FEB 6

Genesis 7:1-24
Memorise Genesis 7:23
“The world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished”

So the Ark was finally completed, built according to God’s specifications. The animals had all come in their pairs and were safely housed within the rooms of the Ark, together with the clean animals that were prepared for the first sacrifices after the flood. The food had also been stored up, enough to last both Noah and his family, and also all the animals through the entire duration of the flood. With all that completed, God commanded Noah and his family to enter into the ark, and then God Himself was the one who shut them in, securing them from the coming deluge (Genesis 7:16).

Then, the fountains of the great deep broke up, and the windows of heaven were opened. From both below and above, vast quantities of water gushed forth to inundate the entire planet. For forty days and forty nights, massive torrents of rain covered every single corner of the globe, covering every blade of grass and every inch of land. The waters increased so much, such that the highest mountains were covered by at least 15 cubits (close to 7 meters) of water, and continued that way for the next 150 days.

As the flood waters rose, so did the death toll. The animals would probably have died quite quickly, not knowing how to swim, and unable to escape to higher grounds. The birds would have had to fly higher and higher, trying to seek ground to perch on and places to find food, all whilst fighting the torrential rain. The people would probably have lived the longest, running to high ground and desperately clinging on to floating uprooted trees and other flotsam drifting around. But in time, exhaustion, hunger and other factors would take their lives one by one, such that by the end of the flood, “every living substance was destroyed which was upon 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 onlyremained alive, and they that were with him in the ark” (Genesis 7:23).

Such was the extent of the global devastation that the flood effected upon the earth. Nothing was spared, everything was destroyed. For us, the Bible promises that God will never again use such a flood to destroy the earth (Genesis 9:11). However, the Bible does warn of another judgment, only this time, it will be by fire (2 Peter 3:10). Dear teen, are you ready?

Thought: Did God over-punish the world when He sent the flood?

Prayer: Lord, may I never be found wanting at Thy return.