Exposition of Genesis 1-11

1. Exposition of Genesis 1-11 The Flood Part II Gen 6:13-22

2. The Overall Structure of Genesis • Key Word: tdol.AT, “The generations of...” • the Heavens and the Earth (2:4 – 4:26) • Adam (5:1 – 6:8) • Noah (6:9 – 9:27) • Sons of Noah (10:1 – 11:10) • Shem (11:10-26) • Terah (11:27 – 25:11) • Ishmael (25:12-18) • Isaac (25:19 – 35:29) • Esau (36:1 – 37:1) • Jacob (37:2 – 50:14)

3. The Toledoth of Noah and the Coming Judgment (Gen 6:9-13) • We looked at 6:9-12 last week. • It tells us about Noah. • It tells us the reason for the coming judgment. • They had ruined themselves (6:12) and filled the earth with violence, now God was about to ruin them with the flood. • In 6:13 God tells Noah of His plan to destroy the earth and all flesh in it. • “The end of all flesh has come before me” is the language of judgment. God has seen the evidence and is about to execute His sentence. • Notice how often “all” appears throughout this account. Here it refers to both man and animal.

4. Noah Commanded to Build an ArkGen 6:14-16 • The Hebrew word translated “ark”, hb'Te, occurs in only two sections of Scripture, here and in the story that describes the birth and rescue of Moses (Exod 2:3-5). What is the parallel? • In both cases the ark will be used to deliver someone through water, who in turn will bring deliverance to others. • “Gopher”, a transliteration of the Hebrew term, was evidently abundant where Noah lived; “pitch” was a tar-like substance used to seal the seams. • The top had an opening, a cubit in width, that allowed light and water in.

5. Artist Irby Toups’ Rendering of the Ark Opening here http://www.mishkanministries.org/noahsark.php

6. Artist Irby Toups’ Rendering of the Ark http://www.mishkanministries.org/noahsark.php

7. Artist Irby Toups’ Rendering of the Ark http://www.mishkanministries.org/noahsark.php

8. Points to Note • Assuming a common cubit of 17.5 inches, the ark would have been 437.5 feet long, 72.92 feet wide, and 43.75 feet high. • These proportions make for a very stable vessel and are still used in large ship building today. • Total deck area = 95,700 sq ft • Total volume = 1,396,000 cubic ft • Carrying capacity = 522 standard railroad stock cars...more than enough room to carry the approximately 35,000 vertebrate animals of Noah’s time, as well as provisions for one year. • It is highly likely that these animals hibernated and estivated for some time during their year on the ark.

9. Prediction of the Flood & the Covenant (Gen 6:17-18) • In contrast to what Noah is commanded, God emphatically states that He will destroy with the flood “all flesh” which breathes and “everything which is on the earth” (excluding those in the water under the earth). • In contrast with the rest of the created order which God will destroy, Noah and his family will be preserved and will enjoy the provision and protection of a covenant relationship with God. (Gen 9:9-17). • Like the animals, Noah’s family will enter the ark in pairs, to preserve the human race.

10. Animals that Will Accompany Noah’s Family (Gen 6:19-21) • Two of every kind of animal, male and female. • The threefold classification that was used earlier in the creation account is repeated here: • birds • animals – broad term for land animals • creeping things – includes rodents, reptiles, insects • Note that these animals would come to Noah... rather than he having to go after them! • A store of food (cf. Gen 1:29-30) would also be necessary for all those in the ark, both man and animal.

11. Noah’s Obedience ResponseGen 6:22 • Noah has already been described as a righteous man who walked with God (6:9). This verse affirms that character, emphasizing that Noah did all that God commanded. • Though we are not told how long it took to build the ark and make the other necessary preparations, it is clear that it would have taken a considerable period of time.

12. The FloodPart III Gen 7:1-12