We live in an information world that likes to know the details of events that happen. Today we are going to look at the events of Noah’s flood and examine some of the details.

Transition

This chapter divides the event of the flood into three categories from which we find several principles to guide us today.

The Loading of the Ark

1. The loading began by God’s invitation, 7:1
   1. God invited Noah to come into the ark. Evidently, God entered the ark ahead of Noah.
   2. Noah was invited in because his faith made him righteous, v.1. He and his family went in, v.7.

      Hebrews 11:7 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.

      The same is true about God’s ark of salvation today. Only those whom God makes righteous because of their faith are able to go in. Jesus said we cannot make ourselves righteous or just.

      Luke 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

   3. The animals entered the ark. Verse 2 says that Noah was to “take” them in. This word can mean that he had to fetch them or it more likely means he led them. Down in 7:9 and 7:15 God tells us that the animals “went” in. Obviously, Noah could not go around the world herding up animals. God must have brought them to him and he led them into their stalls.
      1. In Gen 6:19-20, God commanded Noah to take two of every kind of unclean animal and bird, a male and a female into the ark.
      2. Here in Gen 7:2-3, God tells him to take the clean animals and birds by sevens (for sacrifice). It may have been 7 individuals, but likely 7 pairs.
      3. Down in 7:13-16, God again lists all the life that was on the ark. The ark preserved land life of every kind from the devastation of the flood.
2. The loading ended by God’s sealing, 7:16
   1. When all was on board, the Lord then shut Noah in. When God closed the door, it would not leak.
   2. This again pictures the security that true Christians have in salvation and the close of opportunity for the lost.
      1. God invites all who place their faith in Him alone into His ark of salvation.
      2. Before the coming Tribulation, God will close the door of salvation’s ark for all who have heard but failed to receive Him by faith.

         1 Thes. 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

The Violent Storm

1. The flood began in Noah’s 600th year, 2nd month, 17th day.
   1. All the fountains of the great deep broken open, v.11.
   2. The windows of heaven were opened, and it rained for forty days and night, v.12.
   3. The waters increased and bare up the ark, v.17.
   4. Many Christian scientists believe that huge amounts of water in chambers were trapped under the earth’s crust. They also believe that there was a vapour canopy over the entire earth forming a greenhouse that made the entire globe tropical. Even evolutionists say that the tropical plants and animals found near the poles indicate that the earth was once all tropical, though they claim it was millions of years ago. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jul/17/antarctica-tropical-climate-co2-research
   5. Some Christian scientists believe that the mid-ocean fault lines are the remainders of the cracks that opened when the fountains of the deep broke open, shooting water and eroded dirt high into the sky.
   6. At the same time, the vapour canopy collapsed raining down tons of water on the earth. The rain lasted 40 days and 40 nights.
2. The flood prevailed exceedingly on the earth.
   1. In addition to the water from under the earth shooting out and the water from the vapour canopy pouring down, the waters prevailed. This word means the water was strong, powerful, and mighty.
   2. God tells us that the water prevailed, increased greatly, and prevailed exceedingly, v.18-19. Such global upheavals would have caused massive earthquakes, tremendous volcanos, and gigantic tsunamis all over the earth. These churned the waters and totally changed the surface of the earth.
   3. The waters covered the highest mountains by 15 cubits (6.8m), v.20. There is no reason to believe that the pre-flood mountains were very high, but all were covered.
   4. The waters prevailed for 150 days (5 months), v.24.
   5. When we look at the destruction of a local flood or tsunami or volcano, we see a tiny picture of the massive burial of plant and animal life, vast laying of sediment, and, and powerful extensive erosion that took place during the global flood.

The Global Destruction

1. Everything was destroyed, v.21-23

   In my Bible, I highlighted the words “all” and “every” found in these verses. This was definitely not a local flood.

   1. All that had flesh died, v.21. Every single one of the birds, cattle, beasts, creeping things, and man on the earth died.
   2. All that breathed air died, v.22. All that breathed and lived on land, died.
   3. All that lived on the ground was destroyed, v.23. Every substance that had life and lived on ground (man, cattle, creeping things, and birds) was destroyed.
   4. As they died, many decayed, others were buried and decayed, but billions, especially of the sea creatures, were buried in the sediments laid down by the floodwaters and became fossils. Fossils form when a plant or creature is buried quickly to stop decay and remove oxygen, in the right soil (usually sandstone, limestone, shale), and soaked in mineral water. Fossils can form quickly in the right environment.
   5. Not only were the creatures destroyed, but also the earth itself was totally destroyed. The earth that then was is now buried by sediment laid down by the prevailing waters of the flood.

      Genesis 6:13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

      2 Peter 3:6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

2. Only those on the ark survived
   1. Noah ONLY remained and they that were with him in the ark.
   2. The flood was a global destruction that took the life of every air-breathing creature and man except those on the ark about 4,400 years ago.
   3. Just as God saved Noah and his family from the destructive flood because they placed their faith in God, so God has promised to save, from the judgment of hell, all who place their faith in Jesus Christ.

      Romans 5:8-9 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Conclusion

Just as God sent a global flood to judge sin, He promises that another judgment is coming that is far worse – the judgment of the lake of fire. If you have not placed your faith in Jesus Christ alone to save you from judgment, do it today before it is eternally too late.

Song: God’s Final Call – 250
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Noah’s Flood: The Event
27 April 2014 AM – Genesis 7:1-24 – Gen 14 – Scott Childs