An investigation into the probability that the story of Noah’s Ark is scientifically probable.
Translation from Genesis The New Oxford Annotated Bible with Apocrypha.
Genesis 6:13
¹³ And God said to Noah, “I have determined
to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is
filled with violence because of them; now
I am going to destroy them along with the
earth. ¹⁴ Make yourself an ark of cypressa
wood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it
inside and out with pitch.
Image: Pixundfertig. “Noah’S Ark Ship Animals – Free Photo on Pixabay.” Pixabay, 13 Dec. 2017, pixabay.com/photos/noahs-ark-ship-animals-art-flood-3008693.
Following this call to serve his God, Noah receives serval instructions in the proceeding verses on how to build the ark. The first requirement being the shear size of the ark. God called for it to be “the length of the ark three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits” (Genesis 6:15).
As you can see in this image the Ark would have been larger than a football field, and than a spaceship even. This is the first point of intrest. There is some speculation in how long it took to build the ship but it is hypothesized that it took just over a year to build. Although there are various dates given in speculation we must first emerge our selves in biblical timing and forget everything we know about modern timing. From a biblical standpoint “we’re left with perhaps 70 years to build the Ark.” (“How Long for Noah to Build the Ark?”). However this answer only brings more questions.
How was time measured in the bible?
How does that compare to how time is measured now?
Is there a reason the Bible never specifically states why it took so long?
As a women of science it is hard to accept something as fact, when no substantial evidence is presented. I believe that it is possible that the ark was this size and built in this time, but at the same time I do call into question the exact timeline. To look at the creation of the Ark from a critical standpoint, it does not seem possible.
But also as a woman brought up in Christianity, I was taught not to question these things and to believe that all things as possible through God and to have faith. If God was powerful enough to create the heavens and the earth, how could he not give Noah the skills and tools to create this essentially football field of an Ark.
This was not some hobby Noah had on the side after his day job, he felt called by God to save himself and his descendants, as well as God’s other creations. Given this context I could see how motivated he could have been, when the impending death by flood was looming over him. I did not know Noah nor did I live during these times, I live in modern times with modern scientific tools used to investigate claims of times before. In this day in age, we also have Bill Nye and growing up in the wave of his scientific exploration, I have turned to him for guidance on this matter.
Nye brings to the table a vast knowledge of evolutionary science. By this knowledge he is able to explain how the facts simply do not line up with the claims made in Genesis.
I am not trying to uproot a belief system by investigating Noah’s Ark. I am just here to have a level of scientific accountability, and speak to the science behind biblical phenomenons and stories. I do believe that the Ark existed, but to what extent does a bible story encapsulate the entire truth behind the story, well that’s a question for another time.
Wanna see where I find my stuff.
Link to more on the size of the Ark. “Noah’s Ark.” Ark Encounter, arkencounter.com/noahs-ark.
Link to the timeline of Noah’s Ark. “How Long for Noah to Build the Ark?” Ark Encounter, 18 Nov. 2011, arkencounter.com/blog/2011/11/18/how-long-for-noah-to-build-the-ark.
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