The story of Noah and the flood sent by Yahweh is certainly known by a majority of Christians, or is it? While Hollywood's trash media has released numerous movies andtelevision mini-series all attempting to tell the story of these "eight perfect souls" who escaped destruction, few ever honestly explain why Noah and his family were chosen. Through children's books and traditions the average Christian can tell "the story" complete with numerous animals but will usually omit the part about "the everlasting covenant" that was made with every living being upon the face of the earth. These verses are important just like the rest of Yahweh's perfect Word.
Jesus Christ taught "As in the days of Noah, so will also be the appearance of the Son of Man (Matthew 24:37 ffb)" making knowledge of this account mandatory for all Christians so we'll examine what caused Yahweh's flood and learn what to look for in the 'end times.'
A word of warning right from the start -- if you have no faith in the Word of God this study won't help you very much. We'll look deeper into the meanings of certain Hebrew words but I don't intend to stray too far outside of Bible passages when presenting this evidence. Prayerfully, I might be able to shed some light on some common misconceptions pertaining to Noah's ark by simply reading the account from both the Authorized King James Version and Ferrar Fenton Bibles.
Jesus teaches us; "As it was in the days of Noe [Noah], so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe [Noah] entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. And [they] knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be (Luke 17:26-27 & Matthew 24:37-39)."
Here we get a glimpse of both a past and a future end-time event. No man knows the day or hour but here Christ says that His returning will be when 'the days' are like they were in Noah's time with creatures "giving and taking" in marriage. Is getting married a sin? Not when it's done correctly in the eyes of Yahweh. For further explanation on what caused the flood of old we need to go directly to the account in the book of Genesis itself.
We'll start reading in chapter 6; "But when corrupt Men increased upon the surface of the Earth, and sons and daughters were born to them, then the sons of God admired the daughters of Men who were beautiful; and they took to themselves wives from all they desired. Consequently the Ever-living said "My spirit shall not call to man for ever, for he is sinful flesh; but they shall have a hundred and twenty years (Genesis 6:1-3 ffb)." Pay close attention to the placement of capitals in these verses.
These passages are very important because they unlock certain keys into future prophecy. Here we discover that Yahweh shortens man's lifespan to 120 years from a much longer promised life that can be found by obeying His Word. Nonetheless, the fallen 'sons of God' or angels came to earth and impregnated many of the "daughters of Adam" and the result was bastard children born of mixing. Don't consider that term too harsh as 'bastard' means "a mongrel or child of mixing (Strong's #H4464)." The next few verses deal with the mamzêr (pronounced mam-zare') offspring of these unholy unions.
Let's continue reading; "The Nephalim were upon the earth in those days, and also afterwards when the sons of God came to the daughters of men, and they bore to them mighty men, who were men of renown of old. And the Ever-living saw that the sin of man increased upon the earth, and that every effort of the thought of his heart was to promote sin every day. And the Ever-living sighed for the doings of man upon the earth, and it grieved His heart (Genesis 6:4-6 ffb)."
The King James Version reads "It repented Yahweh that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart." Either way, the Father doesn't like it when people refuse to do things His way and this entire situation 'grieved' or 'repented' Him towards sinful man. "Men of renown" means that these mamzêr were all of great reputation and power in the earthly realm, no wonder Yahweh sends in "the flood upon the world of the ungodly (2 Peter 2:5)."
Now that we know why it happened, here's where Yahweh passes sentence; "And Yahweh said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of Yahweh. These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth (Genesis 6:7-10)."
These verses make the 'politically correct' groups squirm because they teach the reason why Noah was chosen and his family justified alongside him (1 Corinthians 7:14). We've just read the words "Noah was a just man perfect in his generations" which is in itself the answer. Of course, the main reason for Noah being chosen is because the future Messiah would spring from Israel through Shem's seed (Genesis 11:10-27) and eventually through Mary who, being Elisabeth's cousin, would've been "of the daughters of Aaron (Luke 1:5)" or from the law-protecting tribe of Levi. Again, we discover protection of the seedline. Let me explain, the word 'generations' used in this verse is taken from dôr dôr (pronounced dore, dore) and it means "posterity, age or dwelling (Strong's #H1755)." One could say he had a 'perfect' or unmixed 'pedigree' unlike a majority of mankind that had melded with fallen angels producing the mongrel "Giants."
Here's another verse we must pay attention to -- continuing on; "The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. 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. Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch (Genesis 6:11-14)." We'll cover the measurements of the ark a little later, skip down to verses 17 and 18; "And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die. But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee."
