Genesis 7

Genesis 7 describes the culmination of God’s judgment through the Flood, which He had earlier declared to Noah. God gives final instructions to Noah, and Noah, his family, and all the animals enter the ark. The chapter emphasizes the obedience of Noah, the precise fulfillment of God's command, and the overwhelming force of the waters that wiped out every living thing outside the ark, leaving only those inside the ark alive. This chapter highlights God's sovereignty, justice, and mercy through His protection of Noah and his family.

Genesis 7:1 (NKJV)
Then the Lord said to Noah, “Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation.”

God calls Noah and his household into the ark, recognizing Noah’s righteousness. Noah’s obedience stands in contrast to the wickedness of his generation, emphasizing the importance of faithfulness and trust in God’s guidance. The word "come" reflects an invitation from God, who Himself is present to guide and protect. God is concerned not just for Noah but for his whole family, showing how the faithfulness of one man can extend mercy and protection to those connected to him.

Genesis 7:2-3 (NKJV)
“You shall take with you seven each of every clean animal, a male and his female; two each of animals that are unclean, a male and his female; also seven each of birds of the air, male and female, to keep the species alive on the face of all the earth.”

God commands Noah to take seven pairs of clean animals and one pair of unclean animals, ensuring the preservation of both kinds after the flood. The distinction between clean and unclean animals, though more fully explained in later books, is already present here. The clean animals will also be used for sacrifices, showing their symbolic importance. The preservation of species demonstrates God’s plan for the continuation of life on earth, even in the midst of judgment.

Genesis 7:4 (NKJV)
“For after seven more days I will cause it to rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and I will destroy from the face of the earth all living things that I have made.”

God provides a final warning, giving Noah seven days to prepare before the rain begins. This period of grace demonstrates God's patience and mercy, allowing time for final preparations. The forty days and forty nights of rain symbolize a complete and thorough judgment, with the floodwaters covering the earth to cleanse it from corruption. God’s declaration of destroying all living things reinforces the severity of sin and the consequences of human rebellion against Him.

Genesis 7:5-7 (NKJV)
And Noah did according to all that the Lord commanded him. Noah was six hundred years old when the floodwaters were on the earth. So Noah, with his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives, went into the ark because of the waters of the flood.

Noah's obedience to God is highlighted once again, showing his faith and trust in God's word. Despite the enormity of the task, Noah faithfully follows God's commands. His age, 600 years old, signifies that this event occurred well into Noah’s life, adding weight to his perseverance and faith. Noah's family follows him into the ark, showing the collective faith and survival of the righteous through God’s plan. Their entry marks the beginning of God’s protective care over them.

Genesis 7:8-9 (NKJV)
Of clean animals, of animals that are unclean, of birds, and of everything that creeps on the earth, two by two they went into the ark to Noah, male and female, as God had commanded Noah.

The animals entering the ark are listed again, emphasizing that all creation was preserved in accordance with God's command. The phrase "two by two" highlights God's control over the natural world, as even the animals obey His will. Male and female pairs show the intentional design for repopulating the earth after the flood. Noah's role in guiding them into the ark signifies his obedience and the orderly execution of God’s plan.

Genesis 7:10-12 (NKJV)
And it came to pass after seven days that the waters of the flood were on the earth. In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. And the rain was on the earth forty days and forty nights.

After the seven days, the flood begins as God had promised. The mention of Noah’s exact age and the precise date underlines the historical reality of the event. The “fountains of the great deep” and the “windows of heaven” show how the floodwaters came from both below and above, illustrating God’s complete control over creation. The forty days and nights of continuous rain represent a comprehensive and divine judgment, signaling the severity of mankind’s sin and the cleansing of the earth.

Genesis 7:13-16 (NKJV)
On the very same day Noah and Noah’s sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and Noah’s wife and the three wives of his sons with them, entered the ark— they and every beast after its kind, all cattle after their kind, every creeping thing that creeps on the earth after its kind, and every bird after its kind, every bird of every sort. And they went into the ark to Noah, two by two, of all flesh in which is the breath of life. So those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; and the Lord shut him in.

On the same day the flood began, Noah and his family entered the ark, along with all the animals. The repetition of the animals’ kinds and Noah’s family underscores the inclusivity of God's salvation, extending to both humans and creatures. The final phrase, "the Lord shut him in," is significant, as it illustrates God's personal involvement in sealing Noah and his family inside the ark, ensuring their safety. This act symbolizes God's protection, as He alone has the power to save them from the impending judgment.

Genesis 7:17-18 (NKJV)
Now the flood was on the earth forty days. The waters increased and lifted up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. The waters prevailed and greatly increased on the earth, and the ark moved about on the surface of the waters.

The floodwaters continue to rise for forty days, lifting the ark high above the earth. This signifies the overwhelming nature of the judgment as the waters cover everything. The ark, however, remains afloat, illustrating God's provision and protection in the midst of chaos. As the waters increase and the ark drifts on the surface, it demonstrates God’s sovereignty over the flood, ensuring the survival of those within the ark.

Genesis 7:19-20 (NKJV)
And the waters prevailed exceedingly on the earth, and all the high hills under the whole heaven were covered. The waters prevailed fifteen cubits upward, and the mountains were covered.

The floodwaters covered the entire earth, rising to an extraordinary height. Even the highest mountains were submerged, showing the vast scope of God’s judgment. The mention of fifteen cubits (approximately 22 feet) above the highest mountains emphasizes the totality of the flood’s devastation. This complete submersion symbolizes the cleansing of the earth from all corruption, and it underscores the power of God’s wrath against sin.

Genesis 7:21-23 (NKJV)
And all flesh died that moved on the earth: birds and cattle and beasts and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every man. All in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, all that was on the dry land, died. So He destroyed all living things which were on the face of the ground: both man and cattle, creeping thing and bird of the air. They were destroyed from the earth. Only Noah and those who were with him in the ark remained alive.

These verses recount the totality of the destruction brought by the flood. Every living creature on the earth, including all human beings and animals, perished in the flood, except for those inside the ark. The reference to “the breath of the spirit of life” highlights the preciousness of life that was lost due to human wickedness. God’s justice is evident as He destroys all life outside the ark, but His mercy is also seen in the survival of Noah, his family, and the animals in the ark. This serves as a reminder of the seriousness of sin and the consequences of disobedience to God.

Genesis 7:24 (NKJV)
And the waters prevailed on the earth one hundred and fifty days.

The waters continued to cover the earth for 150 days, signifying the duration of the judgment and the weight of God’s wrath upon a sinful world. During this time, the earth remained flooded, with no possibility of survival for anything outside the ark. The length of the flood demonstrates the severity of the cleansing process required to purge the earth of corruption. Yet, within the ark, God’s protection remained with Noah and his family, showing His faithfulness to those who trust and obey Him.