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'''CHAPTER FIVE: FLOOD!'''

CHAPTER FIVE

FLOOD!

Fighting, killing and war were everywhere. Each generation became more selfish and greedy than the one before it. Towns and small cities sprang up across the land. Instead of seeking God for protection, people looked to strongmen and mighty warriors. These rulers of cities waged bloody battles with other cities. Each ruler wanted to get more people, land, goods and possessions for himself.

The earth was quickly becoming a giant battlefield.

This was because Satan the devil inspired mankind to commit horrible acts of evil and cruelty, by constantly sending wrong thoughts and bad attitudes into their minds. People followed their carnal nature (Ephesians 2:2).

Carnal nature is the opposite of God’s holy, righteous character.

Godly character is the way of love—putting God first and treating other people the way you would like them to treat you (Galatians 5:22-23). Carnal nature is the way of putting self first before others (Gen 5:19-21). Carnal nature always harms others and leads to heartache and misery.

Turning their backs on God, people worshipped false “gods.” They bowed down to idols—handmade statues and carved images, which were usually shaped to look like snakes, calves, birds and other animals—and forced others to worship them, too. This led to even more wars and bloodshed.

Witnessing generation after generation of people breaking His laws, God decided that He had had enough.

Out of all the millions and (possibly) billions of people on earth, God found that only one man faithfully obeyed Him. His name was Noah (Genesis 6:9).

God Speaks to Noah

When Noah was about 480 years old, God spoke to him: “Every thought and desire of man is continually evil. I am sorry I ever created him. He has rejected all of My laws, which would have given him happiness and peace. The lives of people are so horrible and unhappy, I am going to take their lives away. I will give them back much later.

But for now, I cannot allow them to continue in their evil ways.”

Noah was speechless. But he knew that God was right.

“As for you, Noah,” God continued, “You have obeyed Me. You have practiced keeping My laws and have trusted Me to show you right from wrong, good from evil. I will spare you and your family. But as for the rest of mankind, I will destroy everything on the face of the earth: people, animals and the birds of the air.”

Noah felt grateful and very relieved. But he knew that God had more to say.

“Before I act, I will give mankind 120 years. During that time, I will use you to warn the people. Tell them that because of their evil ways, I will fill the earth with a great flood—so great that even the highest mountains will be underwater. Noah, you have 120 years to warn mankind of the great punishment I will unleash upon the earth” (Genesis 6:3, 5-8).

Then God commanded Noah to build a huge ship, called an ark. It was to be made of gopherwood and sealed watertight with pitch. About 450 feet long and three stories tall, God wanted the ark to be shaped like a giant, hollow chest so that it would not tip over during the rough flood storms (Gen 5:14-21).

Also, God wanted the ark to be large for another reason. He told Noah, “Take seven pairs (male and female) of every clean animal. One pair (male and female) of each unclean animal. Also take seven pairs (male and female) each of birds of the air. This will keep all those animals alive during the Flood” (Genesis 7:2-3; New King James Version).

Building the Ark

Noah began the huge task of building the ark. He hired a team of men to go to the forest and find the right kind of trees to use for wood. After chopping some down, they used oxen and carts to pull the trees to the ark’s building site. Some years later, Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth (Genesis 5:32). They grew up to help their father build the great ship. Many years passed as they gathered enough of the wood, pitch and other materials they needed.

As the frame of the ark slowly began to take shape, Noah’s friends and neighbors began to take notice. So they began to wonder among themselves.

One man said, “What is Noah doing?”

“Looks like he’s building some kind of big boat,” said another.

“A boat? But there’s no water around here for miles. Where’s he going to sail it? How will he get it there?”

More and more people watched with growing interest as Noah and his sons continued to build.

Whenever and wherever he could, Noah preached to anyone who would listen. Year after year, he warned them about the great flood that God said would soon come. Noah told the people that God was going to send the flood because their way of life was wrong. Their thoughts and actions were contrary to—opposite—what God had intended.

“It’s too late for this world,” he preached. “But it’s not too late for you. You have a way of escape.”

But they would not believe Noah. They thought that their world would continue.

Some shouted, “You’re crazy! Only a madman would build an ark in the middle of land!”

Many teased and insulted Noah as he and his sons worked diligently on their massive project.

