Reconciling the Geophysics and Meteorology of the Flood & the Recession to the Biblical Timeline

Article #1 on Noah's Flood & Science 

The vocation of a Christian involves the hard work of biblical interpretation. On rare occasions theologians face difficulties with science in the Bible. The geophysics and meteorology of the flood is one of those occasions. Interpreters feel inadequate in their understanding of science, so they end up going to respected scientists for help. Educated men then do their best at scientifically explaining the things of nature that brought about the flood. A geophysical event occurred in the breaking up of the fountains of the great deep. A meteorological event occurred in the opening of the windows of heaven. 

“In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.” – Gen. 7:11

“The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained;” – Gen. 8:2

Intelligent men with expertise in science have attempted to explain the geophysics and meteorology of the flood for centuries. The most prominent of them have produced videos and built websites to publish detailed and elaborate geological explanations. Some of this work is profound and indispensable when it comes to understanding the sedimentary layers of the geological column and the fossil record. Geologists explain how the breaking up of the fountains of the great deep created a sequence of tidal waves that repeatedly laid new sedimentary layers that were infused with fossils at every episode.

However, the theologians of our time have been derelict in their duty to use these scientific insights within the parameters of Holy Scripture. The most famous documentaries still need to be reconciled to the biblical timeline of the flood and the recession. A genuine timeline is provided in the Bible for good reason! Don’t you think? Major events are cited with years, months, and days for necessary purposes, because this allows for calculations that shed light on the various phases of the flood and the recession. Five dates are explicitly provided, and the rest of the events can be dated by adding and subtracting according to the Hebrew Calendar of the Jews. 

Have you noticed how Scripture draws attention to the first 40 days of the flood (Gen. 7:4, 12, 17), even though the rain continued and the floodwater didn’t stop rising for a total of 150 days (Gen. 7:24)? Most people take a bird’s eye view when it comes to studying the flood. Everyone is interested in how the flood changed our world. People want sound answers to silence the mockers who have hijacked science to promote atheism. However, in the process, bible students don’t stop to consider the unique things that were being done by the flood during the first 40 days. What about you? No one can truly understand the flood while disregarding this essential detail. He that hath an ear, let him hear.

Given the dimensions of the Ark provided in Genesis 6:15-16 and the approximate elevations of the floodwater (firstly, when the Ark began to float [Gen. 7:17]; secondarily, when the highest mountains were underwater [Gen. 7:19-20]), we can understand by math that there were two phases to the flood – a slow and rapid influx of waters upon the earth. Similar details are provided in Scripture to discern by math that there were slow and rapid phases to the recession. 

A little study will prove that these dates have massive geophysical and meteorological implications. It is our honor to search the Scriptures for answers without being negatively influenced by the philosophies of secular education (Prov. 25:2). We need help from God to study the Bible without the bias of the public or personal opinion! And this can only come by the grace of God in Christ and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. For this noble task I humbly submit the following timeline derived from Genesis 6-8. 

40 Days of Destruction and Death?

As believers, we need to humbly allow the inspired narrator of biblical history to guide us into the knowledge of God. We shouldn’t be stepping over the verses of Scripture that don’t suit our train of thought. Such haste will not be rewarded with spiritual revelation (Matt. 16:17, Lk. 24:45; 1 Cor. 2:10, 14). In this case, the 120-year advanced warning of destruction (Gen. 6:3), where the LORD said, “I will destroy man” (Gen. 6:7), leads into the 7-day countdown (Gen. 7:4). The 7-day countdown then leads into the day when it began to rain, and the next 40 days of destruction and death. This is the emphatic testimony of Genesis 7:4. 

“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.” – Gen. 7:4

When most people think about the destruction and death of the flood, they aren’t thinking about rain. Nor are they thinking about the first 40 days. Rather, due to the emphasis of famous Geologists, people are thinking about the cataclysmic tidal waves that moved over the earth through the breaking up of the fountains of the great deep. The narrator of Genesis isn’t going down that path! Not yet. Instead of moving on from Genesis 7:4 to talk about the next big thing in the flood, the narrator doubles down in the original emphasis. Genesis 7:4 is elaborated and amplified in Genesis 7:10-16. Once again, the “day” it began to rain is being emphasized, and the next 40 days of destruction and death. 

