Topical Bible: The Deluge: Called The: Waters of Noah

◄ The Deluge: Called The: Waters of Noah ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

The Deluge, commonly referred to as the Flood, is a pivotal event in biblical history, described in the Book of Genesis. It is often called the "Waters of Noah" due to its association with Noah, the righteous man chosen by God to survive the cataclysmic event. This entry explores the narrative, theological significance, and scriptural references related to the Deluge.

Biblical Narrative

The account of the Deluge is primarily found in Genesis 6-9. The narrative begins with God's observation of humanity's wickedness on earth. Genesis 6:5-6 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."

In response to this pervasive sinfulness, God decides to cleanse the earth with a flood. However, Noah finds favor in God's eyes due to his righteousness and blamelessness among his contemporaries (Genesis 6:8-9). God instructs Noah to build an ark, a large vessel designed to preserve Noah, his family, and pairs of every living creature.

The Deluge commences as God unleashes the "fountains of the great deep" and opens the "floodgates of the heavens" (Genesis 7:11). The waters prevail upon the earth for 150 days, covering even the highest mountains and destroying all living creatures outside the ark (Genesis 7:19-23).

After the floodwaters recede, Noah, his family, and the animals disembark. God establishes a covenant with Noah, symbolized by the rainbow, promising never to destroy the earth with a flood again (Genesis 9:11-17).

Theological Significance

The Deluge serves as a profound demonstration of God's judgment and mercy. It underscores the seriousness of sin and God's intolerance of wickedness. At the same time, it highlights God's grace and faithfulness, as seen in His preservation of Noah and the establishment of a covenant.

The event is also a typological foreshadowing of baptism, as noted in 1 Peter 3:20-21 : "In the ark a few people, only eight souls, were saved through water. And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God."

Scriptural References

· Genesis 6-9: The primary account of the Deluge, detailing God's decision, Noah's obedience, the flood's occurrence, and the aftermath.
· Isaiah 54:9 : "For to Me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth."
· Matthew 24:37-39 : Jesus references the days of Noah as a parallel to the coming of the Son of Man, emphasizing the suddenness and unexpected nature of divine judgment.
· Hebrews 11:7 : "By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith."

Cultural and Historical Context

The Deluge narrative is not unique to the Bible; many ancient cultures have flood myths, suggesting a shared memory of a significant flood event. However, the biblical account is distinct in its theological depth and moral implications.

In summary, the Deluge, or the Waters of Noah, is a foundational event in biblical history, illustrating God's judgment against sin and His covenantal faithfulness. It serves as a reminder of the need for righteousness and the hope of salvation through divine grace.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 54:9
For this is as the waters of Noah to me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with you, nor rebuke you.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Concerning the Flood; and after what Manner Noah was Saved in an ...
... a great mountain in Armenia, over Minyas, called Baris, upon ... the terror and sight
of the first deluge, and must ... land, and those that swim in the waters, and of ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 3 concerning the flood.htm

That the Years in those Ancient Times were of the Same Length as ...
... And the waters decreased continually until the eleventh month: on the ... a thirtieth
part of three days was then called a day, then that great deluge, which is ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 14 that the years in.htm

Manner of Covenanting.
... for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah ... importance should be the fixedness of
heart called to its ... When the deluge of wrath was descending, and all around ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter ii manner of covenanting.htm

Covenanting Enforced by the Grant of Covenant Signs and Seals.
... Before the deluge, "God saw that the wickedness of man ... for as I have sworn that the
waters of Noah ... privileges enjoyed by that people he was called, in these ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter xi covenanting enforced by.htm

Noah's Faith, Fear, Obedience, and Salvation
... decked vessel of vast dimensions where no waters can ever ... Noah, and may have died
before the deluge came; but ... Many were called, but only the eight were chosen. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 36 1890/noahs faith fear obedience and.htm

Selections from the Work against Heresies by Irenaeus, Bishop of ...
... of man, who brought about the Deluge, and called ... of the knowledge which is falsely
so called, [writing] to ... forth fruit, and established the waters, and brought ...
/.../richardson/early christian fathers/selections from the work against 2.htm

Concerning the Tower of Babylon, and the Confusion of Tongues.
... Shem, Japhet, and Ham, born one hundred years before the Deluge. ... plain in which they
first dwelt was called Shinar. ... build a tower too high for the waters to be ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 4 concerning the tower.htm

"Come Thou and all Thy House into the Ark. "
... if the word crank was in use, they called Noah "an old ... The waters come bubbling up,
and the sea bursts its ... They scoffed and ridiculed the idea of a deluge. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/the overcoming life/come thou and all thy.htm

The Second Epistle of St. Peter
... The same word is cited in the homily called 2 Clement ... His answer is (5-7) that the
deluge proves the ... the primaeval watery chaos by separating the waters of the ...
/.../moffat/the general epistles james peter and judas/the second epistle of st.htm

The Life of Adam
... This well is the mother of all waters, which well ... their generation be not said, whom
Cain called to his ... came of Lameth were perished in the deluge and Noah's ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the life of adam.htm