Many claim that Noah’s Flood was just a local flood, but what does the Bible say?
Plain Meaning of Scripture
In the 7th chapter of Genesis we read the account of Noah’s Flood:
In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights. In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark; They, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort. And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life. And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in. And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth. And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters. And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered. Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered. And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man: All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died. And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark. And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days. —Genesis 7:11-24
Questions
- In verse 19 does the Bible seem to be saying that the whole earth was covered? Why or why not?
- Verse 20 makes it clear that the highest mountain was covered by 15 cubits. Why does the plain meaning of this verse make the idea of a local flood impossible?
- How do verses 21 — 23 make it clear that the entire earth was flooded?
Why Do Some Claim Noah’s Flood to be Local
II Peter tells us that there will be those that will deny the destruction of the world by Noah’s Flood:
Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. — II Peter 3:3-7
Questions
- According to the passage, in what ways are the scoffers ignorant of the flood?
- In Genesis 7, the plain meaning of Scripture makes it clear that Noah’s Flood was global. In your opinion, why do some so vehemently deny that it really was a worldwide judgment?
- If the flood was really a global, world-reshaping catastrophe, it would have the power to lay down massive geologic layers — just like we see. For this reason, why do you think that those who want to place millions of years during creation week want to minimize the effects of the flood?
- What happens when we deny the plain teaching of Genesis 7?
The Power of the Flood
God sent Noah’s Flood to judge the world. In Genesis 6 we read:
The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. — Genesis 6:11-13
Questions
- Why did the Lord send judgment?
- What type of flood would it take to judge all the flesh of the earth?
- According to God’s Word all of the land-dwelling, air-breathing animals died. How could this be used to explain the fossils that we find all around the world?
- Many creation scientists have speculated that a worldwide flood would cause tsunamis, tidal waves, laid down massive layers, included large-scale volcanic activity, and many more catastrophes. In your opinion, does this fit the Biblical account of the flood?
- Water has tremendous force. What types of water erosion would we expect to find from the flood?
End in Prayer
Finish by thanking the Lord for His account of the worldwide flood and that He provided a way of escape — and will again for the upcoming judgment!
