
Points to Ponder About
the Flood
2 Pet. 3:3-8 tells us that people who scoff at the Bible are "willingly
ignorant" of the Creation and the Flood. In order to understand science and the
Bible, we must not be ignorant of those two great events in Earth’s history. See
Creation Seminar tape 2 for more information.
Over 250 Flood legends from all parts of the world have been found. Most have
similarities to the Genesis story.
Noah’s ark was built only to float, not to sail anywhere. Many ark scholars
believe that the ark was a "barge" shape, not a pointed "boat" shape. This would
greatly increase the cargo capacity. Scoffers have pointed out that the largest
sailing ships were less than 300 feet because of the problem of twisting and
flexing the boat. These ships had giant masts on them and sails to catch the
wind. Noah's ark need neither of those and therefore had far less torsional
stress.
Even using the small 18-inch cubit (my height is 6-ft. 1-in. and I have a 21-in.
cubit) the ark was large enough to hold all the required animals, people, and
food with room to spare.
The length-to-width ratio of 6 to 1 is what shipbuilders today often use. This
is the best ratio for stability in stormy weather. (God thinks of everything!)
The ark may have had a "moon-pool" in the center. The larger ships would have a
hole in the center of the bottom of the boat with walls extending up into the
ship. There are several reasons for this feature:
It allowed water to go up into the hole as the ship crested waves. This would be
needed to relieve strain on longer ships.
The rising and lowering water acted as a piston to pump fresh air in and out of
the ship. This would prevent the buildup of dangerous gasses from all the
animals on board.
The hole was a great place to dump garbage into the ocean without going outside.
The ark may have had large drogue (anchor) stones suspended over the sides to
keep it more stable in rough weather. Many of these stones have been found in
the region where the ark landed.
Noah lived 950 years! Many Bible scholars believe the pre-Flood people were much
larger than modern man. Skeletons over 11 feet tall have been found! If Noah
were taller, his cubit (elbow to fingertip) would have been much larger also.
This would make the ark larger by the same ratio. See Seminar tape #2 for more
info on this.
God told Noah to bring two of each kind (seven of some), not of each species or
variety. Noah had only two of the dog kind which would include the wolves,
coyotes, foxes, mutts, etc. The "kind" grouping is probably closer to our modern
family division in taxonomy, and would greatly reduce the number of animals on
the ark. Animals have diversified into many varieties in the last 4400 years
since the Flood. This diversification is not anything similar to great claims
that the evolutionists teach. (They teach that "kelp can turn into Kent," given
enough time!)
Noah did not have to get the animals. God brought them to him (Gen. 6:20, "shall
come to thee").
Only land-dwelling, air-breathing animals had to be included on the ark (Gen.
7:15, "in which is the breath of life," 7:22). Noah did not need to bring all
the thousands of insects varieties.
Many animals sleep, hibernate, or become very inactive during bad weather.
All animals (and people) were vegetarians before and during the Flood according
to Gen. 1:20-30 with Gen. 9:3.
The pre-Flood people were probably much smarter and more advanced than people
today. The longer lifespans, Adam’s direct contact with God, and the fact that
they could glean the wisdom of many generations that were still alive would
greatly expand their knowledge base.
The Bible says that the highest mountains were covered by 15 cubits of water.
This is half the height of the ark. The ark was safe from scraping bottom at all
times.
The large mountains, as we have them today, did not exist until after the Flood
when "the mountains arose and the valleys sank down" (Ps. 104:5-9, Gen. 8:3-8).
There is enough water in the oceans right now to cover the earth 8,000 feet deep
if the surface of the earth were smooth.
Many claim to have seen the ark in recent times in the area in which the Bible
says it landed. There are two primary schools of thought about the actual site
of the ark (see my Creation Seminar Part 3 video for more on this). Much energy
and time has been expended to prove both views. Some believe the ark is on Mt.
Ararat, covered by snow (CBS showed a one-hour special in 1993 about this site).
The other group believes the ark is seventeen miles south of Mt. Ararat in a
valley called "the valley of eight" (8 souls on the ark). The Bible says the ark
landed in the "mountains" of Ararat, not necessarily on the mountain itself.
The continents were not separated until 100-300 years after the Flood (Gen.
10:25). The people and animals had time to migrate anywhere on earth by then.
See Seminar Part 6 for more information.
The top 3,000 feet of Mt. Everest (from 26,000-29,000 feet) is made up of
sedimentary rock packed with seashells and other ocean-dwelling animals.
Sedimentary rock is found all over the world. Sedimentary rock is formed in
water.
Petrified clams in the closed position (found all over the world) testify to
their rapid burial while they were still alive, even on top of Mount Everest.
Bent rock layers, fossil graveyards, and poly-strata fossils are best explained
by a Flood.
People choose to not believe in the Flood because it speaks of the judgment of
God on sin (2 Pet. 3:3-8).