with the plan of God was no mere boat. The ark was 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. There was more than ample room to contain the various species of animals that would be contained within its decks as well as the food which was required.

Now it is important to grasp certain conditions regarding the earth itself at this point in the Scriptural narrative. Rain had never fallen upon the earth prior to the great deluge of God. The land and the vegetation which it harbored was watered by a gentle mist which Gd caused to rise from the earth. In essence the climate of the entire earth was tropical in nature with a great canopy of water filtering out the harmful rays of the sun. It was this massive canopy of water which was poised above the earth that God would use to cover the face of the planet with the waters of the great flood.

In addition, there were massive amounts of water contained within the planet itself which would be unleashed. It is written.

“In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.
[12] And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.”

(Genesis 7:11)

Before this event there were no massive mountain ranges which form the backbone of the continents as we recognize them today. Indeed, the first mention of mountains in Scripture is found in the very chapter we are exploring and nowhere before this. The mountains which we are familiar with today arose in the process of literally turning the bowels of the earth inside out to allow the water within to be released. This was by no means a small, limited, local flood as some would suggest.

The entirety of earth’s composition was altered in such a way that the land, which had been in one place, was fractured into the seven continents which we recognize today and began the process known as continental drift. One cannot overstate the enormity of this cataclysmic occurrence. As would be expected, given the universality of this event, nearly every ethnic group to live upon our planet has some form of reference to this thing which God has done in the far distant past.

Among the earliest recognized literary works to ever have been found is the Epic of Gilgamesh which tells that tale of the half man, half god individual after who it is named as he traveled the earth searching for the key to immortality. In this tale the eleventh tablet containing the Babylonian account of it holds a reference to the meeting of the title character and one known as Utnapishtim, the far away one.

In the course of the conversation between Gilgamesh and Utnapishtim the latter tells of his survival in a boat which he and his family had made that was covered in pitch and wherein all of the animals of the earth were kept alive when the gods became angry and decided to destroy the earth with a great, all-encompassing flood of waters. Research which I have conducted has led me to conclude that Gilgamesh did exist and that he most probably did actually meet with one of the descendants of Noah who had been aboard the ark of God.

Time and space would prohibit me from cataloging all of the ancient myths and records from the various ethnic groups of this planet which address the truthfulness of The Scriptures through the means of traditions and myths which have sprung up based upon this one event in the far distant history of planet earth. Remember that when this is done there will be only the family of Noah through which the entirety of this planet will be repopulated. Given this truth, we have no reason to marvel that all of humanity would have knowledge of this. In fact, were this not the case then the argument for the accuracy of Scripture on this matter falls apart.

The time had come to end this matter. God commanded Noah and his family to enter into the ark. Even in this final moment before the judgement of God fell the grace of God is exhibited. It is written.

“For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.
[5] And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him.”

(Genesis 7:4-5)

There was a period of seven days when anyone could have repented and chosen to enter into the ark, but no one availed themselves of this opportunity. There is no need to speculate concerning what the world was doing as they ignored God’s grace. Jesus gives some insight into this when He speaks in the gospels concerning the end of days for humanity yet to come. It is written.

“But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
[37] But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
[38] For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
[39] And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”

(Matthew 24:36-39)

Again, it is written.

” For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.
[25] But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.
[26] And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
[27] They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
[28] Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
[29] But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
[30] Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.”

(Luke 17:24-30)

The conditions upon this earth will rival the foul, wicked, evil which penetrated the entirety of humanity during Noah’s day. The vile and depraved perversions which are accepted as normal will also rival the conditions of both Noah’s day and Lot’s Day. Yet there is something more which is not to be missed in this, for the conditions described by Jesus here include a rampant and willful apathy towards the things of God as men simply go about their day-to-day business.

God will simply be ignored. Conditions upon planet earth will find no place for the “irrelevant” notion that God is to be granted an audience. Men will just be too busy, in addition to all of the other blighted conditions contained in this warning from our Lord, to care about God. Scripture addresses this in the following passages. It is written.

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
[2] For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
[3] Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
[4] Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
[5] Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

(II Timothy 3:1-5)

” Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
[4] And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
[5] For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
[6] Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
[7] But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
[8] But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
[9] The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
[10] But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
[11] Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,”

(II Peter 3:1-11)

It is important to note that when God had established the boundaries of His grace in this matter, He maintained His established parameters in order that His character as a gracious God would be upheld. The rejection of Him by all who perished was a sinful deliberate choice on their part. I have heard scoffers decry the righteousness of God by proclaiming they will not accept a God who sends people to hell. In truth, God sends no one to hell, for they must refuse His offer of redemption in order to end up in that place of eternal punishment. It is a choice made by every person who enters that place.

Once Noah, his three sons, and their wives had entered into the ark, God brought to them all of the animals which were destined to survive the cataclysm. It is written.

“And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood.
[8] Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of fowls, and of every thing that creepeth upon the earth,
[9] There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah.
[10] And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth.
[11] In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.
[12] And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.
[13] In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark;
[14] They, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort.
[15] And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life.
[16] And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in.

(Genesis 7:9-16)

Take special notice of the last five words of the above passage. God shut the door. Noah could not have opened it if he had desired to do so. The time of grace had passed. The time for God to demonstrate His faithfulness unto Noah and His family had come. This He would do by not allowing one animal that entered the ark to even come close to getting wet!

We are told that the waters of rain fell for forty days straight as the fountains of the deep were broken up as well. The cleansing of the earth from the putridness of the sin of humanity was about to be complete. The sheer volume of water that is spoken of here is difficult for one to conceive. The great ark of God was lifted up by these waters until it was no longer bound to the earth upon which it had been built. Note that the volume of water in play here would have been more than sufficient to cover the tops of Mount Everest, which many hold to be the tallest mountain in this world, by over twenty feet! We are told.

“And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth.
[18] And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters.
[19] And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered.
[20] Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered.

(Genesis 7:17-20)

The sheer destruction and death wrought by this cataclysmic happening is staggering to those who would try to comprehend it. Every man, every woman, and every child, and all of the creatures which were outside of the ark that moved upon this earth died. Pause for just a moment and contemplate what this would mean were it to occur today. My friend do not be deceived about the brutality of sin as it impacts all of God’s creation. This which we read of was caused by the continued degradation of God’s creation through sin until there was nothing left to do except execute the sentence which had been justly earned by humanity.

We are told.

 And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man:
[22] All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died.
[23] And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.
[24] And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days.”

(Genesis 7:21-24)

The cleansing of the earth from the sin of humanity would find Noah and his family safely with the confines of the great ark of God for nearly half a year. Yet in the entirety of that time, we have no record of any unmet need or lack of what was necessary to achieve the goal which God would set to repopulate the earth in preparation for the coming of The Seed of The Woman through whom we find redemption. You see the grace which was extended unto Noah was also extended unto you and I for without that grace we would have no hope and the God of The Bible would not be trustworthy.

Dwell here in the early portions of Genesis for a time. Do not be in a hurry to move on so that the deep riches of God concerning these things of which we speak are glossed over and sadly, missed. As has been mentioned before, the foundation of all which we believe has been set out here in these early chapters of the record of God’s interaction with mankind. I would pose to you the premise that without the record of The Old Testament, one would find it exceptionally difficult to understand the majority of the New Testament. You see this which we examine, The Holy Bible, is one complete testimony to God’s interaction with, and revelation unto, humanity. Let us not be hurried as we allow God to reveal Himself unto us through the pages of this book.

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