“And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth. In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights. In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark; They, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort. And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life. And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in. And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth. – Gen. 7:10-17

On Iyar 17th Noah’s family entered the Ark…and hours later it suddenly began to rain (Gen. 7:1, 11, 13, 16; Lk. 17:26-27). Unimaginable destruction and death followed for the next 40 days! What happened? Breathtaking scenes will come into view when you calculate how fast the floodwater rose for the first 40 days. According to a consensus of reputable scholars, all the calculations of this paper will be done with 1 cubit as 21 inches. 

The Ark was 30 cubits in height, or 52 feet, which is higher than your average four story house (Gen. 6:15). It was 525 feet in length, or 175 yards, which is nearly two football fields long. It was heavy. Some people reasonably estimate that it sheltered approximately 7,000 animals in total. After 40 days the Ark began to float (Gen. 7:17). For this to happen, considering the weight of the Ark, it would need to be submerged in water ≈75%, with 39 feet of the boat underwater and 13 feet of the Ark above water. Now that we have an approximate elevation of the floodwater, we can discern that the floodwater rose ½ inch per hour or 11.7 inches per day for a total of 40 days (Calculation: 39ft ÷ 40 days = 0.975 ft or 11.7 inches). This is the slow phase of the flood. 

Geophysical & Meteorological Implications

The geophysical implications of this are obvious. The breaking up of the fountains of the great deep did not result in a sequence of tidal waves that washed over the continents in the first 40 days of the flood. At least, this didn’t happen in the slow phase of the flood. It must have happened in the fast phase of the flood. The breaking up of the fountains of the great deep happened on Day #1, according to Genesis 7:11, and these fountains weren’t ever stopped up until Day #150, according to Genesis 8:2.

The meteorological implications of this are obvious. Many places in modern times have been hit with hurricanes and cyclones with record-breaking rainfall that far exceeds 11.7 inches in 24 hours. Thirty States in the USA have records that exceed 11.7 inches! The record for California is 25.8 inches. The record for Alabama is 32.5 inches. The record for Texas is 42 inches. The record for Haiwi is 49.69 inches! And the world record of modern times goes to Réunion in the Indian Ocean. It received 71.8 inches in 24 hours! We are talking about furious rainstorms that strike the land with deadly power because of a sustained presence of 100 mph winds amidst the heavy downpour of rain.

The rainstorm during the first phase of the flood was something tame in comparison. Can you believe it? Nevertheless, the first 40 days of the flood were divinely declared to be the killing time of the rainstorm! Why? How? This brings us into some major theological implications. 

Noah’s Role in Messianic Typology

The theological implications of this are staggering to behold. The slow rise of the floodwater gave sinners time to flee to the Ark for refuge! If the shock and awe of the rain didn’t bring them there on Day #1, seeing that it had never rained before, the rising flood would have eventually forced them to come to Noah for help. By Day #2, with the water elevation nearing 2 ft, many would have made the choice to flee to the Ark. Thousands, and perhaps tens of thousands, would have gathered around in a desperate outcry of fear. On Day #4, with an invasion of water 3 ft high and counting, even the most stubborn sinners would begin to abandon their homes and possessions.

On Day #5, with the water at 4 ft, those short of stature were already treading water. Time was running out! The outcries for mercy were getting louder and louder. A steady roar of weeping, wailing, pleading, and praying could be heard in the distance. Some people were clawing at the Ark! Others tried to climb it. Some even tried to breach it. There was no sign of the rainstorm letting up! Come Day #6, with the water at 5 ft, even more people began treading water. Finally, on Day #7, with the water at 6 ft and rising, nearly everyone was treading water or swimming for the hills and mountains.

All this begs the question: What was Noah doing all these days? Everyone gathered there was in great fear as they were being arrested by the floodwater. Their cries for mercy waxed louder and louder! Did Noah commiserate with the wicked and shout bitter lamentations out of the window of the Ark? Read Psalm 104:34-35. 

