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When the World Was Destroyed by Water
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the power of the living God.
As the violence of the storm increased, the terror of humans and
animals was beyond description. Above the roar of the tempest was
heard the wailing of men and women who had despised the authority
of God. Satan himself, compelled to remain among the warring
elements, feared for his own life. He now uttered curses against
God. Many of the people, like Satan, blasphemed God. Others were
frantic with fear, stretching their hands toward the ark, pleading to
be let in. Conscience was at last aroused to know that there is a God
who rules in the heavens.
They called upon Him earnestly, but His ear was not open to
their cry. In that terrible hour they saw that transgression of God’s
law had caused their ruin. Yet they felt no true humility and sorrow,
no horror of evil. They would have returned to their defiance of
Heaven if the judgment had been removed.
Some clung to the ark until they were carried away by the surging
waters or their hold was broken by crashing into rocks and trees. The
massive ark trembled in every fiber as it was beaten by the merciless
winds. The cries of animals within expressed their fear and pain, but
the ark continued to ride safely. Angels were sent to preserve it.
Some of the people tied their children and themselves on power-
ful animals, knowing that these would climb to the highest points to
escape the rising waters. Some fastened themselves to lofty trees on
the hills or mountains, but the trees were uprooted and hurled into
the waves. As the waters rose higher the people fled for refuge to
the tallest mountains. Often people and animals struggled together
for a foothold until both were swept away.
From the highest peaks the desperate people looked across a
shoreless ocean. The solemn warnings of God’s servant no longer
seemed a subject for ridicule. Those doomed sinners pleaded for
one hour’s probation, one more call from the lips of Noah! But love,
no less than justice, demanded that God’s judgments should put a
restraint on sin. The despisers of God perished in the black depths.
Conditions Before the Flood
The sins that called for vengeance upon the pre-Flood world
exist today. The fear of God is banished from human hearts. His