I always think that Noah and family were safe and sound inside the ark with their personal zoo before the first drop of water hit that titanic ship. It may have been that way. However, the verse order in Genesis 7 makes me wonder. Have you ever noticed it? Look at verses 11 - 16.
11 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. 12 And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights. 13 In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark; 14 They, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort. 15 And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life. 16 And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in.
In Junior church the Flannel-Graph always showed Noah with a big white beard, a staff, a smile and beside him was a long line of animals two by two calmly ambling into the ark. And Flannel-Graph is always right. Isn't it?
It may have been that way. God had commanded Noah and family to enter the ark seven days before the flood started and Noah always did what God commanded. But look again at the seeming order of events of that last day of dry:
- The "fountains of the great deep broke up,
- the windows of heaven were opened and
- the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.
- then Noah and family went in.
- Then, And the LORD shut him in. Whew! Just in time.
I live in Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brazil. Sorocaba is a funny word. It is a word of ancient origin and means, torn earth. If you are familiar with San Francisco, CA and it's hills or Houghton/ Hancock, MI you have an idea about how hilly Sorocaba is.
These hills are residual marks from the six hundredth year and second month and seventeenth day of Noah's life when the great deep broke up and the waters gushed out. It didn't only rain during the flood. All of the water that was below the earth's surface gushed out too. Air breathing beings didn't have a chance of survival. I doubt that there was one person clutching to the ark as it rose from Noah's front yard.
If the events of Flood Day happened as mentioned in the order above, why on earth did God wait so long to shut that door? Could it be that He was waiting until the last moment to see if anyone else might want to join Mr. and Mrs. Noah and family? Or maybe it was Noah who was hesitant to slam the door on all of his neighbors. Had Noah made that door so big that he couldn't shut it? I doubt it. Did Noah expect God to shut it? Again, I doubt it.
God is merciful and Noah was faithful, dedicated and righteous. In God's mercy he allowed Noah to preach righteousness (see 2 Peter 2.5) for one hundred and twenty years. God gave the people a final weeks warning by commanding Noah to go into the ark. And, maybe Noah and family were still trying to convince their relatives and neighbors to come in on that last day as God finally shut the door.
The final judgment will be by fire and not water. How many times do you need to hear before you enter the ark? Of course there will be no big boat on that day. Jesus Christ, the ultimate preacher of righteousness, shouts to you to day, Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28).
Why would anyone wait to be rescued? Why would you? Come on in right now before God closes The Door (John 10.9)!
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