“My meditation of Him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD. Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.” - Psalm 104:34-35

Psalm 104 was likely written by Noah. The man was in perfect agreement with the divine justice of the flood. All the people gathering there set the stage for Noah to preach to the condemned sinners from the “window” the Ark (Gen. 6:16). This was the greatest honor of Noah’s life and ministry! Why? In this momentous occasion of preaching, Noah fulfilled a prophetic role of Messianic Typology. Noah preached to the condemned sinners from an elevated position during the baptism of the flood, even as Christ preached to the condemned spirits of the same sinners from an elevated position in Sheol during the baptism of death. 

“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the Ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.” – 1 Pet. 3:18-22

Remember when the desperate outcry of the rich man in Hell solicited preaching from Abraham from an elevated position in paradise (Lk. 16:19-31)? This great sinner cried out to Abraham, saying, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me…” (Lk. 16:24)! And Abraham was compelled to respond. This kind of preaching from Abraham vindicated the righteousness of God in the condemnation of the wicked. Through rebukes sinners are forced to accept the justice of God in that they will be shown no more mercy (Jer. 23:33, 39).

The rich man then cried out again, and he basically said: “Have mercy upon my family!” (Lk. 16:27-28). If the rich man couldn’t get mercy for himself, then he started begging for mercy on behalf of his family. The same things were happening at the Ark with Noah. The people cried out to Noah for mercy! And Noah responded. Upon hearing the preaching, the people cried out again for mercy on behalf of their families. Can you hear it? Can you see it? The people were scratching, clawing, and pounding at the Ark, while bitterly crying out for the lives of their children.

In a baptism of death, when the Son of God descended into the heart of the earth and entered into paradise at the upper part of Sheol, suddenly, all of Hell saw an opportunity for mercy (Matt. 12:38-42). Condemned sinners, arrested by a flood of liquid fire, looked up to Jesus Christ and made an outcry for mercy that was out of this world! Hell never made such a sound. The tormented demons in company never heard such noise. Christ was there to conquer Hell and get its keys by leading captivity captive in a glorious ascension into Heaven! But all the sinners down below didn’t understand what was happening. They interrupted the Messiah with their outcry for mercy, and this solicited preaching from the Son of God – the same kind of preaching as Noah from the window of the Ark. This is the noahic glory of Jesus Christ! These are breathtaking and unforgettable scenes. The apostle Peter brought these two scenes together in an overlap to brighten our eyes with a new revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 3:18-22). 

The Fear of the LORD in the Days of Noah

Destroying the world in a watery deluge is a fearful exploit of divine justice. Seeing the earth buried in a watery grave is a terrible display of divine power! The earth has been deeply scarred ever since. The ruins of a destroyed world deserve our attention. Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it. God is willing to show His wrath and to make His power known (Rom. 9:22). The LORD wasn’t angry with the plants and animals. God was angry with the sinners! Psalm 104:35 underscores this fact. Consequentially, the way the LORD went about killing the sinners was designed to make known the wrath of God. This brings us back to the first 40 days of the flood (Gen. 7:4). Arguably, most people were dead after 40 days, and the last thing that they remembered hearing from Noah before they started swimming for the hills and mountains was the following word. 

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” – Prov. 1:7

Certain foundational scriptures resonate within the hearts of all believers. Scriptures like Proverbs 1:7 are beloved to the saints. New believers everywhere find solace and comfort in things that uniquely characterize the one true God of the Bible (Ps. 89:7, 111:9). Seasoned believers resort here too, which is why the same thing is repeated verbatim by different inspired writers in the Bible (Prov. 1:7, 9:10, Ps. 111:10). 

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” – Prov. 9:10

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.” - Psalm 111:10

This word of inspiration on “fear” did not originate from Solomon or David. Neither did this verse first appear in Proverbs or Psalms. It can be traced back a thousand years earlier to the Book of Job. And when Job was quoting this renowned and beloved verse, he was referring to a word that God spoke to someone else. Job was speaking about a “man” that predated himself by over a hundred years (Job 28:28). Read it for yourself! According to Job 28:23-28, not even Job was the original recipient of this prophetic word. 

“God understandeth the way thereof, and He knoweth the place thereof. For He looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven; To make the weight for the winds; and He weigheth the waters by measure. When He made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder: Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out. And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.” - Job 28:23-28

Noah is the “man” to whom God spoke this word about the fear of the Lord. A careful reading of this passage shows that God spoke to Noah, and through Noah, and in speaking through Noah as a preacher to mankind God was speaking this word to “man” in general (Job 28:28). This is the way of the LORD (Amos 3:7-8, Hos. 12:13, Rom. 10:14-15). Surely, you have heard that Noah was famous for being “a preacher of righteousness” (2 Pet. 2:5)? And now you know about Noah’s role as a preacher in Messianic Typology (1 Pet. 3:18-22). 

