Adrift on the High Seas    
    
   Do you know who your "greatest" granddaddy is? We understand that we descended from Noah and one of his sons - Shem, Ham or Japheth. 

   Long ago, free will resulted in wickedness, the old serpent apparently having his way. Every inclination of man, Genesis reports, was evil all the time. The earth was full of corruption and violence. Sound familiar? 

   But Noah was blameless, and found favor with the Lord, who otherwise was grieved, the book says. Mankind, animals, creatures and birds would have to die. 

   The Creator himself was about to do violence to his earth, releasing water from underground along with torrential rains. There needed to be a "lifeboat" for Noah, his wife, sons and their wives. 

   Who knew anything about ship building? No one had ever seen rain, much less a flood. 
 

Replica

Authority matters
   
   God chose Noah, because he knew God  and walked (lived righteously) with God.  His unqualified but faithful family got the assignment.  

   The Lord gave the instructions they needed. 
We know today - the dimensions were ideal for floating on rough seas. Boarding, by invitation only, included seven of each species God wanted to save. 

   God himself is considered the builder. The ark had no propulsion, no sails, no controls, no compass...and only one door. It was unsinkable.

   Noah's family believed God and built. He did not know when the water would rise until all were aboard and God closed the door. 

   Just a story? Genesis dates the beginning of the flood: 600th year of Noah on the 17th day of the second month. 
 

Tomorrow: What we can learn from it

* This writing based on yesterday's sermon.