by Tom Fowler

Created on: July 30, 2008

There was probably not a world wide flood in the sense that we understand that term in our modern day, but I do believe there was such a catastrophe that the people of Noah's time believed it was an event that affected the entire world.

The people of long ago had a much narrower view of just about everything than we do in our modern time. It is easy to see how something such as the story of Noah, the Ark and the Flood was given a greater significance than what we would give it today. In Noah's time, a flood with rains lasting several weeks could easily be given the same weight of public opinion as a major, death-dealing tsunami would today.

Keep in mind also that in Noah's time, there were parts of the world unknown to persons of the Middle East. I am no historian, but it is extremely doubtful that knowledge of North and South America even Western Europe were known to very many people, if knowledge of those far away lands was existent at all. The world of that time was not one of automobiles, trains, sailing ships and airplanes. It was not possible to travel half way around the world in 24 hours as it is today.

So, the world to Noah was what was known, seen and heard of. I am certain that he and his followers were sincere in believing that the flood was a crisis of worldwide proportion. Had the planet been literally submerged, it is doubtful he and those on the Ark could have survived after it quit raining. I believe that the destruction of the world by flood is symbolic, but that is more than enough to make the moral point stated so eloquently in the Old Testament.

But, the story could be literally true because God can do anything he wishes including destroy the world and quickly restore it again. He is not burdened by the same rules of physics that you and I are. He can suspend any rule, anytime, simply because He is the Father of rules. Never doubt our Lord's power and do not be too quick to dismiss out of hand anything in the Bible being literally true because with God anything is possible.

So many of the Bible's stories, both Old and New Testament, are to me tests of faith. So often, we do not understand what we read and cannot connect with something written thousands of years ago. It is for us to accept on faith that the Bible is true and sure and, if there is something in error regarding the canon, out Lord will speak to our spirit concerning it.

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