Notice that the scriptures teach that 'all flesh' had been corrupted and that 'all flesh' would be destroyed? I make mention of this fact because while animals are listed among those numbers having 'the breath of life' who where brought to Noah's ark, they are not mentioned exclusively and the Bible continues to reiterate that 'two of all flesh' were spared. Flesh is flesh and includes other races in addition to the beasts. While not every 'flesh' upon the ark was listed as having "souls" except for Noah's eight (1 Peter 3:20), it's important to take notice of this terminology because it continues throughout both the remaining flood account and the upcoming 'Noahic Covenant' which is "everlasting" and still in effect today, thank goodness.
Here's another reason why Noah's family was chosen -- they obeyed Yahweh. Here's what he was asked to do by God; "Of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female. Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive. And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them. Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he (Genesis 6:19-22)."
So far, we've covered the entire sixth chapter of Genesis with the exception of the specific ark measurements so I feel we should now discuss how it happened and see how perfectly Noah obeyed the voice of Yahweh. As we progress, be sure to pay attention to the wording of 'flesh' and 'beast' in this next chapter so we can keep things in their proper perspective.
Let's continue the account; "Afterwards the Lord said to Noah, "Go yourself and all your household into the Ark, for I have seen that you have been righteous in the face of this generation. Take with you of all clean cattle, seven, male and female, and of beasts which are unclean two of them, a male and a female. Also from the birds of the sky seven, seven male and female, so as to preserve a seed of life upon the surface of the land. Because at the end of seven days, I will pour unto the earth for forty days and forty nights; and I will sweep away every creature that I made from off the surface of the ground. And Noah did all that the Ever-living instructed him (Genesis 7:1-5 ffb)."
Again we notice that Noah obeyed Yahweh and he was 'righteous' in that particular 'generation.' We can also glean from these passages that the very reason for Noah's Ark was "to preserve a seed of life upon the surface of the land" and to "sweep away every [remaining] creature that I made from off the surface of the ground." Also worthy of note is the number forty which is according to Biblical Numerics "the number of probation." Who exactly was being punished by water? Noah or the 'earth?'
Continuing on; "And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth. 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. Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of fowls, and of every thing that creepeth upon the earth, There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah. And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth (Genesis 7:6-10)."
At the risk of digressing I might add that in Biblical symbology 'waters' are representative of 'people (Revelation 17:15 & 19:6)' and the 'Ark' represents the perfect Law (Deuteronomy 31:9). Still, I hold that this is a literal account but these facts should still be considered because the Bible says that "two and two" of all living flesh were called to Noah's ark, let's keep reading.
"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. And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights. 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; 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. And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life. And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and Yahweh shut him in (Genesis 7:11-16)."
Again, two of all 'flesh' not just cows, chickens and snakes. More specifically, the Word says "two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life" were all aboard the ark in addition to Noah, his wife, three sons and their wives that comprise the "eight souls" mentioned. Please notice that "Yahweh shut him in" sealing his perfect seed from the world's coming destruction. Another interesting tidbit is the Hebrew word transliterated 'earth' in these and the following verses come from 'erets (pronounced eh'-rets) which means "land, area or ground (Strong's #H776)." This is different than the word found in Genesis 4:14 where Cain says to Yahweh "Thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth" taken from 'ădâmâh (pronounced ad-aw-maw') which literarily means "red [ruddy] soil (Strong's #H127)." Still, both words refer to a specific locale -- not the entire world as many teach.
"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 (Genesis 7:17-24)."
Interesting of note is the measurement "fifteen cubits" which would be equal to about twenty-eight feet. Indeed, thirty feet of water over the entire face of the earth would destroy all mankind but what about valleys and canyons? Thirty feet more logically would destroy a specific area with no problems in keeping with the word 'erets or "area." Still, this is only my opinion. Here we also read that "every man" and "all in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died" and these are the same words used to describe the 'two of all flesh' on the ark who were spared. Man is counted in both numbers.
We read in Hebrews 11:7 that; "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." Just as commanded -- Noah feared Yahweh.
I feel that this Biblical account is important because by just reading it for for ourselves we're able to see that the 'modern thoughts' surrounding many of these verses are entirely erroneous. For example, I've already proven that 'two of all flesh' were both destroyed and spared by Yahweh and the flood itself was brought on because of unholy unions between the fallen angels and 'the daughters of Adam.' The Bible teaches that Nephalim or 'giants' were the result of this disobedience.
