volume 9.4, October–December 2014).
4 Acts 3:19–21
5 Genesis 5:32. Noah is 500 when his first son, Japheth, is born (Gen. 10:21). Shem (son 2) was born two years after Japheth. We know this because Gen. 11:10 tells us that Shem was 100 two years after the Flood, and Noah was 600 when the Flood began. Noah’s youngest son was Ham (son 3, Gen. 9:24). No time span is specified, but a logical guess is that he was born 2–3 years after Shem. This means that the three sons were probably all born by about 95 years prior to the Flood.
6 510’ x 85’ x 51’ is based on the older and longer 20.35-inch “Nippur” cubit, which is believed to be the most likely cubit length used.
7 It is extremely interesting that when God told King David that his son, Solomon, would build the Temple in Jerusalem, the Spirit placed many details in David’s mind, and directed him in creating a written set of instructions. These were passed by David to Solomon. While the Temple was ornate and of immense importance, the Ark of Noah — which had to withstand the cataclysmic Flood and convey thousands of land animals plus eight people and enough food to sustain them for a year — it seems likely that God provided even more details than he did for the Temple (see 1 Chronicles 28:11–19).
8 Genesis 6:7, 7:11, 7:23
9 Noah was apparently told of the coming Flood when he was 480. In Genesis 6:3, 120 years before the Flood, God declared, to no one in particular, that man only had 120 years before he was going to wipe things away and change the world. The Flood came when he was 600 (Gen. 7:6). Genesis 5:32 says that all three of Noah’s sons were born after he turned 500, which means that his oldest son, Japheth, was 100 when the Flood came.
10 One way or another — whether just Noah’s family, or with the help of additional laborers — Noah was able to complete the Ark within God’s 120-year timeframe. It is likely that it required about 55–75 years for preparation and build-time. See https://answersingenesis.org/bible-timeline/how-long-did-it-take-for-noah-to-build-the-ark/, by Bodie Hodge.
11 See “Did People Like Adam and Noah Really Live Over 900 Years of Age? https://answersingenesis.org/bible-timeline/genealogy/did-adam-and-noah-really-live-over-900-years/ by Drs. Georgia Purdom and David Menton. Consider also “Why Did People Start to Have Shorter Lives After the Flood?” https://answersingenesis.org/bible-questions/why-did-people-have-shorter-lives-after-flood/ by Bodie Hodge.
—5—
GOD SENDS THE ANIMALS!
(c. 2349 B.C.)
The Ark was finished, with hundreds of tons of food stowed inside. But what about the animals?
Once the Ark’s massive hull was complete, it may have taken several more years to finish the cavernous interior. To help keep the animals safe and more easily managed on the violent ocean, Noah and his family constructed rooms,1 and probably stalls, cages, coops, and aviaries, plus their own living quarters.
A few animals required large spaces, but the average size of a creature was about as big as a sheep.2 Since God created animals to eat plants — and we know from the fossil record that the earth before the Flood had a lush abundance — those He sent3 to the Ark probably did not prey upon one another.4 In addition, because God only selected representatives of each kind,5 not of each species, there was plenty of room on the Ark for all of them, and for the food and other supplies.6
Many reptiles7 and some mammals8 grow throughout their lives, so God may have directed to the Ark the youngest of those that were able to reproduce. The Bible says that God sent9 pairs of every kind of bird and at least two of every land dwelling, air-breathing animal,10 which obviously would have included a pair of each of the dinosaur kinds since dinosaurs were land animals.11
Noah surely used many of the pre-Flood world’s amazing innovations as well, such as clever ways to capture, store, and distribute water. He also had to build waste disposal systems, ways to maximize light, and ways to flow fresh air throughout the huge ship.
In preparation, it was necessary to purchase or plant, harvest, and store huge stocks of grains, hay, and other foods. Noah’s family likely dried berries, crushed grapes for jams and wine, and pressed olives and other fruits and vegetables for oils. They must have also taken many different spices, sweeteners like honey and syrups, and seeds to re-establish agriculture. They brought bedding, clothing, tools, and written records, including the history of Adam plus much more.12
Then, when everything was ready, seven days before the Flood began God did something that surely amazed any mocking onlookers. From near and far, by God’s supernatural call, male and female of every kind of air-breathing land animal and bird arrived.13 The procession plodded, crawled, scurried, hopped, flew, and perhaps slithered through the door,14 possibly for days.
In striking parallel to how God calls men and women to receive the gift of salvation in Jesus Christ,15 God chose each specific animal to escape the impending judgment. There was no coaxing, capturing, or gender checking needed. God called them and they responded from all over the earth’s only original continent, and they entered the Ark of salvation.16
The procession may have caused shocked scoffers to stand in astonishment, and wonder if the Flood that Noah had been warning about was about to take place!
The Bible tells us in Genesis 6, that after the animals entered the Ark, Noah’s family kept them alive.17 With simple innovations that would make caretaking easier, such as ways to keep them fed and cages free of waste for extended periods, the family of eight could certainly have tended all the animals.18
Scientists who have studied how many different kinds of land animals and birds there were before the Flood, agree that the creatures would require only about one-third of the Ark. This would leave sufficient room for food, supplies, and possibly, to prove to others that there was room for them as well, if they had repented.
The worldwide Flood was about to start!19 Yet even with clear warnings that judgment was imminent, the people did not repent.
Sadly, that is how it will be before Jesus suddenly returns, like a thief in the night!20
PRIMARY PASSAGES
Genesis 6:1–7:16
KEY VERSE
“Of clean animals, of animals that are unclean, of birds, and of everything that creeps on the earth, two by two they went into the ark to Noah, male and female, as God had commanded Noah.” Genesis 7:8–9
WRAP UP
“Father, thank You for rescuing Noah’s family and all the animals that You sent to the Ark. The whole world was against You, but You decided to start over with just righteous Noah and his family and that huge treasure chest of animals! Lord, please guide me to live for You as Noah did. Please help me to obey You and share about Your mighty works to my friends and loved ones.”