“And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;” – 2 Pet. 2:5

The word that God spoke to Noah was then spoken through Noah. The context of Job 28 indicates that Noah was the prophet who delivered the word in question. Job 28:28 is connected to Job 28:23-28, and Job 28:23-28 is connected to Job 28:1-22. The fearfulness of divine wisdom was put on display through the creation of rain (Job 28:12, 18, 20, 23-28)! This makes sense because when Noah was told in advance about the incoming flood, it was then that he was told that it would be accomplished through rain (Gen. 7:4, Heb. 11:7). And it is to be expected that when God told Noah about the rain, Noah then told everyone else about it as a preacher standing in between the living and the dead.

No wonder the Scripture presents the “rain” as the killing and destroying force of the flood in Genesis 7:4, 12, & 17. According to Job 28:23-28 and Job 38:8-11, God created rain for the flood. Literally, this is “when” rain was “made” by God as a new invention of our Creator (Job 28:26-27, 38:8-9). Before the flood, there was no “decree” for the rain (Job 28:26). It didn’t exist! Consequentially, neither was there a “way” for “the lightning of thunder” (Job 28:26), because if there was no rain, neither could there be any lightning and thunder. The friction of the water vapor during a rainstorm creates a massive buildup of static electricity in the clouds. This in turn brings about lightning. In other words, “He maketh lightnings with rain” (Jer. 10:13, 51:16). 

Originally, divine wisdom weaponized rain for death and destruction! However, afterwards, when the wicked were totally consumed from the earth (Ps. 104:35), the divine purpose for rain was adapted for life in the new world. This change is documented in biblical history. When the first rainstorm of the new world appeared on the horizon, you can imagine how the people would be frightened. They would interpret it as the foreboding presence of death and destruction! Anticipating this, God put a “bow” in the sky during the rainstorms of the new world. This served as a sign to the people, to help change their perspective about rain, and to reinforce the fact that rain would never again be employed by divine justice to bring about a worldwide flood (Gen. 9:12-17).  

The Creation of Rain as a Divine Exploit of Chemical Engineering

Seeing that it had never rained before, the creation of it as something new is a staggering exploit of divine wisdom. Reread the early chapters of Genesis and contemplate the colossal task at hand! The creation of rain would have required great “understanding” and knowledge (Job 28:23), even the weighing of the water vapor in the winds worldwide (Job 28:25), and therefore it was necessary for the LORD to look at the atmosphere under the whole heaven to comprehend what changes needed to be made for a new normal in the weather pattern (Job 28:24). Everything had to be comprehensively “searched” out for a perfectly calculated tweak to bring about the desired change (Job 28:27).

Science suggests that a change in the latent heat of vaporization for water is all that was needed to create a new normal in the weather by preventing the water vapor from becoming a heavy dew of “mist” or fog and instead form rainclouds (Gen. 2:5-6). Divine genius made a “decree” for “the rain”, and where there was no way, God then invented a way for “the lightning of thunder” (Job 28:26). The resounding testimony of Scripture appears to confirm this change in the latent heat of vaporization for water. 

“For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places. He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.” - Psalm 135:5-7

“Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name:” - Amos 5:8

“It is he that buildeth his stories in the heaven, and hath founded his troop in the earth; he that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name.” - Amos 9:6

“He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion. When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.” – Jer. 10:12-13

“He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by his understanding. When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens; and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth: he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.” – Jer. 51:15-16

Job 28:23-28 provides staggering details in ancient times. All the major factors involved in the making of rain are detailed in Holy Scripture: Sunlight (Job 38:24, 12-13), Water Vapor (Job 28:25, Amos 5:8, Ps. 135:7, Jer. 10:12-13, 51:15-16, Eccl. 11:3-4, Job 36:27-28, 37:11-12, 16, 38:37-38), Wind (Job 28:25, Ps. 135:7, Jer. 10:13, Job 37:21), Lightning / Thunder (Job 28:26, Ps. 135:7, Jer. 10:13, Job 36:29-30, 37:11-14, 15, 21, 38:25, 35), and the Voice of God (Amos 5:8, 9:6, Jer. 51:15-16, 10:12-13, Job 37:1-5, 38:34; Job 28:26-27). Modern science can hardly catch up! We are only now coming to understand the perfection of the scientific explanation provided by God in Job 28:23-28 and Job 36:26-37:14. Are the fine details impressive? Yes. But more than anything it should make everyone afraid. All the Prophets agree on this (Ps. 135:5-7, Amos 5:8, 9:6, Jer. 10:12-13, 51:15-16). 

