Articles
Turning Points in Bible History - 2
We call them “watershed moments,” those times that completely alter the lives of people or nations. In the most literal sense of the term, the flood was the mother of all watershed moments. In its aftermath the physical dynamics of the planet were restructured, humanity was renewed on a global scale and an eternal object lesson was established regarding the sovereignty of God and the accountability of man to Him.
The lore of many cultures contain stories of an ancient deluge. But the Bible makes it clear that this lore is not mythology but an actual event. Isaiah, Ezekiel, Peter, the author of Hebrews and Jesus all refer to Noah as a real historical figure.
It is difficult to adequately picture what this would have been like for Noah. The 120 years of manual labor in building the ark. The concurrent doomsday preaching and increasing dread of what was to befall the earth. The horrible days of torrential rains, bursting of subterranean springs and annihilation of all outside the ark. The span of over a year on the ark and eventual disembarkation to a flood-ravaged earth. Rebuilding civilization from scratch.
God asks the most of those whose faith is strong enough to endure. The line of human ancestry goes back to Adam but funnels through Noah, one of the most dedicated and faithful men in history. Sometimes God’s dealings with man hinge on one solitary life. What if you were that person? Would you be able to bear the demands of God on your shoulders?
