“A lot of Rain” (Gen: 7)

1. There are at least two words for “ark in the Old Testament.

2. There was the “ark of the covenant:”, a religious object used by the Hebrews

3. There was also the “ark” that Noah built.

4. Though we may not see any distinction between these 2 words in our language,

5. There is a difference between these 2 terms in the Hebrew language.

6. These two words are not the same in the Hebrew.

7. Those familiar with the OT may remember that Moses was put into an ark by his mother.

8. This statement is made in Exodus: 2:3.

9. The word used to describe Noah’s ark is the same word that is used in Exodus 2:3.

10. There was a similarity between the Moses’ ark and Noah’s ark.

11. The similarity seems to have been this:

12. Both arks, though different in size and in our purpose.

13. Were like a box which would float upon the water.

I. WHAT WOULD WE THINK IF SOMEONE IN OUR DAY STARTED TO BUILD A GIANT BOX LONGER THAN A FOOTBALL FIELD, AND THE PURPOSE OF THIS BOX WOULD BE TO FLOAT UPON THE WATER?

A. We might think that such a person needs professional help.

B. Those in Noah’s day, because they refused to listen to God, must have concluded a similar thing.

C. What people saw Noah build must have made this preacher a laughing stock?

(1) It has been suggested those in Noah’s day had never seen rain.

(3) The evidence for this view is fairly strong.

(4) If this was correct, Noah must have really been laughed at by men.

E. Noah built a structure that was suited for a world-wide flood.

F. When we speak about the flood, many want to inquire about its scope.

G. Was the flood local, or did it cover the entire earth?

(1) Those that are skilled in Hebrew have discovered some things.

(2) In the OT there is more than one word for “flood”

(3) The word used to describe the flood Noah experience is unique and special.

(4) This word is repeatedly used in Gen: 6-10.

(5) The only other place where this spoken word is found is Ps. 29:10.

(6) By using a unique word to describe Noah’s flood,

(7) And this word which means “inundation of waters”,

(8) God indicated that something was special about this flood.

(9) This event was so unique that it justified a special sign.
(10) I am going to affirm that what was unique about the flood was a rainbow.

(11) The fact that it was universal. It was no in sense local.

(12) The flood in Noah’s day was a hydraulic cataclysm.

(13) The use of a special word to describe this flood is not limited.

(14) In the language of the N T there is more than 1 word for flood.

(15) When the flood in Noah’s day is described by NT writers,

(16) The normal Greek word for flood is not used.

(17) The word that is used to describe Noah and the flood is cataclysms.

(18) The use of special word in both testaments implies that the flood was world wide

I. There are other reasons to believe that the flood was world wide

(1) In addition to the special words that are used,

(2) Listen to how the text of Gen: 6-9 describes this flood:

a. Rain poured down for 40 days and nights, 7:12.

b. The waters increased to the point where the ark.

c. Was” Borne up: (Gen: 7:17).

d. According to estimates, it didn’t take to long before 20’ of water was on the earth.

f. The text says that the waters “prevailed” upon the earth.

g. “Prevailed” means “overwhelmingly mighty.”

h. Waters “overturned the earth: (Job 12:15).

i. The “prevailing” in Gen. 7:17 was accompanied with the water “greatly increasing”.

i. If this were only a local flood, what about Noah’s preparations.

j. Enough preparations were done for a world wide flood.

k. If this flood were local, would it not be right to say the animals:

1. Could have been sent or taken elsewhere?

2. Also the use of materials would have been excessive and bad

l. If the flood described in the Bible was local,

m. Why not build a small craft and after the population was destroyed, migrate

to an untouched land.

n. The waters covered “all high hills and mountains”,

o. A double superlative is used in Genesis. Where

p. “All the high mountains under all the Heavens”, 7:19.

q. It is said that all flesh on the earth died, 7:21.

r. This is difficult to explain if the flood were local.

s. The Bible says that “every man died,” 7:22.

t. In local floods we know that some escape.

u. No local flood rises for 150 days as this one did, 7:24.

v. After the ark grounded on a high mountain (Gen: 8”14)

w. It took 2-1/2 months for other mountains to be seen, 8:4).

x. Even after the waters had receded for four months,

y. The dove sent out by Noah could not find dry land, 8:9.

z. It took just over a year to get out of the ark, 7:11/8:13.

J. When we think about or teach about this part of the Bible,

K. We must bear in mind that the facts tell us.

L. This flood was world-wide. Even the mountain tops were covered.

M. Such could not be accomplished by a local flood.

II. FROM THIS WORLD WIDE FLOOD WE FIND OURSELVES FACED WITH BOTH SOME QUESTIONS AND SOME THINGS TO CONSIDER.

A. What follows in this lesson is some material to take home with us.

B. Gen: 7 begin with an interesting comment – READ v 1.

C. God did not tell Noah to “go” into the ark.

1. The heavenly message was an invitation, “come.”

2. If there is a disaster or a crisis we might say or hear,

3. “Run get over here.” In Gen: 7 and elsewhere.

