Gen 6: Vessels of wrath; Gen 7: Vessels of mercy. Importance
of Flood in NT: Jesus' warning in Mat 24:37-39. Also, Luk 17:26,27; Heb 11:7;
1Pe 3:20; 2Pe 2:5; 3:3-10.
Other traditions of the Flood: Halley 75.
GO INTO ARK: In AV, "Come!" God was in the Ark: Isa
26:20n; see Gen 7:16. Cp Col 3:3 ("Hid with Christ"); 2 Co 6:17: separated from
world. Christ IS the "ark" of salvation. In him, God says, "Come unto me" (Mat
11:28,29; cp Isa 26:20,21).
YOUR WHOLE FAMILY (ALL THY HOUSE): Act 16:31.
BECAUSE I HAVE FOUND YOU RIGHTEOUS IN THIS GENERATION:
"You" here is singular: clearly implying that Noah was the ONLY righteous man.
In this he was a type of Christ, and his sons and the rest of his family -- who
were saved thru him -- typify the rest of us!
Power of faith and intercession on behalf of others: Mat 8:13;
9:32; 15:28; 17:14-18; Luk 8:50; Joh 4:49; Jos 6:17; Gen 7:1; 18:32; 19:12; Act
27:24.
Gen 7:2
SEVEN OF EVERY KIND OF CLEAN ANIMAL: Was there room for
more clean animals, because no people took Noah up on his offer of
accommodations? Notice in Acts 10; 11 "unclean animals" = Gentiles! If so, then
could "clean animals" = "Jews" or covenant peoples?
Gen 7:3
Birds have been known to carry seeds of plants and tiny eggs
of insects across oceans to previous barren islands.
Gen 7:4
SEVEN DAYS: 7 days warning: v 10n.
FORTY: The Scriptural number of probation.
WIPE FROM (DESTROY FROM): "Blot out" (AV mg); ie "wash
off", as by water!
Gen 7:7
Cp v 23.
Gen 7:9
The normal enmity of animal life was set aside.
Gen 7:10
AFTER SEVEN DAYS: Not immediately. Noah had to enter
ark at time of no rain, when nothing pointed to coming cataclysm. (Had it never
rained before? Heb 11:7.)
Gen 7:11
"The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD is enthroned
as King forever" (Psa 29:10).
SPRINGS: "Fountains" (AV); "tehom" (Heb).
GREAT DEEP: Waters of ocean (Isa 51:10). Underground
reservoirs, ie Psa 78:15; 33:7.
FLOODGATES (WINDOWS): Heb "araboth". The upper,
covering firmament, or vapor cover: 1:8. No longer held in check by God (Job
38:8-11; Jer 5:22). Earthquakes, etc. -- volcanic eruptions.
Gen 7:13
ON THAT VERY DAY: A public witness against the world:
Heb 11:7.
Gen 7:16
GOD: Elohim.
THE LORD: Yahweh. Concerning animals: "Elohim".
Concerning man: "Yahweh"!
THE LORD SHUT HIM IN: "The name of the LORD is a strong
tower; the righteous run to it and are safe" (Pro 18:10). A divine selection and
protection. But of course others are left out (Mat 25:10).
Open doors: for restored communion (2Ch 29:3); deliverance
from prison (Act 5:19); surrender (Rev 3:20); service (1Co 16:9); and
opportunity (Rev 3:8). Shut doors: for safety (Gen 7:16); privacy and communion
(Mat 6:6); faith and prayer (2Ki 4:5,21,33); self-sufficiency (Rev 3:20); and
separation and rejection (Mat 25:10).
Gen 7:17
FORTY DAYS: The period of probation and/or
judgment.
THE WATERS INCREASED: Or, "prevailed" (AV). God's
judgments prevailed (cp Jon 2:5). A contrast between water and earth.
THEY LIFTED (BARE UP) THE ARK: Christ, our "ark of
salvation", was lifted up: Joh 3:14; 8:28. The waters brought both death and
life (2Co 2:15; 1Pe 3:20).
Gen 7:19
"Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck" (Psa
69:1).
ALL THE HIGH MOUNTAINS: Or "hills" (AV). Prob only
hills at this time. Earth was prob a low tropical marsh (cp Gen
2:5,6).