Since a worldwide flood is physically impossible for several reasons, many people have turned away from God's Word because of most church's insistence the flood was worldwide. This worldwide flood doctrine casts doubt upon the reliability of God's Word which is NEVER good. This story makes sense if you read the Bible carefully. You will see the translators were obviously in error. They should have said the flood covered the whole "region" or "area" around where Noah lived.
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Most churches teach (therefore most folks believe) the flood of Noah's time was worldwide - largely because of verses like this: " ...But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: ..." (Geneses 8:9). A little Word study directed by The Almighty will give us a better understanding of this amazing story if we ask for "eyes to see" and common sense. |
Genesis 8:11; "And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth."
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Statements about Noah's Flood covering "the whole earth" & the "face of the earth" bring up lots of questions and debates. Since these words are the problem here, let's examine them closely. The phrases "the earth" and "the world" often pertain to a locality, and not always to the whole earth. Here are a few examples:
1. God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah and Lot's daughters said "there's not a man in the earth (#776 erets) to come in unto us" (Genesis 19:31). We know that not every man in the world was killed ... only those in the area or region of Sodom and Gomorrah.
2. Exodus 9:33; "the rain was not poured upon the earth" (#776 erets)... Of course we understand it is just speaking about a certain area or region in or around Egypt, not the entire earth.
3. Jeremiah 34:1; "all the kingdoms of the earth, (#776 erets) of his dominion, and all the peoples, fought against Jerusalem." There the phrase "of the earth" is limited to "his dominion," i.e., the dominion of Nebuchadnezzar.
4. In II Chronicles 36:23, Cyrus' empire is said to have encompassed "all the kingdoms of the earth." (#776 erets) But there were kingdoms in the Far East which were not included.
So if the same word (erets) is used to mean area or region NOT the "whole earth" in other Scriptures, isn't it logical they are using it to mean area or region when they are talking about the flood as well? Especially with all the logical evidence that abounds.
1. God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah and Lot's daughters said "there's not a man in the earth (#776 erets) to come in unto us" (Genesis 19:31). We know that not every man in the world was killed ... only those in the area or region of Sodom and Gomorrah.
2. Exodus 9:33; "the rain was not poured upon the earth" (#776 erets)... Of course we understand it is just speaking about a certain area or region in or around Egypt, not the entire earth.
3. Jeremiah 34:1; "all the kingdoms of the earth, (#776 erets) of his dominion, and all the peoples, fought against Jerusalem." There the phrase "of the earth" is limited to "his dominion," i.e., the dominion of Nebuchadnezzar.
4. In II Chronicles 36:23, Cyrus' empire is said to have encompassed "all the kingdoms of the earth." (#776 erets) But there were kingdoms in the Far East which were not included.
So if the same word (erets) is used to mean area or region NOT the "whole earth" in other Scriptures, isn't it logical they are using it to mean area or region when they are talking about the flood as well? Especially with all the logical evidence that abounds.
The following explanation of WHY God created the flood is worth further study. Genesis 6:4-8; "There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air, for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD."
Since there were still giants upon the earth AFTER the flood, one must conclude NOT everything throughout the entire earth was destroyed.
Since there were still giants upon the earth AFTER the flood, one must conclude NOT everything throughout the entire earth was destroyed.
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? ? ? Questions to Consider ? ? ?
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? ? ? Questions to Consider ? ? ?
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- How did just 8 people, (Noah, his wife and his 3 sons and their wives) provide food, water and sanitary living quarters daily for over a year for the entire world's animal population (at least 3 million animals)?
- Many animals only eat meat and others eat only certain vegetation found only in their original habitat. So how did Noah's family find, let alone store, enough food to feed the crowd for over a year?
- (Note the boat size comparison chart below.
- How could the land animals of Australia, for instance, have gotten to Noah?
- How did the plants and insects survive with the salt water covering the earth?
- Wouldn't the mingling of the salt and fresh water be fatal to many fish species?
- Why weren't the giants of Genesis 6:4 and Numbers 13:33 destroyed during the flood?
- How did all the different races from around the world come into being if Noah was "perfect in his generations"? (More on this in the next study "Did all the races come from Noah" ___________________________________________________________________________________________
Let's do the Math!
It is estimated there are at least 3 to 10 million species of animals alone. (We aren't even going to consider the insects or plants here). Let's keep it simple and use the minimum of 3 million x 2 - one male and one female = 6 million animals. (For simplification, let us count the minimum of just 2 of each of the animals aboard even though they were to take 7 of both the male and female of the clean animals, Genesis 7:2).
If Noah somehow figured out how to take just ONE MINUTE to feed each animal, let's multiply that minute times the 6 million animals. That adds up to 6 million minutes required to just feed them. There are 1440 minutes in a 24 hour day, there were 8 people, that makes a total of 11,520 work minutes in a 24 hour day. That means only 11,520 animals could get fed at the rate of one animal a minute. This is not taking into account the cleaning and watering and exercising and maintenance etc. Of course, a human could not sustain a 24 hour work day for a year. This simple math proves it is physically impossible for this story to be true so there must be another explanation of this story.
