The movie, Noah, is coming out this weekend. It’s one of four movies that will be at our local theatre that have a Christian/Bible theme. I’ve heard the movie departs from the true Biblical account. But I will have to see it before I give any reviews. However, there are some things about the actual event that you may not know.
So, here’s 4 things about Noah and his flood…
1. The ark was not a boat, but a floating box.
Most children’s pictures of Noah’s ark are made to look like a giant ship. But the dimensions described in the Bible (300 cubits long x 50 cubits wide x 30 cubits high) fit more closely with a giant rectangular box. This would make it nearly impossible to capsize. Assuming a cubit is 17.5 inches, the ark wold have been 483 ft. long x 72.9 ft. wide x 43.8 ft. high. With these dimensions, the total capacity of the ark would have been 1,400,000 cubic feet, equal to 522 livestock railroad cars. It could have carried over 125,000 sheep. It was not made to travel… just float.
2. More than just two of every animal were saved in the ark.
The Bible tells us the animals entered 2-by-2. But it says of the clean animals (those useful for humanity) that they arrived in sevens (7 pairs = 14 clean animals). This would allow these animals to repopulate quickly for food, clothing and sacrifice once the ark landed.
Some object that the ark could not hold all the animals. However, not every animal needed to be salvaged to contine the species. For instance, not every kind of dog would be needed, just one pair. Experts estimate there are 18,000 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians living in the world today. Since the ark could have carried as many as 125,000 sheep, it is obvious that there was plenty of room since most animals are much smaller than sheep. Even large animals could have been represented by young (therefore small).
3. The flood was the first time it had ever rained.
The Bible explains that immediately after Creation, the ground was watered by a mist (Genesis 2:6). So, it did not rain previous to the flood. One theory explains that a firmament (Genesis 1:6) or water/ice canopy encircled the earth (much like the planet Venus). This canopy caused a terarium-effect that filtered some of the sun’s rays. This may explain the longevity of people’s lifespan prior to the flood.
The flood may have been a melting of the canopy in conjunction with a disruption of the land on earth which released underground water. This event would send a flood of water from above and below… the first rain.
4. Noah was saved not because of his righteousness but because of God’s grace.
The Bible tells us that the world was terribly wicked. Often it is assumed that Noah was saved because he was the only good guy left. However, the Bible tells us that God saved him because he “found grace in the eyes of The Lord” (Genesis 6:8). This tells me that Noah must have realized his need and went looking for God (since he found grace) and it tells me that God loved him in spite of his wickedness (His grace). As Noah, we can be saved from a terrible final judgment, not of water but of fire (Hell), if we turn to God in repentance and receive His Son Jesus as our personal Savior. That is His grace to us.