The Fear of Noah and His Disciples ​

“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.” – Hebrews 11:7

Hebrews 11:7 shouldn’t be interpreted in a vacuum. Scripture interprets Scripture! The fear of Job 28:28 is the context of Hebrews 11:7. Scripture commends Noah because he believed to see “things not seen as yet” in the world (Heb. 11:7). Specifically, God told Noah about two unseen things that were coming in the future: rain & the flood. Receiving an advanced warning of destruction through a worldwide flood, and believing to see it, is one thing. Believing to see a worldwide flood brought about by rain is another thing altogether, especially because it had never rained before.

Most people only think about the flood when reading Genesis 6-8. Contrary to Job 28:23-28, readers have little to no fear about the creation of rain. God warning Noah about a worldwide flood 120 years in advance is impressive, and this gave him sufficient time to build an Ark (Gen. 6:3-22; Heb. 11:7). Noah built the Ark and made all the necessary preparations in an exemplary show of faith. However, a major emphasis of this testimony is how Noah was “moved with fear” (Heb. 11:7). Hebrews 11:7 is inextricably connected to Job 28:28. God told Noah that a worldwide flood was going to be brought upon the earth through “rain” (Gen. 7:4), and apparently it had never rained before that awful day of destruction. The narrator of Genesis guides readers to this conclusion. Gensis 7:4 should be interpreted alongside Genesis 2:5-6. 

“And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.” – Gen. 2:5-6

“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.” – Gen. 7:4

Moses, the narrator of Genesis, gave a clarification about how the Garden of Eden was watered when rain had not yet been created. The authorial intent of Genesis 2:5-6 clearly anticipates Genesis 7:4. Evidently, rain had never been seen before in Eden (Gen. 2:5-6). Rain had never been seen by Noah before the flood (Gen. 7:4, Job 28:23-28). Noah was afraid to hear about it…and was even more afraid to see it (Heb. 11:7, Job 28:23-28). 

“Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men;” – 2 Cor. 5:11  

Knowing the terror of the LORD, Noah tried to persuade everyone else to fear the incoming divine judgment of rain. Sinners worldwide were eventually moved with fear, but it was too late for them…when Noah finally entered the Ark, no one else was getting in, and no one else was getting out: “the LORD shut him in” (Gen. 7:16). The door of salvation was closed! And the eight souls on board were shocked to see everything unfold over the next 40 days. They all told stories about it to their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Understandably, these same people were afraid of rain in the new world and needy of consolation from God (Gen. 9:12-17).

Nevertheless, believers in modern times read about the flood without any fear of rain (Heb. 12:28-29). This much couldn’t be said about the Prophet of old! They read the unadulterated testimony of the flood in the Bible, and they were struck with fear at seeing the divine power of rain (Ps. 135:5-7, Amos 5:8, 9:6, Jer. 10:12-13, 51:15-16). Maybe modern readers aren’t reading the full version of the testimony of the flood for themselves? Granted, people are reading the Book of Genesis, but they are ignoring the Book of Job. The seemingly obscure meaning of Genesis 2:5-6, 7:4, & 9:12-17 is made crystal clear in the Book of Job.

According to Job, Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar, and Elihu, fear is warranted because rain suddenly appeared in the old world as a powerful divine weapon of destruction. These men were directly discipled by Noah and Shem. Therefore, anytime these men spoke about rain and the flood in their discourse, we can be sure that they were speaking about the things that they learned from Noah and Shem. 

