08/11/2026
Genesis Chapter 7: Noah, continuedâŠ
I am typing the lesson tonight since I had so much trouble with the videos the past few weeks {and someone came home from work early and finding a peaceful place to talk is absolutely impossible-I am currently wearing headphones listening to Anne Wilson just to type in peace :)}
Remember that these lessons are coming from Landmarkâs The Book of Genesis with some tidbits I add.
There will not be a lesson next week. I will be out of town and out of phone signal for the most part.
The Coming of the Flood Genesis 7:1-10
God instructs Noah to enter the ark with all his house (verse 1) along with all the animals (verse 2). God gives specific instructions about the clean and unclean animals in verses 3-4. The difference between the âcleanâ and âuncleanâ animals indicates that Noah would need extra of the clean animals to make a sacrifice to God thanks to sin being in the world. Everything that remained on the earth would be destroyed (verse 4).
Reading the section between Genesis 6-7 cannot avoid the fact that Noah not only walked with God, but he obeyed âall that the Lord commandedâ (verse 5). An historical note is made in Genesis 7:5 that Noah was 600 years old when the flood came upon the earth. Genesis 7:7-10 indicates that Noah followed Godâs instructions completely.
The Chronology of the Flood Genesis 7:11-24
God is very specific about the exact day the flood came upon the earth in Genesis 7:11. It was on the âsecond month, the seventeenth day.â A comparison with Genesis 8:4 shows the flood receding and the ark resting on the mount after 150 days exactly on the âseventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month.â God is very specific as to when things happen. Which is why I am not too concerned when my videos arenât out at exactly the time I plan for them; I leave it to Him. The timing noted also helps in determining how God counts months. From the âsecond monthâ to the âseventh monthâ is five months and the duration was 150 days. The month is counted with 30 days. This is consistent with the rest of scripture. The flood was upon the earth for 150 days.
The rest of the chapter confirms that all life that had remained on the earth died (verse 21-24). It should be noted that the waters were upon the earth to the depth of 15 cubits (a cubit is approximately 18 inches so this would make the fifteen cubits 22.5 feet) above the highest mountain. The tallest mountain on the earth today is Mount Everest at 29,028 feet high. The water was at least 22.5 feet above this so it would make the water covering all the earth at a depth of 29,040.5 feet. The flood was universal and covered the entire earth at this depth. Those who say the flood was a âlocalâ one do not consider the text of Scripture and what it says. There have been numerous scientific discoveries of a world-wide flood. The proof is available to those that choose not to deny it.
The Commitment of God to Noah Genesis 8:1-14
Genesis 8 begins with the statement, âAnd God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the arkâŠâ (verse 1). The first five verses of chapter 8 indicate God began the process of removing the water from the earth and returning things as they were prior to the flood.
Noah then begins to send out birds from the ark forty days after the ark came to rest on Mount Ararat (verse 6). He sends out a raven (verse 7) which is listed as an âuncleanâ bird in Leviticus 11:13-20. This indicates they were âfleshâ eating birds. The raven did not return to the ark which would indicate the raven found rotting flesh to eat. I am 36 years old, and I never considered that was the reason the raven never returned. That proves you are never too old to learn something new, and the more you read and study the Bible, the more you learn. :)
Next, Noah sends forth a dove (Genesis 8:8) to see if it would find a place to live. The dove sometimes roosts on the ground. The dove returns to the ark indicating there was not a place for the dove to establish a place for life (verse 9). Noah waits seven days and sends the dove out again, and this time she returns with an olive leaf in her beak (verse 10). After seven more days, Noah sends the dove out for a third time. This time, the dove does not return, indicating that it had found a new home on the drying earth. This indicates the earth has now begun to bud and grow things again and the earth had dried up (verse 14). This occurred one year and ten days after the flood had started (compare Genesis 7:11 with Genesis 8:14) or 370 days.
The Commandment of God to Noah and the Animals Genesis 8:15-19
God tells Noah to leave the ark along with his family and the animals, as well. Note the comment in Genesis 8:17, âBring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth.â This commandment is given to the animal kingdom. The same was given to them prior to the flood immediately after the creation (Genesis 1:22). Noah follows the command of God immediately and goes forth with all in the ark.
The Commitment of Noah to God Genesis 8:20-22
The first thing Noah does is build an altar and make a sacrifice to the Lord (verse 20). The text indicates that God âsmelled a sweet savourâ and then makes a commitment to man that He will not destroy man as He did in the flood (verses 21-22). Noah is making a commitment to the Lord by his sacrifice.
The âsweet savourâ is a significant phrase in the Bible. The offerings that Israel was to observe when they came into the land of Canaan after leaving Egypt were to have two characteristics. They were to be either a âsweet savourâ offering or a ânon sweet savourâ offering unto the Lord. (Leviticus 1-7 where there were to be five offerings, three sweet and two non sweet.) The sweet savour offerings were to deal with the sin of man. There are two places in the New Testament where believers are to be a âsweet savourâ unto the Lord. II Corinthians 2:15 says, âFor we are unto God as a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish.â Believers today are to be a sweet savour unto the Lord, When it says âin them that are savedâ that indicates the Christian is to be a sweet savour unto those who are saved. In other words, be a blessing to each other. When it says âin them that perishâ the Christian is to those who are not saved a reminder of the spiritual death the lost person faces in eternity. Again, in Ephesians 5:2, it says, âAnd walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour.â The Christian must ask, âWhat type of savour (smell) am I giving to the Lord and to those around me?
I donât know about you, but I try to be an encouragement to everyone around me. No matter what I am going through, I find it pretty easy to keep a strong front and trust in His will, but that is not always going to be the case. I will eventually need someone that can keep me grounded and pulled down where I need to be spiritually. Those reading this lesson will be good candidates for thatâŠkeep that in mind. But as we go on with our day to day, I hope you find the time to lift others up. Let that amazing spark that comes with having Christ reside within you shine bright for others to see!
