The content below was developed by Doug Reynolds who has requested that it be placed here for others to use in teaching the word of God.
Genesis – The Book of Beginnings
Part XVI – Chapter 7
The Flood
In Chapter 7, we see the result of God’s judgment. Noah is told to load the animals and his family. God shuts the door. We also learn more about the flood itself, and the length of time it was on the earth.
Verse 1:
God reiterates that Noah was chosen because he alone was righteous before God.
Verses 2 – 5:
More details about the flood and the animals are given. The rains will last for forty days and nights. Try to imagine rain over the entire earth for this amount time.
Think about how much local flooding we see if it just rains for two to three days and nights here! What is the purpose for bringing more than just one pair of the clean animals? The clue is in Chapter 8, verse 20. Noah is given the announcement that the time is at hand. In verse 4, God gives Noah and his sons seven days to get everything aboard before He shuts the door. I can only
imagine that local interest peaked during these seven days. Sadly, if anyone had come to believe God during even these seven days, I think they would have been saved. Do you agree?
Verses 6 – 16:
Make no mistake that God wants us to know that the Flood was literal. We can see this by the dating of the Flood in verse 11. Even the timing of the birth of Christ described in Luke Chapter 2 is not this precisely given.
Noah was six hundred years old when the Flood came. This is also when Methuselah died, just prior to the Flood. Verse 11 also tells us that more happened to flood the earth than just rain falling from the sky. God also broke
up the fountains of the earth. These apparently were the fountains that God used to irrigate the earth prior to rain falling. Can you imagine the upheaval of the earth when all the water started breaking through from underground?
To help us imagine, think of the force of one single geyser, such as the pictures you’ve seen of the Old Faithful geyser.
In verse sixteen, God shuts Noah, his family, and all the animals in. Why do you think God performed this task?
Wouldn’t you think Noah would have been able to shut the doors himself? And if Noah could shut them, could he not open them also?
Try to imagine the clamoring of people to board the ark after the fountains began to burst forth and the rain began to fall. If you were Noah, what would you have wanted to do for these people?
Verses 17 – 20:
The floodwaters rose until the water covered even the world’s highest mountains by at least 15 cubits (~22.5 feet). It’s not realistic to think that the world’s surface and mountains were the same prior to the Flood as they
are now. The upheaval of the earth and the compression of the flood no doubt changed the earth’s surface dramatically.
Verses 21 – 24:
After the flood of rain ceased (40 days), the flood was on the earth 150 days before it began to subside. Verse 23 is very clear that this was a worldwide flood. Some theorize that the Flood was restricted to only the Fertile Crescent
region of the earth. What do you think about the extent of the Flood?
This liberal view of a limited Flood should not surprise us, for the Bible foretold it. In II Peter 3:3-4, we are warned about scoffers. In my opinion, the Bible is clear on this point. Also, I personally believe that the animals would have had to have come from all parts of the earth over the previous 120 years to accomplish God’s plan to save at least two of all.
Part XVII – Chapter 8: A New Beginning
In Chapter 8, we see the end of the flood and the recession of the waters. Today we will discuss the timeline of the flood (duration), and we will look at the physical location of Mt. Ararat. We will also discuss the symbolism of the dove and the raven.
Verses 1-5:
The rains and the fountains stop, and the ark rests on the mountains of Ararat. Where is this place? See the attached map for discussion.
In 1943, Ed Davis, a sergeant in the U.S. Army, developed friendships with people of the Lourd tribe in what we now know as Iraq. They inhabited villages in the vicinity of Mt. Ararat. The tribesman claimed to be able to see remnants of the ark in the mountain far away. Davis claimed to have seen artifacts from the ark in the village of the Lourds.
In 1953, an oil geologist named George Greene took several photographs from a helicopter of what appeared to be the ark. Though Mr. Greene has since died, and his claimed photographs are not available, more than thirty people involved in the oil exploration work with him have provided written testimony that they saw his pictures and that the photos show the ark protruding from the ice on Mt. Ararat.
In the late 1950s, Gregor Schwinghammer claimed he also saw the ark from a small aircraft. He described it as a very large boxcar lying high on Mt. Ararat.
If you believe the Flood was literal, you must also believe that the ark was literal, and that remnants of the ark, at some time, did still exist.
Verses 6 – 12:
The details of Noah’s search for dry land and the time to leave the ark are demonstrated in the account of the raven and the dove. If you take the raven and dove as symbolic (in addition to them being literal), what would you say the raven represents? What would you say the dove represents? Why did the raven not come back?
Why did the dove return twice, and then not return at all?