Job, Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar, and Elihu called Noah and Shem ancients because of their great age (Job 12:12-13). Noah lived 600 years before the flood and 350 years after the flood. Shem lived 98 years before the flood and 502 years after the flood. As ancients, these men were much older than their fathers and grandfathers (Job 15:10). Confessedly, all the knowledge that Job, Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar, and Elihu have acquired came from the teaching of Noah and Shem (Job 5:1, 27, 6:10, 8:8-10, 12:12-13, 15:7-10, 17-19, 20:4).

Nowadays, rain is associated with life. Elementary school teaches us that it is essential for the cycle of life. Again, this worldview is now common in the postflood world because we are thousands of years removed from those who witnessed the flood, and rain is mostly used for a different purpose in our lifetime. Consequentially, we take the rainbow for granted. They didn’t! The rainbow spoke volumes to those who passed through the flood (Gen. 9:11-17). 

We need to put ourselves in their shoes. As the Patriarch of the New World, Noah made sure the up-and-coming generations understood the fearfulness of how “rain” was “made” by God specifically for the flood through a divine “decree” (Job 28:23-28). Noah’s perspective on rain can be heard through those whom he directly discipled. 

“I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause: Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number: Who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields: To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety. He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.” - Job 5:8-12

Follow the punctation of this passage carefully to understand Eliphaz. Originally, God made rain to send floodwaters into the fields to drown the wicked and exalt the Ark to safety. Hereby, the LORD disappointed the devices of the crafty so that they could not perform their enterprise. Sinners in the preflood world were proud and prosperous, and they were planning on ruling the earth through violence for thousands of years to come (Job 21:6-31; Gen. 6:13). But then the people on high were suddenly brought down into the deep! And the lowly were instantly set up on high! This is the story of the flood. According to Eliphaz, rain is that great and marvelous thing that God created as a weapon of divine judgment to annihilate the wicked. 

“Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.” – Ps. 33:8 

Naturally, rain struck fear in the hearts of the survivors and their children. Eliphaz was afraid (Job 5:8-12). And the inspired interpreters for generations follow suit. They too were afraid! Men like David (Ps. 33:6-11, 135:5-7), Jeremiah (Jer. 10:12-13, 51:15-16), & Amos (Amos 5:8, 9:6). Meanwhile, fearless theologians in modern times happily gaze upon the rainbow. They are somehow oblivious to the testimony recorded in the Book of Job. We should listen to Eliphaz and his companions. Job 5:12 was quoted in Psalm 33:10 while speaking about the flood in Psalm 33:6-11, because this was a signature divine judgment that should strike fear in everyone (Ps. 33:8)! Similarly, Job 5:13 was quoted by Paul as the inspired word of God in 1 Corinthians 3:19. This is proof that we should allow the Early Church to give a definitive explanation about rain and the flood.

The stories passed down from generation to generation must have been astonishing. Noah, Shem, and Japheth told them with a riveting display of emotion. Suffice it to say, everyone on earth was brought to fear by Day #10 of the flood. The floodwater reached 9.75 feet and counting, and the death toll was rising exponentially! Thousands, tens of thousands, and perhaps millions had already died. All survivors had abandoned hope of entering the Ark. They were panicking and swimming for the hills and mountains! They had to fight for ground among the frightened animals. On Day #20, the floodwater was at 19.5 feet. Those who took refuge on the hills were now trying to make their way to the mountains. On Day #30, the floodwater reached 29.25 feet. The earth was filled with the noise of fear, chaos, and pandemonium! On Day #40, the floodwater reached 39 feet.

Daily, and with increasing numbers, millions were falling into Hell, and the last thing on their minds before they died was the inescapable presence of rain. Literally, the sinners were being hunted by the rain! The stormy onslaught of rain chased them up the hills and mountains. Can you believe it? 

“Terrors take hold on him as waters, a tempest stealeth him away in the night. The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth: and as a storm hurleth him out of his place. For God shall cast upon him, and not spare: he would fain flee out of His hand.” - Job 27:20-22 (cf. Isa. 30:16-17, Amos 9:2-3)

Evidently, God didn’t let sinners find refuge in high places. Nor did the LORD wait for the rising floodwater to drive them out of their hiding places over the next 150 days. Literally, sinners were being divinely targeted by furious winds and massive cloudbursts of rain, and this prevented them from riding out the storm in a choice location of shelter. Such things were repeated by various divine weapons throughout biblical history (Amos 5:18-20, 9:1-4; Isa. 10:15, 30:16-17).

