Topical Encyclopedia The Great Flood, as recorded in the Book of Genesis, stands as one of the most significant and miraculous events in biblical history. This cataclysmic event, which reshaped the world and humanity's relationship with God, is a testament to divine judgment, mercy, and covenant.Divine Judgment and Warning The narrative of the Great Flood begins with God's observation of the pervasive wickedness of humanity. Genesis 6:5-7 states, "Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time. And the LORD regretted that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him in His heart. So the LORD said, 'I will blot out man, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—every man and beast and crawling creature and bird of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them.'" In response to this corruption, God decided to cleanse the earth through a flood, sparing only the righteous Noah and his family. Noah was instructed to build an ark, a massive vessel designed to preserve life. This act of divine communication and instruction is itself a miracle, as God provided Noah with specific dimensions and materials for the ark (Genesis 6:14-16). The Construction of the Ark The construction of the ark was a monumental task, requiring faith and obedience from Noah. Genesis 6:22 records, "So Noah did everything precisely as God had commanded him." The ark, built according to divine specifications, was to house Noah's family and pairs of every kind of living creature, ensuring the survival of life on earth. The Gathering of the Animals Another miraculous aspect of the Great Flood was the gathering of the animals. Genesis 7:8-9 describes this event: "The clean and unclean animals, the birds, and everything that crawls along the ground came to Noah to enter the ark, two by two, male and female, as God had commanded Noah." This supernatural gathering ensured that all species would be preserved through the flood. The Onset of the Flood The floodwaters were unleashed as a direct act of God. Genesis 7:11-12 states, "In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, on the seventeenth day of the second month—on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened. And the rain fell upon the earth for forty days and forty nights." This deluge was not merely a natural disaster but a divine intervention, covering the earth and eradicating all life outside the ark. The Preservation of Life Throughout the duration of the flood, God preserved Noah, his family, and the animals within the ark. Genesis 8:1 notes, "But God remembered Noah and all the animals and livestock that were with him in the ark, and He sent a wind over the earth, and the waters began to subside." This divine remembrance and the subsequent recession of the waters highlight God's mercy and faithfulness. The Covenant with Noah Following the flood, God established a covenant with Noah, symbolized by the rainbow. Genesis 9:11-13 declares, "I establish My covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth. And God said, 'This is the sign of the covenant I am making between Me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set My rainbow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.'" This covenant underscores the miraculous nature of the flood narrative, as it not only demonstrates God's judgment but also His promise of grace and the assurance of His ongoing relationship with creation. Nave's Topical Index Genesis 7:1And the LORD said to Noah, Come you and all your house into the ark; for you have I seen righteous before me in this generation. Nave's Topical Index Genesis 8:1 Library The Influence of St. Augustin Upon Posterity, and his Relation to ... Recognitions of Clement. 'The Waters Saw Thee; they were Afraid' The Beach and the Sea Acts vii. 6, 7 The Twelve and the Seventy. The Plenary Inspiration of Every Part of the Bible, vindicated and ... Selection section ii. The Life of Sir Thomas Browne. Resources Are the miracles in the Bible to be taken literally? | GotQuestions.orgHow can we discern counterfeit miracles? | GotQuestions.org What are the greatest miracles in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit of Different Kinds Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit were not to Be: Despised Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit were not to Be: Neglected Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit were not to Be: Purchased Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit were to be Sought After Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Christ Was Endued With Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Communicated by the Laying on of the Apostles' Hands Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Communicated for the Confirmation of the Gospel Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Communicated for the Edification of the Church Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Communicated: Upon the Preaching of the Gospel Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Counterfeited by Antichrist Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Dispensed According to his Sovereign Will Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Enumerated Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Foretold Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Might be Possessed Without Saving Grace Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Poured out on the Day of Pentecost Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Temporary Nature of Related Terms |
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