Verses 13 – 14:
Let’s look at the duration of the Flood. Approximately one year and seventeen days before, God told Noah to enter the Ark. After one year and seventeen days, God tells Noah to leave the Ark. Below is a suggested timeline:
Event Scripture Probable Date
Ark Built 6:3, 14
Animals enter 7:10 May 10
Flood begins 7:11 May 17
Waters increase 7:12 June 26
Waters prevail on Earth 7:24
Ark touches ground 8:4 October 13
Waters recede 8:4 January 1
Windows opened; raven sent 8:6 February 10
Dove sent 8:10 February 17
Dove sent again 8:13 February 24
Ark door opened 8:13 April 1
Land dry, exit the Ark 8:14 May 27
Verses 15 – 22:
Here we see rejoicing, thanks, and a promise from God.
Part XVIII – Chapter 9: A New Beginning, New Rules, a New Covenant, and an Old Problem
In Chapter 9, we see the blessing of the family of Noah. We see the first indication that man will become a meat eater. We see the Noahic covenant established, and we see that sin did not die with the flood.
Verses 1-7:
Noah’s offering to God was acceptable, and God blessed Noah and his family and ordered them to multiply and replenish the earth. God also tells them that they will become meat eaters, and because of this, all animals will fear man.
In Verse 4, God tells them that flesh wherein there is blood is forbidden to them. This is a command that is hard to understand. It could be interpreted to mean that man should not take the life of animals for food. Rather, they should only eat of animals that have died naturally.
This seems to be unlikely, because the meat of any animal that has died naturally must be prepared shortly after death.
It could also be interpreted to mean that the blood should be drained before the animal’s meat is eaten. This, of course, is common practice today. This is likely the most appropriate meaning of the command.
Further, this command seems to show that man should respect nature and not kill needlessly. Based on this verse and the various interpretations, what do you think is the most appropriate interpretation?
Regarding the needless shedding of blood, Verses 5 and 6 also show the seriousness with which God regards all life, animal or man. God institutes government of man in these verses with respect to punishment for the taking of a human life. Do you see parallels with our legal system today regarding the punishment for murder?
Verses 8 – 17:
In these verses, God establishes a new covenant with Noah. God promises Noah and all living creatures that He will never again kill, or judge, all life on earth again by flood. God further shows His unconditional promise to Noah and all living kind by granting a sign, the rainbow, to remind them of His promise.
What about this promise would have been so important to Noah, the animals, and Noah’s immediate descendants?
Besides the Noahic covenant, there are four other major covenants in the Bible.
The Abrahamic Covenant: God promised to bless Abraham and his family, and through them to bless all people.
The Mosaic Covenant: This was made with the Israelites as their Constitution. God showed Israel how to live as His subjects.
The Davidic Covenant: God promised to provide from David’s descendents the Messiah to be Ruler and Savior.
The New Covenant: God promised a new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36). This was fulfilled in the death of Jesus Christ and the giving of the Holy Spirit.
Verses 18-23:
How quickly sin returns. Read these verses and describe what has happened here. Is there sin in the making and drinking of wine? What is the sin, or sins, that have occurred here?
Verses 24-28:
Here we learn that Ham is the father of Canaan. This will be important later as we discuss the origin of nations. Noah curses Ham because of his actions in Verses 18-23.
Part XiX – Chapter 10: The Origin of Nations
In Chapter 10, we see the descendants of Noah. We also see the origin of the nations (and races, as some call them) of the world, as we know them today. This is largely a genealogical chapter with only a brief description of one
person Nimrod. Other than a discussion of Nimrod, we will look at this chapter as a whole, rather than verse by verse.
First we are told the sons of Japheth. Next we are given the descendants of Ham. Lastly we are told of the sons of Shem.
The first two lines (Japheth and Ham) are rejected by God. The line of Shem is the Godly line through which the Messiah will come. It is the descendants of Shem that we will study almost exclusively beginning in chapter 12 with Abraham. This pattern of brief descriptions of the rejected lines followed by the story of the Godly line is repeated throughout the Bible. God describes the rejected line once, and then concentrates only on the Godly line. God is
essentially eliminating clutter and distraction from the story He wants us to understand: that of the lineage of His Son through the chosen people of Israel.
The Sons of Japheth:
Through this lineage, we are told of 14 nations. The descendants of Japheth became the Indo-European people who settled east into parts of Asia, north into Europe, and westward to Spain. Much of our lineage as Americans comes from the sons of Japheth. This would include the Native Americans in addition to those of us who descended from European immigrants.
Nationalities descended from Magog include the Slavs, Russians, Bulgarians, Bohemians, Poles, Slovaks, and Croatians.
The Indians and the Iranic races (Medes, Persians, Afghans, and Kurds) came from Madai.
From Javan, we have the Greeks, Romans, French, Portuguese, and Italian.
Coming from Tiras are the Germans, Scandinavians, Angles, Saxons, Jutes, and the Anglo-Saxon, or English, races.
