Loading the Ark

Genesis 6:19-7:10

“And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female. Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive.” (Genesis 6:19-20)

One popular excuse for doubting the Flood story is that the Ark would not have been capable of transporting all the different animals. It is estimated that if the average size of all the different animals which have ever lived, as indicated by fossils and living animals were as large as a sheep, a hundred and twenty boxcars would provide adequate space for two of every one. In fact it would provide more area than is presently provided in many commercial hog and chicken farms. Since the ark was bigger than five hundred boxcars, only a single floor would provide enough space for all the animals. Since the vast majority of animals are insects and far smaller than a sheep, there should be plenty of room for all. It would not have been necessary to have taken the largest of every species, and since many animals hibernate or estivate for part of the year, even less room might be required.

“And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them.” (Genesis 6:21)

With space equal to four hundred boxcars available for storing food, there would be an adequate supply for the animals , especially if some were in hibernation. Since all the animals were originally designed to eat a vegetarian diet according to Genesis 1:29-30, they were probably to subsist on it even though some had started eating meat, obviating the need for keeping it fresh, and reducing the levels of stress. Domesticated animals, good tools and other people would greatly simplify collecting adequate food.

The opening or window around the top of the Ark would have provided adequate ventilation allowing the wind to minimize concentrations of ammonia and humidity as well as supplying fresh air. It would also provide adequate lighting, while having some kind of covering or shield to prevent water from entering, tha had to be removed when Noah released the raven in Genesis 8. Being so high above the water level prevented most of the waves from entering. It may not have been pleasant by modern standards, but it would have been livable.

A source of fresh water is essential for sea going ships today. We know however that the salinity of the ocean is constantly increasing as minerals are dissolved from the soil and carried into it by the rivers, and water evaporates leaving the minerals behind. Assuming a similar rate of increase in salinity for the roughly five thousand years since the flood, the water would not have been so saline as to have caused much problem at the time, especially when diluted by the underground reservoirs and the water canopy that scientific research indicates was above the earth early in it‘s existence. This canopy may well be the waters above the atmosphere referred to in Genesis 1:6.

“Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.” (Genesis 6:22)

Though it was a huge undertaking, Noah undertook to build the ark as directed, because he believed God. Hebrews 11:7 states, “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” As James 2:26 states, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” Faith that doesn’t result in action is worthless. Noah acted on his faith.

“And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation. Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female. Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth. For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.” (Genesis 7:1-4)

God had allowed Noah time to complete the Ark and to provision it. When he finished the work he gave the next set of instructions. Noah’s obedience by faith made him righteous. Romans 6:16 asks, “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” Though all Seth’s descendants knew of God only Noah and his family obeyed, because of their faith. The same faith that resulted in Noah’s building the Ark made him righteous before God.

Once everything is ready, God gave final instructions to Noah. He was to take a male and a female of every creature, including rodents, insects, reptiles, amphibians, and birds to maintain their existence on the earth. Noah was charged with keeping every creature preserving every creature to prevent their extinction. In the case of the “clean” animals, those who were approved for sacrifices, he was to take seven of each one. Leviticus 11:1-31 gives a description of what were to be considered clean animals. What ever God’s reasons for these being considered clean, it is known that they are less susceptible to diseases that can be passed on to man than are the unclean animals.

“And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him. And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth. And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood. Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of fowls, and of every thing that creepeth upon the earth, There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah.” (Genesis 7:5-9)

God gave the final instructions and he and the animals boarded the Ark seven days before the flood started, in a single day according to verse 13. Having dealt with livestock, under normal circumstances today, eight people could not have loaded such a diverse group of animals in seven days, much less one. Notice the Bible says they went in, God caused them to go voluntarily. Otherwise they’d never have managed to load them in time. I suspect God worked in similar ways to speed building the Ark.

“And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth.” (Genesis 7:10)

Seven days would have given the animals time to settle in and get used to their surroundings before there was a problem with the motion of the boat. It also gave people, especially those of Seth’s descendants who were not aboard one last warning that judgment was coming, and a chance to turn to God. Imagine how busy eight zookeepers would be in such a situation. They’d have to be pretty efficient to get everyone fed and watered. I doubt if boredom was a major problem.