A Journey Through Genesis: Noah and The Flood

Recommended Reading: Genesis 6:1-9:17

The flood story is one that most ancient Near-Eastern cultures treasured in their own variations. It was a common story, with many adaptations, showcasing the problems the gods were facing and the different strategies certain heroes took to defend their people from the wrath of the associated god. While the flood story in Genesis has some similarities, there are key differences that stand out. These key differences are what make the flood story in Genesis unique and special, especially for the original audience—the Israelites. Let’s summarize three well-circulated flood stories and discuss their similarities and differences in relation to the Genesis flood story. While many differences can be found, we will focus on four: the reason God is upset in the first place, God’s relationship with Noah, the gift given to all humanity, and monotheism.

A story that would have been well known throughout ancient Near-Eastern culture was the Epic of Gilgamesh. The Epic of Gilgamesh is one of the oldest known pieces of literature, originating from Mesopotamia. Contained in the story is a flood narrative involving many ancient gods and a person named Utnapishtim. The gods are disturbed by the noise and chaos humans create and decide to send a flood to destroy humanity. The god Ea warns Utnapishtim in a dream to build a boat to save himself, his family, and the seed of all living things. Utnapishtim constructs a boat with specific dimensions and loads it with his family, craftsmen, and animals. The storm and flood last for six days and nights, submerging the world in water. After the flood, Utnapishtim releases a dove, a swallow, and a raven to find dry land. The boat finally rests on a mountain, and Utnapishtim offers a sacrifice to the gods. The gods grant Utnapishtim and his wife immortality for surviving the flood.

Another story that would have been well known was the Atrahasis Epic. In the Atrahasis Epic, the gods again decide to send the flood because they are disturbed by the noise humans create. In the story, the god Enki warns Atrahasis to build a boat and save himself, his family, and animals. Once again, Atrahasis builds a boat with specific dimensions and materials. However, unlike the Epic of Gilgamesh, the flood lasts seven days, and after the flood, Atrahasis’ sacrifice causes the gods to regret their decision to send the flood.

A third well-known story would have been the Eridu Genesis. In the Eridu Genesis, for the third time, the gods decide to send the flood due to the disturbance created by humans. The god Enki warns Ziusudra to build a boat to save himself, his family, and animals. Again, for the third time, Ziusudra builds a boat with specific dimensions and materials. Similar to the Atrahasis Epic, the flood in the Eridu Genesis lasts seven days; however, more similar to the Epic of Gilgamesh, the post-flood sacrifice offered grants Ziusudra immortality.

In all three of these stories, something provokes a deity to wish for the destruction of mankind. However, unlike the three flood stories mentioned here, in the biblical flood narrative, God’s wish for mankind’s destruction is for a different reason. While all three of these stories deal with the disturbance the gods face due to the noise, chaos, and overpopulation of humans, Genesis 6:5 says, “The LORD saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.” At this point in the story, God has commanded his people on multiple occasions to be fruitful and multiply. As we read this story, we must understand that God’s regret is not of mankind, but of the evil that has corrupted the Earth. However, while our all-knowing God would have foreseen this, he chose to continue with the creation of man. God chooses to allow wickedness to endure, for now, so that we have free will. God’s decision to allow us free will enables us to freely choose to love him and to live in righteousness.

Free will can be both a joyous relief and a chaotic nightmare as we remember we have legitimate influence in our own lives. For me, remembering that I can make a choice to trust in God brings me relief when I begin to worry and second-guess my decisions. While I may be able to mess up, God will always be in control and ready at the call to pull me out of the hole I dug. This is the next difference between the Genesis flood story and the others. The flood story in Genesis is over four times longer than any of the other flood stories. God sends rain for forty days and nights, not including the one hundred and fifty-day period after the rain before Noah and his family set foot on dry land. That is quite a long time—a time of trusting God will fulfill his promise to establish his covenant with Noah. It does not say Noah ever questioned God, but that he was obedient to all God’s commands.

The third difference portrayed in the Genesis account is how the story ends. While in the Mesopotamian stories, the gods regret their decision, in Genesis, God establishes a covenant with Noah and all mankind. The gifts granted to individuals are exactly that, for the specific individual; whereas, the covenant given to Noah is a gift to all mankind. Noah’s freely made, personal decision to remain steadfast in righteousness, obedient towards, and faithful to God brings blessing to more than just him. This story, which can be understood as both one hundred percent real and one hundred percent a variation of other ancient Near-Eastern flood stories, teaches us to never underestimate God’s power and ability to work miraculously, while understanding these same miraculous stories communicate even deeper realities for generations to come.

On behalf of the sacrifice offered by Noah, God did not grant him immortality or the ability to become a deity himself. God himself is enough and demands worship not be shared amongst anything or anyone else. Instead, God blesses both Noah and the entirety of mankind. God’s established covenant is an unconditional, unilateral promise from God to humanity and all living creatures. God once again commands mankind to be fruitful and multiply, echoing the command given to Adam and Eve, signifying a new beginning for humanity. As our world faces moments where even the most foundational truths feel questionable, I ask myself a few questions:

• How am I choosing to exercise my free will? My decisions affect others, and am I being a light to those who need it most?
• Where am I putting my trust? The same God who regretted mankind because of the evil and corruption that had grown in their hearts found one person who was still obedient and partnered with him. It is through Noah and his trust in God that the face of mankind lived to see another day. No matter the external appearance, am I remembering that my trust in God will ultimately be remembered and rewarded above all else?
• What pleasing aroma am I bringing to God? My choices are felt by God. Does God feel worshipped in everything I do?

What are you taking away from the flood story? Have questions or comments? Please feel free to leave them below! Join us next week as we discuss what happens after the flood!