Understanding Genesis #11 Noah’s Flood

In this episode, Rob leads a zoom Bible study through the Flood episode in Gen 6-9. We note many of the parallels between Adam and Noah and the Flood narrative.

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As we read the flood narrative (Gen 7-8) it is important to read the text as literature first. In doing so, note the parallels between the creation account and the flood narrative:

• Deep (Tehom) 1:2; 7:11; 8:2
• Earth covered by water 1:2; 7:24
• Wind/Spirit of God over the water 1:2; 8:1
• Water recedes 1:9; 8:1-5
• Land appears 1:9; 8:5
• Classification of animals 1:21, 24-25; 6:20; 7:14, 21, 23
• God blesses them 1:28; 9:1
• Be fruitful and multiply 1:28; 8:17; 9:1, 7
• In God’s image 1:27; 9:6

 

The flood narrative is the undoing of creation (decreation). The two sources of water (7:11) recall the water in 1:6-7. The flood uncreates and returns creation to a state it was in beforehand when there were only waters. The world after the flood represents the beginning of a new creation. The ark, in fact, is a model of Eden: those inside receive and those outside perish.

 

Interestingly, the narrative does not put the onus on God: He is not an angry, vengeful God imposing punishment on the creation. Daniel Hawk notes, “the conventional translations, however, override the grammar of the Hebrew text, which makes a statement of fact rather than a declaration of intent. The construction suggests that God has seen where the ruination of creation is headed and has decided to accelerate the process to its completion.”[1] The flood is not evil. It is a purging of evil; a cleansing; the making of a new start.

 

If there is a theme here, it is that God judges all flesh but saves a remnant. This, of course, will be a theme that pervades all of the biblical story.

 

Again, we must look to the ANE (ancient near east) world to see if we can learn from them. Moses certainly adapted his stories to reflect the biblical God. At the same time, there are numerous parallels between the biblical story and these ANE accounts.

 

One of the questions that arises from the flood account is that of the apparently universal language. The question we must ask is whether or not the author is speaking from a human perspective or the divine perspective. That is, does “all” in this text mean: “all” that I could see or know about? or “all” as in “everything” from God’s perspective (cp Gen 41:57: Deut 2:25).

[1] Hawk, L. Daniel. The Violence of the Biblical God (p. 32). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.. Kindle Edition.

 

Reading the NT

Flood is a type of baptism

1 Pet 3:20

 

Flood as an analogy for the last days

In God’s judgment he will save a remnant: “As it was in the days of Noah” (Matt 24:37-41; 25:31-46): “one will be taken and one will be left”

 

Flood is a type of God’s judgment on sin

2 Pet 3:3-7

 

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