Points to Ponder About the Flood and
Noah’s Ark
By Dr. Kent Hovind
Second Peter 3:3–8
tells us that people who scoff at the Bible are "willingly
ignorant" of the Creation and the Flood. In order
to understand science and the Bible, we must not be
ignorant of those two great events in Earth’s
history.
1. Over 500 Flood legends
from all parts of the world have been found. Most have
similarities to the Genesis account.
2. Noah’s ark was
built only to float, not to ail anywhere. Many ark scholars
believe that the ark was a "barge" shape,
not a pointed "boat" shape. This would greatly
increase the cargo capacity. Scoffers have pointed out
that the largest sailing ships were less than 300 feet
because of the problem of twisting and flexing the boat.
These ships had giant masts and sails to catch the wind.
Noah’s ark needed neither of those and therefore
had far less torsional stress.
3. Even using the small
18-inch cubit (my height is 6'1" and I have a 21-
nch cubit), the ark was large enough to hold all the
required animals, people, and food with room to spare.
4. The length-to-width
ratio of 6 to 1 is what shipbuilders today often use.
This is the best ratio for stability in stormy weather.
5. The ark may have had
a "moon-pool" in the center. The larger ships
would have a hole in the center of the bottom of the
boat with walls extending up into the ship. There are
several reasons for this feature: a) It allowed water
to go up into the hole as the ship crested waves. This
would be needed to relieve strain on longer ships. b)
The rising and lowering water acted as a piston to ump
fresh air in and out of the ship. This would prevent
the buildup of dangerous gasses from all the animals
on board. c) The hole was a great place to dump waste
into the ocean without going outside.
6. The ark may have had
large drogue (anchor) stones suspended over the sides
to keep it more stable in rough weather. Many of these
tones have been ound in the region where the ark landed.
7. Noah lived for 950 years.
Many Bible scholars believe the pre-Flood people were
much larger than modern man. Skeletons over 11 feet
tall have been found. If Noah were taller, his cubit
(elbow to fingertip) would have been much larger also.
This would make the ark larger by the same ratio.
8. God told Noah to bring
two of each kind (seven of some), not of each species
or variety. Noah had only two of the dog kind, which
would include the wolves, coyotes, foxes, mutts, etc.
The "kind" grouping is probably closer to
our modern family division in taxonomy, and would greatly
reduce the number of animals on the ark. Animals have
diversified into many varieties in the last 4,400 years
since the Flood. This diversification is not anything
similar to great claims that the evolutionists teach.
9. Noah did not have to
get the animals. God brought them to him (Genesis 6:20,
"shall come to thee").
10. Only land- welling,
air-breathing animals had to be included on the ark
("in which is the breath of life," Genesis
7:15,22).
11. Many animals sleep,
hibernate, or become very inactive during bad weather.
12. All animals (and people)
were vegetarian before and during the Flood according
to Genesis 1:20–30 with Genesis 9:3.
13. The pre-Flood people
were probably much smarter and more advanced than people
today. The longer life spans, Adam’s direct contact
with God, and the fact that they could glean the wisdom
of many generations that were still alive would greatly
expand their knowledge base.
14. The Bible says that
the highest mountains were covered by 15 cubits [20
feet] of water (Genesis 7:20). This is half the height
of the ark. The ark was safe from scraping bottom at
all times.
15. The large mountains,
as we have them (today, did not exist until after the
Flood when "the mountains arose and the valleys
sank down" (Psalm 104:5–9; Genesis 8:3–8).
16. There is enough water
in the oceans right now to cover the earth 8,000 feet
deep if the surface of the earth were smooth.
17. Many claim to have seen
the ark in recent times in the area in which the Bible
says it landed. There are two primary schools of thought
about the actual site of the ark. Much energy and time
have been expended to prove both views. Some believe
the ark is on Mt. Ararat, covered by snow (CBS showed
a one-hour special in 1993 about this site). Others
believe the ark is seventeen miles south of Mt. Ararat
in a valley called "the valley of eight" (eight
souls on the ark). The Bible says the ark landed in
the "mountains" of Ararat, not necessarily
on the mountain itself.
18. The continents were
not separated until 100–300 years after the Flood
(Genesis 10:25). The people and animals had time to
migrate anywhere on earth by then.
19. The top 3,000 feet of
Mt. Everest (26,000 –29,000 feet) is made up of
sedimentary rock packed with seashells and other oceandwelling
animals.
20. Sedimentary rock is
found all over the world. Sedimentary rock is formed
in water.
21. Petrified clams in the
closed position (found all over the world) testify to
their rapid burial while they were still alive, even
on top of Mount Everest.
22. Bent rock layers, fossil
graveyards, and polystrata fossils are best explained
by a Flood.
23. People choose to not
believe in the Flood because it speaks of the judgment
of God on sin (2 Peter 3:3–8). (24:38,39 continued)
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