Many ancient peoples told stories of a global flood, survived by only one man and his family. Genesis’ “plot” was not unique; its picture of God was. In Babylon’s story, the gods aimed to wipe out humans. Only one dissenting god saved Atrahasis (their “Noah”). In Genesis, God sought out Noah, and made careful provision for human and animal survival so that the earth and its inhabitants could get a fresh start.

• Too often, believers and skeptics alike get caught up in the engineering “plausibility” of the details of this story. But “what most concerns Genesis is the purpose of the ark, which was to keep… alive all species of living creatures” (New Bible Commentary). In what ways, even in a grim story like the Flood, do you see signs of God’s purpose to care for and nurture faithful human life?
• “The list of specifications for the ark is not so much that we might be able to see what the ark looked like but rather that we might appreciate the meticulous care Noah exercised as he obeyed God’s will … We should not conclude from the brevity of the narrative that Noah and his sons built such a vessel on their own.” (The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Abridged: Old Testament). How often do you try to “build” what your life needs on your own? How can you learn God’s “specifications” for your life?