Rain, as a divine weapon, was used by God to hunt the wicked until all were destroyed. Arguably, this is why everyone was dead by Day #40. Sinners tried to “flee” (Job 27:22)! Millions ascended the hills and mountains. Desperate attempts were made to survive the terrifying “waters” of the mighty “tempest” (Job 27:20). There was no escape. God chased them down through the “storm” and hurled them out of their hiding places (Job 27:21)! Fearless sinners then came to know the “terrors” of the unstoppable “tempest” of divine wrath (Job 27:20). 

“Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee; Or darkness, that thou canst not see; and abundance of waters cover thee.” - Job 22:10-11

“With clouds He covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt.” - Job 36:32

Proud and haughty sinners were humiliated and exhausted by the rain. The waters took them off their feet and made them fight an epic battle for survival in the deep. They couldn’t tread water forever! Some of their last moments were spent attempting to float on their backs as they were gasping for air. They stared into the sky above them. They scanned the heavens looking for any glimmer of hope. But the vault of heaven was covered with darkness in the daytime. The sky offered no light and no hope! The flashes of lightning and the sound of thunder promised nothing but condemnation. Sinners everywhere were being emotionally suffocated in the doom of their fate just before they sank in the waters and drowned to death (Job 9:7, 22:10-11, 38:9). This was no ordinary rainstorm. Something, or someone, was concealed behind the clouds. 

“He bindeth up the waters in His thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them. He holdeth back the face of His Throne, and spreadeth his cloud upon it.” - Job 26:8-9 (Gen. 8:20-22, 9:11-17)

The enthroned presence of an angry God, concealed behind the clouds, was directing every cloudburst of rain in the mighty tempest. Essentially, God was aiming and shooting the rain at sinners like cannons in the sky! Therefore, it stands to reason that no human being survived beyond Day 40 (Gen. 7:4). No tidal waves were seen sweeping over the horizon in the first 40 days. As millions drowned daily, and perhaps billions, the same number of souls were being cast into Hell all at once! Can you imagine it? 

“Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears.” - Job 28:22

As millions of people were dying daily, and falling into Hell, this created such a commotion in the infernal dungeon that everyone there became afraid of what was happening on Earth. Literally, the Earth was being emptied into Hell! Meanwhile, everyone showing up there had a story to tell. Not a single soul in Hell told any stories about a sequence of tidal waves moving over the earth and killing mankind. Rather, they cried out in agony about the creation of rain as a weapon of mass destruction (Job 28:23-28)! They told stories about something unimaginable, unless you could see it for yourself: the LORD thundering against sinners in a worldwide tempest of divine wrath! In other words, according to Job 28:22-28, Hell heard about “the fame” of divine wisdom in the creation of rain. 

“Remember that thou magnify His work, which men behold. Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off.” - Job 36:24-25 (Job 37:14)

“Also by watering He wearieth the thick cloud: He scattereth his bright cloud: And it is turned round about by His counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth.” - Job 37:11-12

Everyone on earth in the postflood world sees rain, but men don’t usually magnify it as a work of God. Even fewer regard it as a divine weapon of judgment (Job 36:31, 37:13). Do you see the throne of God concealed in the cloud during the stormy tempest of the flood (Job 26:8-9)? Maybe not. The disciples of Noah had a different perspective. Allow Elihu to bring before you the fine details of divine majesty in the weather of the postflood world. 

“Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out. For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof: Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly. Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle? Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea. For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance. With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt. The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour. At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place. Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth. He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth. After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard. God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend. For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength. He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work. Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places. Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north. By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened. Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud: And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth. He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy. Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.” – Job 36:26-37:14

The divine majesty in rainstorms is another way of speaking about God’s absolute control of everything: Firstly, in the prevention of rain, through the spreading of the white clouds to suspend the water vapor (Job 36:29). Secondarily, in the cause of rain, through the condensation of the clouds for the distillation of water droplets (Job 36:27-28), which is manifest through the thickening of the clouds creating darkness overhead (Job 36:30, 32). Thirdly, in the friction between the water molecules that then produces a “noise” in the storm as explosions of lightning and earthshaking sounds of thunder causes mankind to tremble (Job 36:29, 37:1-5).