Genesis 7:17-24

The flood was forty days on the earth. The waters increased, and lifted up the ship, and it was lifted up above the earth. The waters prevailed, and increased greatly on the earth; and the ship floated on the surface of the waters. The waters prevailed exceedingly on the earth. All the high mountains that were under the whole sky were covered. The waters prevailed fifteen cubits upward, and the mountains were covered. All flesh died that moved on the earth, including birds, livestock, animals, every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every man. All in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, of all that was on the dry land, died. Every living thing was destroyed that was on the surface of the ground, including man, livestock, creeping things, and birds of the sky. They were destroyed from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those who were with him in the ship. The waters prevailed on the earth one hundred fifty days.

This passage should put to rest any thought that the flood was only a local one. The Bible clearly says that the ship was lifted “up above the earth,” and that “all the high mountains that were under the whole sky were covered.” Obviously, “the waters prevailed.”

All of the animals and humans died. That explains a lot about what we see on the earth today. We find marine fossils on mountain tops. We find mass graves of living things and mass deposits of “fossil fuel.” In a very real way, the death of the ancient world is all around us. We are still living off of the oil. The real question is whether we have learned our lesson.

It was because of evil that God destroyed the world the first time. God is still the same God, but He has a plan and a huge amount of desire for mankind to avoid the next destruction. When I see fossils or see the amazing rock structures on the earth, I imagine the horrific flood that caused it and remember that not too long ago, God destroyed all of mankind except for Noah and his family. I am thankful for the love that God showed mankind to allow me to exist and I am happy that I was given an opportunity to be a part of the amazing salvation that was to come in Jesus.