Noah’s Ark
God’s Miraculous events of Noah’s Ark
Noah was 500 years old when he had 3 children and their wives to help with the ark.
Genesis 5:32 Noah was 600 when the flood occurred.
Genesis 7:6 Talk about starting late in life! Just shows how God can and does use anyone.
The ark was very large: Genesis 6:14 description: 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, 30 cubits high or with a cubit= length of the forearm, elbow to the tip of the middle finger, about 18 inches. The ark would be 450 ft. x 75 ft. x 45 ft. high. It was made of gopher (cypress) wood which was light and durable & un-effected by water. It would have been erected above the ground to fasten the bottom. It had 3 deck levels, individual rooms and a single window and one door. Construction was a tremendous undertaking. All was sealed inside and outside with pitch. Gen.6:14
Eight people were included. Gen.7:13, 2nd Peter 2:5 A minimum of two of all flesh and feathered animals were included. Verses 6:19, 20. Seven of all clean animals and birds were included. Gen.7:2-3 All creeping things were included. Verse 6:14. Food had to be included for 40 days of rain & flood plus 150 days (5 months) plus. Verses 6: 21 & 7:24. February 17,600 BC (Gen.7:11) till February 27, 601BC (Gen.8:14) That is about 1 year & 10 days. The food would have to be kept without spoiling in a damp climate. Remember, some animals ate meat. But they were not to eat each other. It is interesting that God chose 40 days of rain just as He had Jesus in the wilderness for 40 days.
All the animals had to be gathered from all the land. This was a great task in itself. Many animals would have been difficult to find and contain. Especially, ants, mites, ticks, frogs, turtles, snakes, roaches, bees, birds, spiders, worms, butterflies, termites (See why gopher wood was selected?). God helped by sending the animals to the ark.
Gen 7:9 two by two they went in to Noah into the ark, male and female, as God had commanded Noah.
God undoubtedly calmed all the animals. Many might have had a type of hibernation induced by God and rough seas.
God shut the door. Gen.7:16 This was God’s act and Noah and family need not feel responsible for the deaths of all outside the ark.
Waters came also from the depths of the earth. Gen.7:11 This has been verified today from the cracks in the bed of the oceans. It is estimated that when the earth opened that the waters shot up miles into the sky due to overlying rock pressure.
Other problems: Water, waste disposal, air quality and ventilation, temperature, sea sickness. I sure would not want to have a seasick elephant on board. I can imagine the sea to be very turbulent during the first 40 days. It is very good that the boat dimensions indicate a very stable craft. The top likely had a continuous air vent under a roof overhang for ventilation.
The birds sent to seek land were: A raven and a dove. Gen.8:7-8 Ravens eat seed, fruit and carrion. They are thought of as an unclean evil omen. The dove represents peace and holiness as a clean edible bird that can fly long distances
Gen 7:3 Also take of the fowls of the air by sevens, the male and the female, to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth.
Where did all the water go? Look up and thank God for clouds and polar ice! and some water also re-entered the earth
Gen 8:2 Also the fountains of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and rain from heaven was restrained.
Gen 8:3 And the waters returned from off the earth continually. And after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters had gone down.
Gen 8:20 And Noah built an altar to Jehovah. (To give thanks) And he took of every clean animal, and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
Gen 8:21 And Jehovah smelled a sweet odor. And Jehovah said in His heart, I will never again curse the ground for man’s sake, because the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth. And I will not again smite every living thing as I have done.
Gen 8:22 While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.
Gen 9:12 And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between Me and you and every living creature with you, for everlasting generations:
Gen 9:13 I set my rainbow in the cloud. And it shall be a token of a covenant between Me and the earth.