"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 assuaged; The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained; And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated. And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat. And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: in the tenth month, on the first of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen (Genesis 8:1-5)."
Again, we notice that Yahweh remembered "every living thing" in addition to Noah and his family tying right into the 'two of all flesh' that were aboard the ark. After raining for forty days the waters that destroyed the "earth" then began to "evaporate" for another hundred and fifty days because Yahweh had "made a wind to pass over the earth." The ark rested "upon the mountains of Ararat" and this can within itself be an interesting study into the scientific evidence into the ark's remains because nearly two hundred people have reported seeing a wooden vessel in a glacier high on Mt. Ararat in what is considered Eastern Turkey today. A very good book on the subject is Noah's Ark: Mystery of Ararat by Larry D. Ikenberry by Cascade Photographics (Olympia, Washington) although it's become rather hard to find since its first publishing in 1976.
The next few sets of passages have great symbology in addition to many deeper truths so we must pay close attention to what they say. The Bible begins to tell how Noah began to 'test' whether or not the 'earth' was inhabitable by releasing two different birds into the air -- the raven and the dove. These particular verses explain what happened inside the ark after the rain stopped.
"Then at the end of forty days, Noah opened the window which he had made in the Ark; and sent out a raven and it went, wandered and turned about until the waters dried away from off the earth. Afterwards, he sent out a dove from him, to see if the waters had lessened from the surface of the field; but the dove found not a resting place for the sole of her foot, so she returned to him in the Ark, for the waters were still on the whole surface of the earth; so he put out his hand and took her, and brought her to him into the Ark (Genesis 8:6-9 ffb)."
Interesting of note is that the raven is an unclean bird (Leviticus 11:15) meaning that it survives off the carcasses of other animals yet it did not return inside the ark. This can be seen as further proof that the flood was specific to a particular region and not worldwide because the raven still exists today meaning that it survived the ordeal after being released by Noah. Think about it -- where did the raven get its food? Sure, dead animals can float but I say this only to give you something to think about. Matthew Henry's Commentary says; "The dove is an emblem of a gracious soul, which finding no rest for its foot, no solid peace or satisfaction in this world, this deluged defiling world, returns to Christ as to its ark, as to its Noah. The carnal heart, like the raven, takes up with the world, and feeds on the carrions it finds there." The olive-branch, which is an emblem of peace, was brought by the humble dove and notice how the Bible clearly says that Noah brought [accepted] her to him?
"He then waited seven days longer, and again sent out the dove from the Ark. And the dove returning at dusk, carried in her mouth an olive-leaf which had been broken off. So Noah then knew that the waters were off the earth. Waiting yet another seven days, he sent the dove out again, and it did not return to him. At the end of his six hundred and first year, on the first day of the month, the waters dried from off the earth. Noah then loosened the hatches of the Ark, and looking out, perceived that the surface of the ground was dry. And in the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dry (Genesis 8:10-14 ffb)."
It should also be noticed that Noah observed a type of Sabbath by releasing a dove every "seven days." Indeed, Jesus' fingerprints are all over these verses but I venture to say that only the serious Bible student will pick up on it. In order for us to be like 'faithful Noah' we will need to pay attention to what he does as soon as his feet touch dry ground so that we might be able to do the same when we're called. The next few passages of scripture deal with Noah's seed "replenishing" the earth, the word 'replenish' is to reestablish or rebuild something that had obviously previously existed. The following actions on the part of Noah and his family lead right up to the Noahic Covenant which is still very important to us as Christians.
Let's continue; "God spoke unto Noah, saying, Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons' wives with thee. Bring forth with thee every living thing thatis with thee, of all flesh, 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. And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him: Every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl, whatsoever creepeth upon the earth, after their kinds, went forth out of the ark (Genesis 8:15-19)."
Noah and his family are finally freed from the huge Ark and may once again walk on the dry ground. Notice that again Yahweh says to 'bring forth' not only just furry animals but specifically "every living thing of all flesh?" Here we can see that the same 'two of all flesh' that were spared by God are now released into the 'new' world making it through the "the flood [sent] upon the world of the ungodly (2 Peter 2:5)." It's important to pay close attention to these next verses to see what Noah does first.
"Noah built an altar unto Yahweh; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And Yahweh smelled a sweet savor; and Yahweh 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. While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease (Genesis 8:20-22)."