The Sons of Ham:
Though this lineage, we are told of 30 nations. It is from this lineage that the yellow, dark brown and black skinned races come. These descendants make up what we know today as Africa and the Far East. From Canaan came the Phoenicians, the Hittites, the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, etc. If these sound familiar, it’s for good reason. These are the peoples and the land given to the Israelites in Canaan in Moses’ day.
The descendants of Shem are given, by God, the land of Canaan.
From Cush came the Africans. Ethiopians, Egyptians, Libyans, etc., make up the Hamitic races.
From Mizraim and Phut came the oriental races.
Verses 8-12:
In these verses, we are given chapter ten’s only detail regarding an individual. The individual is Nimrod, the son of Cush. The Bible tells us that Nimrod was a mighty hunter before the Lord. But, what does that mean? Most interpreters agree that Nimrod was not regarded as a hunter of animals, but as a mighty ruler and tyrannical leader that attempted to control what was the world at that time. We will see more of the result of Nimrod’s actions in chapter 11.
The general thought in the passage is that Nimrod was a hunter of men’s souls.
Nimrod is credited with building Babylon and three other great cities in the fertile plain of Shinar, and Nineveh, and in Assyria.
Many regard Nimrod as the parallel character with the prophesied Antichrist, foretold in Revelation. Nimrod’s aim was to bring all the people of the world together in one language in a concerted effort to rebel against God, and to build a kingdom that would rival God’s.
Nimrod, the name given his son by his father, Cush, means, “Let us rebel.”
The Sons of Shem:
Though this lineage, we are told of 26 nations. These nations make up what we now know as the Hebrew and Arab nations. It is through this lineage that the chosen nation, Israel, will emerge. It is through this lineage that God’s continuing covenant will be carried forth, and a Messiah given.
A Closing Note on Nations and Food for Thought:
It’s interesting to note that these nation groups have all had their times of dominance in world history. Clearly, the first major power in the world was made by the dark skinned races descended from Ham. We know that the sons of Shem emerged next during the days of King David and King Solomon. The next major world power came from the sons of Japheth, the Romans and the Persians. Today, most of the world’s power and prosperity is in the hands of the light- skinned peoples (American and European).
The point is that these periods in history of great world powers are cyclical. What will be the next great world power? It very well could be descended once again from the sons of Ham.
Many scholars of scripture predict a rebirth of Babylon and a one-world government controlled from there by the Antichrist, a parallel ruler to Nimrod. However, scripture tells us that the Antichrist will be of Roman ancestry, which
would make him a descendant of Japheth.
Part XX -Chapter 11: The Scattering of the Nations
In the first part of Chapter 11, we see the peoples of the world settle in the plain of Shinar and begin to build a tower. God sees what the people are doing and is displeased. God comes down and confounds their ability to communicate, thus scattering the people and forcing them to abandon the tower.
The second part of this chapter, we see the lineage of Shem through to Abram (or Abraham, as we most commonly know him).
Verses 1-4:
Remember from our last study, that biblical and secular history regards Nimrod as the builder of both Babylon and the Tower of Babel. What was unique about the people of the earth in this time that could allow Nimrod to accomplish so much? After reading these verses, can you describe the purpose(s) of the tower? The tower was likely what is known as a Ziggurat.
It would have had a square or round base that tapered upward. There were steps on the outside that allowed access to the top. On top was usually an alter for sacrifices to pagan gods. In other words, why did they want to build this tower?
To keep from being scattered? If so why? Was it a rallying point? Was it a premeditated symbol of rebellion against God?
Verses 5-9:
Was it the building of the tower or the fact that man had not yet moved to all parts of the earth to populate it (as God commanded the descendants of Noah) that angered God?
Is it possible that God confounded their speech for the ultimate good of the people? If you think so, please explain.
What does this one language enable man to do that God seeks for man to avoid?
In Verse 7, God once again uses the plural form of the Godhead when He says for “us” to go down and confound the peoples’ speech. Without the ability to communicate to each other, the people “left off” the building campaign and eventually scatted upon the earth as God had commanded.
What things today enable man to speak with one language like has not been since Genesis?
Notice the contrast between the way God confounded man’s speech when he rebelled, but caused everyone to hear in their own language at the day of Pentecost. The difference in the two instances was the message. God wants everyone to speak the same language in obedience and in the spreading of the gospel.
Verses 10-32:
This is the genealogy of Shem through to Abram. Note in these verses the declining life spans. Shem lived 600 years. By the time we get to Terah (Abram’s father), as we are told in Verse 32, we see that he lived only 205 years. Following this line a bit further we see that Abraham live to be 175 years old, Jacob lived to be 147 years old, and Joseph lived to be 110 years old.
These verses take us to the beginning of the story of the nation of Israel and of the coming of Christ. At the end of Chapter 11, we find Abram and his family living in Canaan, in Haran, having moved there from Ur of the Chaldees. It is in Haran that Abram receives the word and direction of God.