Chapter 7—The Flood
More than one hundred years before the flood the Lord sent an
angel to faithful Noah to make known to him that he would no longer
have mercy upon the corrupt race. But he would not have them ignorant
of his design. He would instruct Noah and make him a faithful preacher
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to warn the world of its coming destruction, that the inhabitants of the
earth might be left without excuse. Noah was to preach to the people,
and also to prepare an ark as God should direct him for the saving of
himself and family. He was not only to preach, but his example in
building the ark was to convince all that he believed what he preached.
Noah and his family were not alone in fearing and obeying God.
But Noah was the most pious and holy of any upon the earth, and
was the one whose life God preserved to carry out his will in building
the ark and warning the world of their coming doom. Methuselah,
the grandfather of Noah, lived until the very year of the flood, and
there were others who believed the preaching of Noah, and aided
him in building the ark, who died before the flood of waters came
upon the earth. Noah, by his preaching and example in building the
ark, condemned the world. God gave all an opportunity who chose
to repent and turn to him. But they believed not the preaching of
Noah. They mocked at his warnings, and ridiculed the building of that
immense boat on dry land. Noah’s efforts to reform his fellow men
did not succeed. But for more than one hundred years he persevered
in his efforts to turn men to repentance and to God. Every blow struck
upon the ark was preaching to the people. Noah directed, he preached,
he worked, while the people looked on in amazement, and regarded
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him as a fanatic.
God gave Noah the exact dimensions of the ark, and explicit di-
rections in regard to the construction of it in every particular. In many
respects it was not made like a vessel, but prepared like a house, the
foundation like a boat which would float upon water. There were no
windows in the sides of the ark. It was three stories high, and the light
they received was from a window in the top. The door was in the side.
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