The eighth chapter of Genesis ends with God promising to continue the seasons and cycles on earth to benefit mankind. Notice how Yahweh says that man's heart is still evil? This is important to take notice of because many false churches out there claiming to have 'all truth' will usually say that the very reason for the flood was to wipe out 'wicked man' to replace him with 'a righteous seed' like it's even remotely possible for God Himself to make a mistake. Sadly, their ignorance of this account shows because not long after walking upon the earth again Noah's son Ham fathers cursed Canaan through forbidden incest. We would do well to pay attention to the fact that Noah promptly made an offering to Yahweh to which God promises "I will not again curse the ground for man's sake" and "neither will I again smite any more every thing living." This is leading up to many more promises made by Yahweh to Noah and his offspring Israel but like always -- this covenant is also conditional.
The last of the four chapters in this series is Genesis 9; "God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered. Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things (Genesis 9:1-3)."
Again, we find Yahweh puts emphasis on "the green herb" as he did in the creation account transcribed in Genesis 1:30. What's important to notice here is that Yahweh entrusts "the green herb" into the hands of man and not their antichrist government. Also, in these verses Yahweh gives Noah dominion over every living thing that remained on earth after the flood, including the controversial "beast of the earth." All things are given into Noah's care but there are always circumstances to the promise so let's continue reading.
"But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat. And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man. Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man. And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein (Genesis 9:4-7)."
Yahweh never changes and neither does His Law -- here we find a provision for man to eat meat but a diligent study will also prove that from this stage onward man's life span gradually reduces as well. Nonetheless, in keeping with the eternal Law Yahweh forbids Noah from eating blood or fat just as He tells Israel in Leviticus 7:26-27; "Moreover ye shall eat no manner of blood, of fowl or of beast, in any of your dwellings. Whatsoever soul it be that eateth any manner of blood, even that soul shall be cut off from his people." We also find another commandment -- "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed." While many false prophets like to teach that murderers have salvation the Bible itself says "no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him (1 John 3:15)." Something to think about.
Here comes the important part; "God also spoke to Noah, and to his sons along with him, saying, "Now I Myself will fix a Covenant with you, and your descendants after you; and with every living animal that is with you; with bird, and cattle, and with every animal of the earth with you; of all coming out of the Ark; and with every wild beast of the earth. I have fixed my Covenant with you, that all flesh shall never again be destroyed by a downrush of water; and there shall never again be a downrush to desolate the earth (Genesis 9:8-11 ffb)."
Separate from Yahweh's Law with Israel is the Noahic Covenant that was made with the entire world, including the wild beast of the earth. This is rather important because He promises to never destroy the earth or mankind by water again. Notice that this unchanging covenant, or promise, is also made with Noah's descendants after him? This includes you and I so we should really pay close attention to what Yahweh says in the next few passages of scripture. Also worthy of mention is that Ferrar Fenton also uses the terminology "all flesh" as does the beloved Authorized Version.
"God also said "This is the attestation of the Covenant which I have made between Myself and you, and between all animal life which is with you for every generation. I place My rainbow in the clouds, and it shall be for an evidence of the Covenant between Myself and all the earth. When there is My cloud, covering the earth; and the rainbow appears in the cloud, I shall remember My Covenant that is between Myself and you, and between all animal life, and there shall never again be a downrush of water to sweep away all living. The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and appear as an eternal record of the Covenant between God and all animal life existing upon the face of the earth." And God repeated to Noah, "This is the Covenant which I have settled between Myself and all existence which is upon the earth (Genesis 9:12-17 ffb)."
Indeed, the homosexuals have even managed to pervert and twist the meaning of the rainbow but the Bible clearly teaches that it's an "eternal record" of the Noahic Covenant made with the whole earth. That promise is very simple -- Yahweh won't send major waters to destroy the world. In a debate earlier this month about Noah's flood another person said to me "As if the natural laws that govern how water and light react to each other in the atmosphere were not in effect until after the flood." I ask you, is that not what these verses are saying? The next time you're driving down a country road after a fresh spring rain and see an awesome rainbow high up in the sky, take some time to reflect on what Yahweh is telling you. Sadly, few people ever do.
My intention with both parts in this series is to hopefully convince you that it's God's Word that is most important, not what soccer-moms teach during Sunday school. Easy-believism has claimed many casualties with its false doctrines. Bogus teachings like "Eve ate an apple" or "Noah's Ark was multicultural" are much more destructive than they might seem and lead well-meaning Christians down the wrong path of thinking. Never trust any man, rather trust and fear Yahweh, the God of Israel. War for Christ! Amen.
h34r:
