June 19, 2023

When we tell the story of Noah's Ark to children, we give them the short version and only explain some things, so most of us only remember the childhood version. Did you know that Noah, his family, and all the animals were on the ark for an entire year? We know the animals came two by two, but did you know that Noah took seven pairs of all the clean animals? For example, seven pairs of cows, sheep, and so on. God had a reason for that; when they got off the ark after a year, Noah built an altar and made a sacrifice from each of the clean beasts and foul to God. I believe the sacrifice was so that Noah and his family could start fresh and free of sin before they started replenishing the earth with people. I'm sure it was also a thank offering because they were allowed to live. Noah's sacrifice pleased God, and he determined in his heart that he would not curse the ground anymore for man's sake because the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth. 

And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. Genesis 8:21 KJV

Another observation question for you to ponder is; where did the water go? There was already water on the earth because we have fish. Maybe he put it back above the sky. "And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so." Genesis 1:7 KJV. What do you think? Or do you know of another place in the Bible where it is explained?