# 82 It Was A Rough Ride!

The Book of Genesis Day 82 Ge 7:17 Now the flood was on the earth forty days. The waters increased and lifted up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. 18 The waters prevailed and greatly increased on the earth, and the ark moved about on the surface of the waters. 19 And the waters prevailed exceedingly on the earth, and all the high hills under the whole heaven were covered. 20 The waters prevailed fifteen cubits upward, and the mountains were covered. 21 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. 22 All in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, all that was on the dry land, died. 23 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. 24 And the waters prevailed on the earth one hundred and fifty days. Sometimes I think we live with the Sunday School picture of the flood. We think it was nothing more than a steady downpour of rain for 40 days. That’s NOT the picture portrayed here. The word “prevailed” shows up four times in this section, and that kind of repetition bears looking into. In the Hebrew, the word means “to be strong, to prevail. To act insolently! We normally use the word “insolent” to describe human behavior. An insolent person is one who shows no reverence or respect. This flood was a strong willed child on steroids! As we apply that concept to the flood waters, it’s easy to see that this was no ordinary shower! Listen to that term again as we substitute it for the word prevailed in theses verses: V18 – “The waters prevailed (acted without reverence or respect) and greatly increased on the earth.” V19- “and the waters prevailed (acted without reverence or respect) exceedingly on the earth.” V20- “the waters prevailed (acted without reverence or respect) 15 cubits upward and the mountains were covered” And finally, v 24- “and the waters prevailed (acted without reverence or respect) on the earth 150 days. That’s a long time in the washing machine folks. This was not a glassy sea! It was turbulent! It was violent! It was a violent end to a violent world! A thorough cleansing! Even after the rain stopped, the waters prevailed (acted without respect or reverence) for a total of 150 days! Even in the receding waters, things were being rearranged! Anything that was not in the ark did not have a chance! All that was on the dry land died! The earth as Noah had known it was completely re-sculptured by the prevailing waters. The earth was destroyed just as God had promised in Gen 6:13, “I will destroy them with the earth!” Understand the destructive force of this flood! Nothing left on dry land survived! God’s judgment is thorough and sure, and His coming final judgment will also be thorough and sure. One more thing. This violent flood did not make for a smooth ride on the S.S. Noah. It was a rough ride! God does not promise a smooth ride for His baptized children either. In this world you will have tribulation, but take heart Jesus has overcome the world. Don’t abandon ship! Don’t abandon your baptism, endure to the end no matter the turbulence and you will be saved! Reflect: What has struck you most about recent floods? What struck you about the tsunami of in the Indian Ocean in 2004? (168,000 people died!) Pray: Lord, let me be ready for the second coming of Jesus. Help me to not abandon ship when times get rough, guide me, lead me to the end.