Genesis 7:17-24 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. And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters. And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered. Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered. 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: All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died. 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. And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days.
Scripture declares that the floodwaters were forty days upon the earth. As noted earlier, prior to the flood, the earth had not experienced rain. Rather, the land was watered by a mist; “But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.” (Genesis 2:6) During the flood, the heavens poured rain for forty days straight. Also, the Bible notes that the “same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.” Some have suggested that the earth shifted slightly on its axis, resulting in waters of the great underground aquifers being opened. Waters were pouring down from the skies, while the waters of the deep were gushing forth, flooding the land surfaces of the earth.
Actually, it should not be difficult to imagine such an event taking place, when dry land only covers about twenty-nine percent of the earth’s surface, with seventy one percent being water. According to our text, the highest peaks of the earth were covered by “fifteen cubits,” or somewhere around 22 to 23 feet. The tallest mountain in the world, when measured above sea level, is Mount Everest, at 29,035 feet. However, the tallest mountain in the world measured from its base is Mount Kea, which from base to top is 33,500 feet, nearly a mile taller than Everest. Whether it came as a result of the slight shifting of earth on its axis, or from torrential downpours of rain around the planet, the flood was a Divine judgment orchestrated and produced by the Almighty and Eternal God. If He could speak all of the universe into existence by the word of His power, which He did, this cataclysmic deluge also came by that same power. Around the world, there are signs of a great flood. Did the great gourge we call the Grand Canyon form as a result of millions upon millions of years of the flowing of the Colorado River, or was it formed by the great deluge of Noah’s day?
Once Lynn and I went on a tour of an underground cavern. The guide showed us a rock upon which a tiny drip of water was dropping into a bowl shaped indention in the rock. He informed us that through that drip and indention that had been formed, that cave was somewhere around 15 million years old. According to that theory, the drop had fallen uniformly and consistently unchanged for 15 million years. Could it not rather have been caused by the great fountains of the deep being opened up, and a stream of water under great force hitting upon that rock during the flood. Why is it that fossils of sea creatures are found hundreds of miles from any costal shore? Why are sand bars found on mountain ranges? Does not the flood of Noah’s day provide answers for such questions?
What a sad image that came as a result of man’s sin. God’s beautiful creation was marred, and destroyed because of wickedness. “And all flesh died....” James wrote, “...sin when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (James 1:15) John declared, “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” (John 1:4) All life came from Him, but death came from Satan and the sin he introduced into the human family in the Garden of Eden. Praise God for the day when all death will be done away with forevermore. John wrote, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be not more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be ny more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)
Before we leave this chapter, notice please Verse 21; “And all flesh died that moved upon the earth....” When God closed Noah and his family inside the ark there would be no one else allowed to enter. After mocking and ignoring Noah for 120 years, the opportunity was passed for repentance. There were probably people standing outside the ark, perhaps people that had worked on it alongside Noah, that were seeking an entrance after the rains started falling to the earth. The view outside the ark is hard to imagine, but be assured that it was a horrifying scene. So it is for those who leave this life ill prepared, who know not the Lord Jesus as Savior. Once the door of opportunity has been closed, the horrors of a Christless eternity begins. Reader, be sure to know that the days of opportunity or quickly passing. Eternity is long, and to enter eternity ill prepared is an awful thought. If you have not done so, why not place your faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ today? Call upon Him and know you are prepared to meet Him!
Pastor Steve Smith