4. God is in control of all things.

5. Although devastation was just around the corner in Gen 7,

6. God issued a calm and sweet invitation to Noah- “Come”

7. If we are a Christian or not a Christian this same sweet invitation exists.

8. Whether we have a crisis problem or a calm day, God still says COME.

D. Noah took 120 years to build the structure the Bible call an ark.

E. After this period of time he was able to use this as a place of safety.

F. A similar thing is true for us.

G. We are building an ark: by the lives that we lead.

H. Many here obey God just like Noah did.

I. At the proper time Noah entered into his place of refuge.

J. At the proper time the same benefit will be extended to us.

K. Death will allow us to enter into an eternal place of safety.

1. As Noah escaped from the flood,

2. We will escape punishment and judgment.

L. As we live our lives, we know that not all reach the same age.

M. Some pass from this life long before retirement.

1. Others who are Christians live for a long time.

2. Many Christians who live a long time often have painful experiences.

3. How old was Noah when the flood came?

4. Verse 11 go Gen.: 7 tell us. READ

5. Even by ancient standards, Noah was an old man when the flood came.

6. Here was an old man who witnessed the world being wiped out.

7. Knowing what was happening outside the ark must have been painful.

8. If Noah or his family had any friends, imagine some of the feelings.

9. This was a painful event in the life of a godly old man.

10. I can name some brethren who are old

a. If the Lord does not return,

b. Some here will most likely become old too...

11. My familiarity with brethren who have lived a long time

12. Has shown me how painfully some older brethren can suffer.

13. Sometimes old and longtime servants of God go through the grinder.

a. Some of God’s best people face unimaginable problems and heartaches.

b. The golden years may seem to be gold plated.

14. Early in the Bible (Gen: 7) God made know this fact.

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N. As we look at Noah other things are indicated.

1. We are told when the flood started (v.11)7.

2. The flood started about the beginning of what we call November.

3. This indicates that the harvest had just been completed.

4. God knew what His people would need and God did the providing.

5. The timing of the flood was perfect for those on board.

6. Also, perhaps another observation is worth sharing.

7. There were “clean” and “unclean” animals on board the ark.

8. Today we have some animals that are common.

9. Other animals (lions and tigers) are less common.

10. It is possible that creatures like lions & tigers were “unclean”.

11. What would our world be like if...

12. Tigers, lions, and similar creatures were as common as sheep?

13. It has been suggested (and this is only a suggestion),

14. That the flood was used to increase the # of creatures useful.

15. And to reduce creatures which would be of limited benefit.

16. I mention this to make this point:

17. Not only did the flood cleanse the earth o f gross ungodliness.

18. There may have been some benefits from it that we even now don’t know.

19. At a minimum we see how kind God was to Noah

20. Because of when the flood came was just after harvest.

O. God’s care for His people is seen in other ways in Noah’s life.

1. Isaiah: 26:20 says that God shelters His people before the storm.

2. This was done for Noah.

3. Even more intriguing than this is how the flood was dated.

4. If we want to date something we look at a calendar.

5. We say, “That happened in 1992.”

6. How was the flood dated?

7. “In the 600th year of Noah’s life.”

a. Have you ever considered how God dated the time of the flood?

b. When we start dating things by a man’s life.

c. We are paying one of the highest compliments we can pay him.

d. We can say that God loves us and we are His children.

f. Bear in mind how He dated the flood.

g. He dated this event by using Noah’s life and age.

i. Also bear in mind what He went through to save 8 people.

k. Midst of a group which is prized by God.

P. Speaking of 8 people, only a handful of people were saved.

Q. In Mt: 7, Jesus said that most will be lost; few will be saved.

R. Mt: 7 doesn't say “fewer”, but few.

S. On judgment day a very small number of human begins will go to heaven.

T. As the people were surprised in Noah’s day, another surprise is waiting for them.

U. We do not want to be unprepared like those outside the ark were.

V. We need to be sure that we are “of but few.

W. Once we are one of the few, we must learn to trust in God.

1. If Noah had never before seen rain,

2. Since he had to wait 120 years for the flood.

3. Because all of those who heard him rejected his message,

4. Noah put his faith in God and did as he was told.

5. Heb: 11:7 says that by faith Noah built and ark.

X. There are things about life that we may never understand.

Y. There are times when we get discouraged and say to God, “Why?”

Z. We can be like Noah.

A. Some days may not be easy..

B. Some things may not always be clear.

C. As a Christian we can have faith in God and know that a time is coming when all shall be

OK.

D. Gen: 7 teachers that our faith will be rewarded.

E. Do we have a faith like Noah’s? Do we need some help?

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