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Noah and the flood
The instructions given to Noah were explicit giving details of all that would happen.
The Lord revealed the reason for His action and the means whereby it would happen
All this would have been strange since it had never rained upon the earth
Nevertheless with remarkable faith Noah comp!every obeyed the Lord
His family too showed moral fortitude as they gathered materials and the means for the work,
following Noah's directions as they were given to him by the Lord, they built the ark.
no doubt this was accompanied by ridicule and scorn during these years
from those who had no regard for the God whom Noah serves
In His forbearance the Lord caused two of each creature to join them in the ark
and He instructed Noah to take more of certain creatures with him as they entered the ark.
Then when the time was right, we read, " the Lord shut them in "
The floodgates were opened,the rain fell, and all on the earth perished because of their sin.
The rain continued for forty days but the sojourn in the ark lasted for more than a yearComing to rest on mount Ararat, Noah sought to discover the state of the earth.
Utiiising two birds, a raven, (a scavenger) and a dove
Noah decided that life had returned to earth; as an olive leaf was brought back by the dove.
On leaving the ark, Noah's first act was to acknowledge the Lord in thankfulness.
with the building of an altar and the offering of a sacrifice.
The result is described as being a sweet smelling savour to the Lord,
and there follows what we are informed are the musings of God Himself, the Lord.
These are later shared with Noah and his sons; God acknowledges the evil nature of mankind,
whilst being prepared to establish s covenant promising never again to destroy mankind.
The rainbow, we are told serves as a reminder of this covenant to both God and ourslves
Thus enabling the descendants of Noah and his family to ' go forth and multiply '