‌Noah’s Ark

Noah’s Ark (Genesis 6:14–22)

Specific details of the size of the Ark that Noah built are given. It was 300 cubits long (150 metres), 50 cubits wide (25 metres), and 30 cubits high (15 metres). It had three levels, and the floor space was 11,250 square metres. It was a large vessel with the capacity to carry a very large load.

The Flood

The Flood (Genesis 7 and 8)

The details of the flood reveal that although the rain fell for only 40 days and nights, God at the same time caused “the fountains of the great deep to be broken up” (Genesis 7:11–12). This great hydro-cataclysmic event covered the earth with water. Noah and his family were in the Ark for 1 year and 10 days The rain began to fall on the 17th day of the 2nd month of Noah’s 600th year (Genesis 7:11), and they came out of the Ark on the 27th day of the 2nd month in his 601st year (Genesis 8:14). The effects of the flood brought the death of “all flesh” that moved upon the earth—of birds, and cattle, and wild beasts, and every creeping thing, and every man, “all in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was on the dry land died” (Genesis 7:21–22; cp 2:7).

After the Flood

“I will not again curse the ground” (Genesis 8:20–22)

Once out of the Ark, Noah built an altar and offered a burnt offering to God to thank Him for His deliverance, and to dedicate his life in service to Him. God promised that He would never again destroy the earth with a flood.

It is interesting to note that although the flood had destroyed the wicked sinners from the earth, God acknowledged that the root of sin remained, “for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth” (Genesis 8:21). God knew that sin and wickedness have their roots in man’s sinful nature (Mark 7:20–23; Romans 7:18–21). Notice that the destruction of the whole of society could not be attributed to the “devil” or “Satan” as taught in popular theology. It was man himself who had chosen to ignore God’s ways, and the root of that sin was his evil imagination or “deceitful lusts” (Ephesians 4:22; James 1:14–15).

Warning from the Flood

Jesus’ warning for us today (Luke 17:26–27; Matthew 24:37–38)

Jesus saw in the wickedness of Noah’s day a parallel with the unrestrained immorality, violence and corruption which will develop in the world just prior to his return. He said, “As the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (Matthew 24:37). As God judged the wickedness of man and destroyed them in the flood, so He will judge the world by His Son (Acts 17:31). This immoral and wicked society which we see about us today warns God-fearing people who read the Bible that the return of the Lord Jesus Christ is imminent.

Noah’s flood—a guarantee that judgment will come

The apostle Peter was well aware that many would scoff at the idea of God judging this world for its wickedness. But he reminded his readers that the flood was a sure sign that God would again judge the earth and cleanse it of wickedness (2 Peter 3:4–7). He also saw in Noah’s salvation the hope of salvation for all those who, like Noah, are prepared to be just and upright and turn to God through baptism (1 Peter 3:20–22).

Noah did more than build an ark

Not only did Noah build the Ark but he consistently warned his generation of the judgment to come. They mocked more and more and took no notice of the signs—until the flood came (2 Peter 2:5). It was then too late for them to repent and be saved.

Faith—the motivating power of Noah

Noah believed God and that belief caused him to obey God and build the Ark in which he and his family were saved (Hebrews 11:7). God has given us a way to escape the coming judgment upon this wicked age. Do we believe Him? Do we have faith to act like Noah, that we may be saved together with our families? (Mark 16:15–16

The Covenant Sign of the Rainbow

The rainbow and its significance (Genesis 9:8–17)

After the flood God again spoke to Noah and his sons, this time telling them that He would never again destroy all living creatures with a flood. The rainbow was to be the token of this covenant that He had made (Genesis 9:8–10). God said, “I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth” (Genesis 9:13).

A covenant is “a binding agreement or promise”, and as this covenant is made by God Himself, then there is no doubt that it will be fulfilled. The rainbow then is a token, sign or reminder of this covenant that God made. The wonder of the rainbow is that when we see it in the heavens at the time of rain God Himself sees it too, for He said, “I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth” (Genesis 9:16).

The rainbow should also cause us to realise that God will not continually tolerate wickedness and ungodliness upon the earth. It should remind us that God has judged the world in the past and that He will again judge it, as He has foretold (Acts 17:31; 2 Peter 3:3–7; Matthew 24:37–39). The judgment at the return of Christ will not be by flood, but with an exhibition of divine power that will include catastrophic destruction through earthquake and fire (Ezekiel 38:18–23; Joel 3:12–16; Zechariah 14:1–5; 2 Peter 3:7). All wise- hearted people will appreciate that God has provided a way to escape this judgment to come and will seek to avail themselves of it (1 Peter 3:20–21; Mark 16:15–16).

Adapted from “The Exploring the Bible Course” by David Evans