Interesting research article. The 40 years actually would play very well into my hypothesis. (Again, all of this is supposition for the purpose of getting us to think outside of our 20th/21st century mindset.)
Note that in Figure 3 (https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0025322716302961-gr3_lrg.jpg) site B represents a channel separating mesas at a current depth of about 50 meters, far out into the Black Sea. Prior to the flood these would have been dry land. The channels indicate that the mesas would have become islands, trapping land animals into an ever shrinking footprint right up to the ark. The Bible states that God brought the animals to the ark. But how did God do that, supernaturally, or naturally? Why do Christians keep gravitating to supernatural interpretations of Godâs miraculous activity, as if God is some sort of genie who yells âShazam!!!â, and here come the animals two by two? Below I will share a personal story to the point, but for now back to the topic.
When a flood occurs, once it breaches the bank or shoreline, it rapidly fills the floodplain. Even ignoring this, assuming that the flood occurred over a 40 year period and rose 300 feet at a constant rate, if the arkâs draft was only 8 feet, then the flood could have raged 39 years with the ark still on dry ground before it began to float. Could it be that Noah wasnât the only one who built a boat for the flood, but he was just one of the last to build a boat, and happened to build the right kind, seaworthy enough and big enough to hold the provisions to survive the long ordeal?
And what about God inspiring Noah? Again, why do Christians keep gravitating to verbal plenary, where the recipient would hold a pen over a parchment, roll their eyes to the back of their heads as God guided their fingers? Hebrews 1:1 tells us otherwise. Could it be that the inspiration occurred after the Black Sea flooding began, and God put Noah in some circumstance that enabled him to see it coming, years before it hit his community? As a modern corollary, could it be that God has guided scientists to determine the oncoming global warming crisis, so that those of us paying attention can adapt and survive?
My last response got too long so here is my personal story about floods.
After I became an adult and had my own family, we moved to a Milwaukee suburb, close to the Menominee River. Wildlife was abundant in our neighborhood. Deer would walk down the streets, turkeys perched on our roof, and a coyote even raised her pups under our neighborâs shed. Several times the river flooded over its banks, and each time it would drive the animals out of the floodplain. On one occasion torrential rainstorms several miles away submerged the entire floodplain. As I walked along the waterâs edge, at one point in the space of 50 yards I saw a flock of turkeys, several deer, a coyote, snakes, and a couple of snapping turtles, all ignoring each other (and me) as they focused on getting to higher ground.
Klax
(The only thing that matters is faith expressed in love.)
83
Sorry, what has this Jewish on Babylonian myth got to do with the impact of the posited reality of God in Christ again?
It is too bad that gbob has passed. You and he could have had some interesting conversations.
Except it would have taken Noah much longer than 40 years to build the ark so how fast the water rises doesnât matter. Of course in the story he was given a heads up on what was coming.
And here is where you run into problems. There is no way to keep large numbers of animals alive in a wooden boat for a year. From what I have read sailing ships did load live animals for provisions, but they ate them so they didnât have to feed, water, and keep them healthy for long.
But the inspiration would have included the boat details so how did that work? A ship of this size had never been built before. I am sure there were quite a few details that had to be worked out.
The research article stated that the flood took forty years or less, not exactly forty years. I think you also miss my point. If the inundation of the Black Sea (avoiding the term âfloodâ for clarity sake) took 40 years, and the water rose at a steady rate for a total of 300 feet (~100 meters), what would it look like after the first year? The second year? The tenth year? How long would it take for Noah to realize that contingency plans need to be made, and action needs to be taken?
Just look at what is going on today regarding global warming. While some are in flat-out denial because they want to maintain status-quo, others have come to believe global warming is occurring, but donât think it will really impact them much. Meanwhile some not only believe global warming is occurring, but are being proactive, already taking action.
Noah was one of those in such a situation. He saw (through inspiration) that his region was going to be inundated years in advance, and proactively built the ark, while others were either in denial that inundation was occurring, and yet others probably accepted that inundation was occurring, but believed it wouldnât inundate them.
As for the animals, since it was a regional flood and not global, it probably was only a few different species. That would mean much less food needed. Consider that the Mayflower was only 100 feet long and yet carried 135 people with their food and supplies, plus dogs, cats, pigs, goats, and chickens for over 60 days to cross the Atlantic.
The year timespan I gave was only to point out that a 40 year inundation time period does not negate Noahâs 150 day journey.
Why build an ark? How far could Noah walk (and herd some animals) in just 10 years? Itâs not like the planet was crowded. I seem to remember a story of a group of people that walked for 40 years.
Hindsight is something like 20/20 at least. It is very easy to look back in history and find something that seems to match. Doesnât make it correct. gbob looked back to the MSC and decided that Eden was located in the current Mediterranean Sea.
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Klax
(The only thing that matters is faith expressed in love.)
87