It is estimated there are at least 3 to 10 million species of animals alone. (We aren't even going to consider the insects or plants here). Let's keep it simple and use the minimum of 3 million x 2 - one male and one female = 6 million animals. (For simplification, let us count the minimum of just 2 of each of the animals aboard even though they were to take 7 of both the male and female of the clean animals, Genesis 7:2).
If Noah somehow figured out how to take just ONE MINUTE to feed each animal, let's multiply that minute times the 6 million animals. That adds up to 6 million minutes required to just feed them. There are 1440 minutes in a 24 hour day, there were 8 people, that makes a total of 11,520 work minutes in a 24 hour day. That means only 11,520 animals could get fed at the rate of one animal a minute. This is not taking into account the cleaning and watering and exercising and maintenance etc. Of course, a human could not sustain a 24 hour work day for a year. This simple math proves it is physically impossible for this story to be true so there must be another explanation of this story.
Check out the size of Noah's Ark
Compared along side Queen Mary below, it gives us a much better idea of just how big the Ark actually was. 300 cubits long x 50 cubits wide x 30 cubits high according to Gods directions ( Genesis 6:15-16). Note: 300 cubits is about 500 feet long - that is the length of 2 football fields. Considering the number of animals, plants and food for a year, this is far from adequate. Experts calculated it would take nearly 50 Arks to accommodate it all.
Compared along side Queen Mary below, it gives us a much better idea of just how big the Ark actually was. 300 cubits long x 50 cubits wide x 30 cubits high according to Gods directions ( Genesis 6:15-16). Note: 300 cubits is about 500 feet long - that is the length of 2 football fields. Considering the number of animals, plants and food for a year, this is far from adequate. Experts calculated it would take nearly 50 Arks to accommodate it all.
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The Cubit
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According to Smith's Bible Dictionary, three different measurements, (each called cubits) were used in the times of the Hebrew monarchy, namely:
(1) The cubit of a man, Deut. 3:11
(2) The old Mosaic cubit, a handbredth larger
(3) The new cubit, which was still larger.
"Experts" are unable to agree on which measurement was used for Noah's Ark and the Ark of the Covenant. No wonder we aren't certain of the actual size! But even using the largest measurement known, the Ark would not have handled the load.
God used Noah and the flood for a special purpose. A regional flood fits in with other things revealed in the Bible. A flood that size is still filled with awe and miracles and proves God's awesome power.
Noah is listed among the heroes of faith. "By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith" (Heb. 11:7).
With steadfast confidence in God, Noah started building the ark. During this time, (120 years) Noah continued to preach God's judgment and mercy, warning the ungodly of their approaching doom. Peter reminds us of how God "...did not spare the ancient world [region], but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly" (2 Pet. 2:5).
At the end of the 120 years that Noah preached and prepared "when ... the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah ... eight souls were saved through water" (1 Pet. 3:20). When the ark was ready, Noah entered in with all kinds of animals of the area "and the Lord shut him in" (Gen. 7:16), cut off completely from the rest of mankind. People continued in their evil ways and ignored Noah's pleadings and warnings until it was too late and the flood overtook them.
With steadfast confidence in God, Noah started building the ark. During this time, (120 years) Noah continued to preach God's judgment and mercy, warning the ungodly of their approaching doom. Peter reminds us of how God "...did not spare the ancient world [region], but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly" (2 Pet. 2:5).
At the end of the 120 years that Noah preached and prepared "when ... the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah ... eight souls were saved through water" (1 Pet. 3:20). When the ark was ready, Noah entered in with all kinds of animals of the area "and the Lord shut him in" (Gen. 7:16), cut off completely from the rest of mankind. People continued in their evil ways and ignored Noah's pleadings and warnings until it was too late and the flood overtook them.
Noah was grateful to the Lord for delivering him and his family from the flood. After the flood, he built an altar to God (Gen. 8:20) and made a sacrifice, which was accepted graciously. "...the Lord smelled a soothing aroma..." (Gen. 8:21).
The Lord promised Noah, his descendants and all living creatures that He would never destroy the world (region or land) again with a universal (regional ) flood (Gen. 9:15). The Lord made an everlasting covenant with Noah and his descendants, establishing the rainbow as the sign of His promise .
More on this topic in the lesson "The Covenants."
The Lord promised Noah, his descendants and all living creatures that He would never destroy the world (region or land) again with a universal (regional ) flood (Gen. 9:15). The Lord made an everlasting covenant with Noah and his descendants, establishing the rainbow as the sign of His promise .
More on this topic in the lesson "The Covenants."
Mary Lou and Bob Becker
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