Genesis 6:5-8; 7:1-5, 10 ~ the flood

Genesis 6:5-8


5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. 7 So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.


Genesis 7:1-5

1 Then the Lord said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation. 2 Take with you seven pairs of all clean animals, the male and his mate, and a pair of the animals that are not clean, the male and his mate, 3 and seven pairs of the birds of the heavens also, male and female, to keep their offspring alive on the face of all the earth. 4 For in seven days I will send rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and every living thing that I have made I will blot out from the face of the ground.” 5 And Noah did all that the Lord had commanded him.

Genesis 7:10

10 And after seven days the waters of the flood came upon the earth.

Flood histories in other countries:

~Sumerian Eridu (2150 BC) is “Zi-ud-sura” which means “he obtained immortality”.

~Persian, Gilgamesh (1150 BC) is “Ut-napištim” which means “he obtained immortality”.

~Sumarian, Atra-Hasis (1635 BC) is “Atra-Hasis” which means “he who is very wise”.

~Greek, Berossus (280 BC) of Atra-Hasis is “Ziusudra” which means “he who laid hold of life/immortality from long ago”.

~India, story said a fish told a man to build himself a boat, and when the flood receded, the man found himself on top of a mountain.

~ Africans told story of a rainmaker causing a great flood to destroy the wicked people.

~Some Native American tribes have an oral story about a great snow that melted and caused a great flood to cover all the trees and Rocky Mountains; the animals were all saved because a man put them in his canoe.

Geologists agree the world has evidence of flooding all over. We call it the Ice Age. Fossils agree there was a flood. The geologists have theorized a volcano eruption caused it, a giant meteor, the earth's axis tilted. Genesis, the early books, record water the earth received was a much different system than today. Almost all of the stories of the flood agree, the tablets found, the earth was wicked at the time of the flood.

What does this mean for us today? How is the flood relative to us today? We can become overwhelmed in our lives. Noah listened to inward truth to have a path for his life. God makes a path. So many things to think about, worry about; God has carried us through in our lives. He will continue to. When our time is past on this earth, we continue to put ourselves in God's promises, by believing Jesus Christ came to save us. And we will rest in His Kingdom.

Father God, we open ourselves to You in Prayer. For generations, millenniums, You've been a refuge. A shelter. Generations of our fathers rest with You. You will uphold us in Your wisdom. Keep us safe from the arrogance of small knowledge. You are mightier than we are. In Your Holy Spirit life is created. In Jesus, the Word of God, coming forth, You are the Creator of all things seen. Some of Your promises are unseen. Let us rest in You.

Sometimes, Father Abba, we are Noah, alone in a great sea and worried. We will cast our cares upon You, knowing You care for us. Eternally. The Kingdom of God is at hand. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Hallelujah! Amen!

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