The Great Flood — God’s Judgment and Mercy (Genesis 7:1–24)
In the last part of Noah’s story, we saw how he trusted God and built the ark just as he was told. Now, in Genesis 7, the time has finally come. The flood that God warned about is about to begin.
This part of the story shows both God’s judgment on a broken world and His mercy toward those who trust Him.
Let’s walk through what happened.
God’s Final Instructions to Noah
God told Noah it was time to get into the ark.
He gave very specific directions: Noah was to bring his family, along with seven pairs of every kind of “clean” animal (animals that would later be used for sacrifices) and one pair of every “unclean” animal.
God said that in seven days, the rain would begin, and it would not stop until the whole world was covered.
Noah listened carefully and did everything exactly as God told him.
Entering the Ark
At this time, Noah was 600 years old — yes, really!
When the day came, Noah, his wife, his sons, and their wives all entered the ark. Two of every kind of animal also entered, just as God had commanded.
Then God Himself made sure they were safely shut inside. The door was closed — and Noah and his family were protected.
The Flood Begins
After seven days, the rain started.
But it wasn’t just rain from the sky — the Bible says the “fountains of the great deep” also broke open. Water poured out from below and above, covering everything.
The rain continued for 40 days and 40 nights without stopping.
Safe Inside the Ark
While the storm raged outside, Noah and everyone with him were safe inside the ark.
Genesis carefully lists who was there: Noah, his wife, his sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth, their wives, and all the animals God had sent to be saved.
It’s important to notice that God Himself shut the door. Noah had done his part by building and preparing, but God was the one who provided full protection.
The Power of the Flood
The floodwaters rose higher and higher.
The ark floated safely on the surface, but everything else was overwhelmed. Even the mountains were completely covered by water! There was no place left dry or safe outside the ark.
The Destruction of Life
Sadly, everything outside the ark — all living creatures, birds, animals, and people — perished.
This was a heartbreaking moment, showing how serious sin and corruption had become.
But inside the ark, Noah and those with him lived because they trusted and obeyed God.
The Waters Prevail
The flood didn’t just last for a few days.
The waters stayed high over the earth for 150 days.
During this time, Noah and his family had to wait patiently, trusting that God would eventually bring them to safety.
Conclusion
The story of the flood is both sad and hopeful.
It shows us how seriously God takes sin, but it also reminds us of His mercy. God made a way for Noah and his family to be saved because Noah chose to trust and obey.
Even when the world seems overwhelming, God offers protection and hope to those who walk with Him.
Noah’s story encourages us to stay faithful — even when it’s hard — and to believe that God will always keep His promises.
Genesis 7:1-24 (WEB)
7:1 The LORD said to Noah, “Come with all of your household into the ship, for I have seen your righteousness before me in this generation. 2 You shall take seven pairs of every clean animal with you, the male and his female. Of the animals that are not clean, take two, the male and his female. 3 Also of the birds of the sky, seven and seven, male and female, to keep seed alive on the surface of all the earth. 4 In seven days, I will cause it to rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights. I will destroy every living thing that I have made from the surface of the ground.”5 Noah did everything that the LORD commanded him.6 Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters came on the earth. 7 Noah went into the ship with his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives, because of the floodwaters. 8 Clean animals, unclean animals, birds, and everything that creeps on the ground 9 went by pairs to Noah into the ship, male and female, as God commanded Noah. 10 After the seven days, the floodwaters came on the earth. 11 In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep burst open, and the sky’s windows opened. 12 It rained on the earth forty days and forty nights.13 In the same day Noah, and Shem, Ham, and Japheth—the sons of Noah—and Noah’s wife and the three wives of his sons with them, entered into the ship— 14 they, and every animal after its kind, all the livestock after their kind, every creeping thing that creeps on the earth after its kind, and every bird after its kind, every bird of every sort. 15 Pairs from all flesh with the breath of life in them went into the ship to Noah. 16 Those who went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God commanded him; then the LORD shut him in. 17 The flood was forty days on the earth. The waters increased, and lifted up the ship, and it was lifted up above the earth. 18 The waters rose, and increased greatly on the earth; and the ship floated on the surface of the waters. 19 The waters rose very high on the earth. All the high mountains that were under the whole sky were covered. 20 The waters rose fifteen cubits higher, and the mountains were covered. 21 All flesh died that moved on the earth, including birds, livestock, animals, every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every man. 22 All on the dry land, in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, died. 23 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. 24 The waters flooded the earth one hundred fifty days.