Topical Encyclopedia The Deluge, commonly referred to as the Flood, is a pivotal event in biblical history, marking a divine intervention where God executed judgment upon a corrupt and sinful world. This cataclysmic event is primarily chronicled in the Book of Genesis, chapters 6 through 9, and serves as a profound demonstration of both divine justice and mercy.Biblical Account The narrative begins with a description of the moral decay that had permeated the earth. 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 pervasive wickedness, God decided to cleanse the earth through a flood, sparing only Noah, a righteous man, and his family. Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord (Genesis 6:8), and God instructed him to build an ark to preserve human and animal life. The dimensions and specifications of the ark are meticulously detailed in Genesis 6:14-16, emphasizing the seriousness and divine orchestration of the task. The Flood The floodwaters were unleashed as a result of both torrential rain and the breaking open of the "fountains of the great deep" (Genesis 7:11). The deluge lasted for forty days and nights, covering even the highest mountains and obliterating all living creatures on the land. Genesis 7:23 records, "And every living thing on the face of the earth was destroyed—man and livestock, crawling creatures and birds of the air; they were blotted out from the earth, and only Noah and those with him in the ark remained." Covenant and Restoration After the waters receded, Noah, his family, and the animals emerged from the ark to a renewed earth. God established a covenant with Noah, symbolized by the rainbow, promising never again to destroy the earth with a flood. 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.'" Theological Significance The Deluge serves as a profound reminder of God's holiness and the seriousness of sin. It underscores the necessity of righteousness and obedience, as exemplified by Noah, who "did everything just as God commanded him" (Genesis 6:22). Furthermore, the flood narrative foreshadows the ultimate redemption and restoration through Jesus Christ, who offers salvation to all who believe, akin to the deliverance Noah experienced through the ark. Historical and Cultural Context The account of the Deluge is not unique to the Bible; similar flood narratives appear in various ancient cultures, suggesting a shared memory of a significant flood event. However, the biblical account is distinct in its theological depth and moral implications, emphasizing the relationship between God and humanity. In summary, the Deluge is a testament to God's sovereign power and His commitment to justice and mercy. It serves as a foundational narrative within the biblical canon, illustrating the consequences of sin and the hope of redemption. Torrey's Topical Textbook Genesis 7:23And every living substance was destroyed which was on the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark. Torrey's Topical Textbook Library Geological Reform. The Second Theological Oration. Interpretation of Prophecy. The Book of Enoch La Brea An Essay on the Scriptural Doctrine of Immortality. Ancient Chaldaea An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of ... Appendices Seances Historiques De Geneve --The National Church. Resources Did the Bible copy the Flood account from other myths and legends? | GotQuestions.orgHow does the Cambrian Explosion fit within the framework of young-earth creationism? | GotQuestions.org Is the Lakeland, Florida, revival led by Todd Bentley of Fresh Fire Ministries a true biblical revival? | GotQuestions.org Deluge: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics The Deluge of the Destruction of Sinners The Deluge: (Unexpectedness of) Suddenness of Christ's Coming The Deluge: Called The: Waters of Noah The Deluge: Came Suddenly and Unexpectedly The Deluge: Causes of Its Abatement The Deluge: Complete Destruction of Whole Earth Effected By The Deluge: Date of Its Commencement The Deluge: Date of Its Complete Removal The Deluge: Decrease of Gradual The Deluge: Entire Face of the Earth Changed By The Deluge: Increased Gradually The Deluge: Noah Forewarned of The Deluge: Patience of God Exhibited in Deferring The Deluge: Produced by Forty Days' Incessant Rain The Deluge: Produced by Opening up of the Fountains of the Great Deep The Deluge: Sent As a Punishment for the Extreme Wickedness of Man The Deluge: That It Shall Never Again Occur: A Pledge of God's Faithfulness The Deluge: That It Shall Never Again Occur: Confirmed by Covenant The Deluge: That It Shall Never Again Occur: Promised The Deluge: That It Shall Never Again Occur: The Rainbow a Token The Deluge: The Wicked Warned of The Deluge: Time of Its Increase and Prevailing The Deluge: Traditional Notice of Related Terms The-not-beloved (1 Occurrence) Kir'iath-je'arim (18 Occurrences) Kirjathjearim (17 Occurrences) Vine-dressers (18 Occurrences) Kirjath-jearim (17 Occurrences) Kibroth-hattaavah (5 Occurrences) |
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