Wild Animals Line Up

Before the 120 years of warning had ended, the ark was finished. After it was filled with one year’s worth of food for eight people and thousands of animals, God said to Noah, “Come into the ark, you and your family. The rest of mankind will perish in the flood” (Genesis 7:1, 4).

Noah thought about all the people who had heard his warnings but would not change their lives. He began to feel sorry for them as he and his family entered the ark (Gen 7:13).

A crowd gathered around the ark as Noah, his wife, his sons and their wives entered it. Many laughed and shouted insults at them.

An old man said, “Where is this flood you’ve been preaching about, Noah?”

God caused animals to line up and go aboard the great ark.

“Yeah! When is your God going to give us some rain? My throat is dry!”

Everyone laughed and chuckled—but soon their laughter turned into silence. Every man, woman and child in the crowd was shocked to see an incredible sight: a long, seemingly endless line of animals marched up to the ark, two-by-two. Quietly, they went up the long ramp and through the giant entrance on the side of the ship. Horses, elephants, sheep, lions, birds, bears, and more—every kind of animal on earth peacefully entered the ark, just as God had said. This was a great miracle—an act that could only be done by God.

Some people in the crowd began to have second thoughts. “Say, maybe Noah knows something we don’t,” some said.

Others wondered, “What if he was right all along?”

However, their doubts did not last for very long. Even after witnessing such a great miracle, the people would not reject their carnal nature and change. They were too stubborn and set in their ungodly ways.

God understood this. That is why He chose to take their physical lives then. He will bring everyone back to life in the future, when the kingdom of God will rule on the earth. At that time, they will be offered God’s Holy Spirit, which will help them to reject their carnal nature and live happy, healthy lives.

The Flood Begins

After Noah, his family, and all of the animals were secure aboard the ark, God closed the giant door and sealed it shut. No one could get in, and no one could get out (Genesis 7:15-16).

A day passed—no rain. Another day passed. Still nothing, not even a raindrop. A third day passed. And then another. Six days came and went, and still there was no flood.

By the seventh day, a growing crowd of hundreds and thousands of people surrounded the ark. As they did before, they cried out to Noah, laughing and shouting insults at him and his family.

“Noah, Noah! Help me! Help me! I’m drowning!” they teased.

They were all so sure that Noah’s warnings about the great Flood were false. They did not realize how merciful their Creator really was.

Not only had He given them 120 years to change their rotten ways, God had also given them seven extra days to repent.

But the people would not change their lives.

When the seventh day ended, storm clouds began to form. The air grew from a soft breeze into harsh winds that were so powerful, people could barely make it back to their homes.

Suddenly, everyone knew that a big storm was coming.

And then a drop of rain fell. Then a few more. Soon, what began as a light drizzle became a mighty shower of rain.

Those who had teased and laughed at Noah were no longer laughing.

They now knew that his warnings were coming true—and that their end was near.

The earth trembled and shook as pockets of underwater springs exploded from the ground, shooting out rivers of water like a fire hose.

People shouted and screamed as they ran for cover. The rain from above and the waters from beneath rushed upon the earth. Across fields, towns and cities, the waters rose higher and higher until almost no one in them was left alive.

Those left headed for the highest mountains in hopes of out-running the ever-rising floodwaters. Fights broke out as people scrambled for higher ground. Some even had to fight off wild animals who were also fleeing to escape.

But in the end, all of the fighting was in vain. Even at the very top of the highest mountains, the dark, swirling floodwaters soon rose to cover them. The few people and animals left alive squirmed and twisted in the cold water, fighting to stay alive. But the flood currents were too strong (Gen 5:10-23).

Except for those in the ark and the fish in the seas, the life of every man, animal and bird was taken in the great flood.

Too Late!

Aboard the ark, Noah listened to the screams of those he had warned.

He heard the people beat and pound against the sides of the great ship.

“Noah! Noah! Save us!” they screamed. “Open the door and let us in!”

But it was too late for them. God had sealed the giant door shut. No one could open it.

Noah felt the waters lift the ark from the ground. Soon, the cries and screams of the people outside were silent. At that moment, Noah realized that he, his wife, his sons and their wives were the last eight people alive on earth.

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