Dear BLOG,
What do you say about the movie we watched yesterday? Was it entertaining or what?!
You ask, 'but is that what really happened then?'
I have to say, it does seem rather far fetched, so lets go check out a historical document of the event.
Lets see: Noah..hmmm, grandson of Methuselah...father of Shem, Ham and Japheth...yep, they got that right. But if we read Genesis 5: 32, the boys may have been triplets. Small differance really.(And Noah was five hundred years old when he became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.[1]) But I wonder, Blog, if this verse is maybe, just a beside-the-point mention about the boys and is more a pointer to the fact that the next series of events - God's decision to wipe out the Earth came about when Noah was 500 years old.
Anyway, there are the next few verses that sums up what happens next:Genesis 6.
5 The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.6 The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. 7 So the LORD said, "I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth--men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air--for I am grieved that I have made them.8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.
9 This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God.10 Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth. 13 So God said to Noah, "I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth.14 So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out.
Blog, now here is something interesting : 7:6 Noah was six hundred years old when the flood waters came on the earth. 7 And Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives entered the ark to escape the waters of the flood. That's a good hundred years later! Obviously 1 old man and 3 younger men (with their wives) cannot build such a huge craft in a day, a week, nor even a month. Werent thier neighbours curious?
So here I see God giving everyone who cared to ask, a chance to escape the flood by changing their ways and putting their faith in God...No, Blog, I don't think God was an alien to them, nor did they have a hundred different representations of Him. After all, they were direct descendants of Adam and just 10 generations apart. With most of them living for 900 years each to see their great grandchildren and more maybe, and God still speaking to men directly, they couldnt have been ignorant of Him.
Lets move on: Noah obeys, enters, and God said: 7:4 Seven days from now I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights" Now, that's Faith for you. In vs 16, you can see it says,16 The animals going in were male and female of every living thing, as God had commanded Noah. Then the LORD shut him in. And I guess that must be true, since the door had to be pretty big, too big for Noah to close on his own. Anyway, I can see his neighbours who till then had thought him and family 'strange' and had ignored his building works, now would probably be curious. Word spread like wild fire - "The Crazy guy's got locked in!" They might have knocked, then shouted, then as neither side could open the door, decided to leave Noah and his family be, or maybe they taunted him...7 Days later,...10 And after the seven days the floodwaters came on the earth.11 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, on the seventeenth day of the second month--on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened.12 And rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights.
Now Blog, we know with God in action, we dont doubt that it rained for 40 days and 40 nights, but ever wonder where all that water came from? Lets do a flash back to creation of the world:
genesis 1: 6 And God said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water." 7 So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. And it was so. There was a ceiling of water above! So the humidity on the surface of the planet was high, high enough to cause a heavy dew: Genesis 2:5 And every
6 But there went up a
Yes! You got it,Blog! Noah's neighbours did not believe him that it would rain, cos they..had...NOT...seen...rain! They could not believe that water would fall from the sky! Bbut neither had Noah, nor his family.
Yes, that is faith, Blog...Hope in things unseen.
Then the rest of it we know, the floods rose, it rained for 40 days and 40 nights, and Genesis 7: 24, The waters flooded the earth for a hundred and fifty days. Genesis 8:3 The water receded steadily from the earth. At the end of the hundred and fifty days the water had gone down, 4 and on the seventeenth day of the seventh month the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat.5 The waters continued to recede until the tenth month, and on the first day of the tenth month the tops of the mountains became visible.6 After forty days Noah opened the window he had made in the ark. 7and sent out a raven, and it kept flying back and forth until the water had dried up from the earth. 13 By the first day of the first month of Noah's six hundred and first year, the water had dried up from the earth. Noah then removed the covering from the ark and saw that the surface of the ground was dry.14 By the twenty-seventh day of the second month the earth was completely dry.
So that means, Noah was in the Ark was 1 year and 2 months!
So Blog, that is the truth behind Noah and his ark...Rock monsters? Ahh, that is a tale for another day...
In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
ReplyDeleteNoah was one of the many prophets that God sent to the people to guide them to the right way. Like all the prophets he asked his people to "Worship God Alone".
Most of the people did not like Noah or anybody to tell them what to do. They do not want to change and do not want to worship God alone. They found their parents worshipping other gods and they want to keep doing the same thing.
Noah went to his people many times and asked them to "Worship God alone" . He told them that God promised them great rewards and happiness if they follow his advise. He also told them if they do not accept God as their only god, they will be losers and God will punish them. They laughed at Noah, called him crazy and refused to follow him. God ordered Noah to warn the people that if they do not believe they will be drowned by a big rainy storm and flooding. They laughed again and refused to believe Noah.
God then ordered Noah to start building an ark, a boat , big enough to carry him , the people who believed and a pair of each of the animals they have.
Noah used logs from the trees around him to build his boat , Noah's ark, and told all the believers to join him on the ark, and bring their animals with them because God will be causing flooding and heavy rainy storms to drown everything else around them.
Every time the disbelieving people pass by Noah building his ark ,they ridicule him and laugh at him. He believed God and finished the ark and all the believers with their animals joined him. After that God caused the sky to rain and the rivers and sea to flood filling the land around Noah's people with water everywhere and the disbelievers drowned.
Only those who believed in God and followed Noah were saved. Later God caused all the water to drain back into the rivers and sea, and the land to dry so the ark rested on the land again and Noah and his followers who believed in God alone were back on the land happy and thankful to God for His guidance, and support.
The story of Noah and his people are repeated several times in the Quran. We will see that God repeats certain stories in the Quran to remind us and to get our attention to it.
Several suras in the Quran have part or all of the story of Noah. Let us read them in the Quran and learn from them. Try to read different sura every time you read this story of Noah. All the locations of the story of Noah in the Quran is listed later.
Quran
ReplyDeleteI seek refuge in God from Satan the rejected
[Quran 11:25] We sent Noah to his people, saying, "I come to you as a clear warner.
[Quran 11:26] "You shall not worship except God. I fear for you the retribution of a painful day."
[Quran 11:27] The leaders who disbelieved among his people said, "We see that you are no more than a human being like us, and we see that the first people to follow you are the worst among us. We see that you do not possess any advantage over us. Indeed, we think you are liars."
[Quran 11:28] He said, "O my people, what if I have a solid proof from my Lord? What if He has blessed me out of His mercy, though you cannot see it? Are we going to force you to believe therein?
[Quran 11:29] "O my people, I do not ask you for any money; my wage comes only from God. I am not dismissing those who believed; they will meet their Lord (and He alone will judge them). I see that you are ignorant people.
[Quran 11:30] "O my people, who can support me against God, if I dismiss them? Would you not take heed?
[Quran 11:31] "I do not claim that I possess the treasures of God, nor do I know the future, nor do I claim to be an angel. Nor do I say to those despised by your eyes that God will not bestow any blessings upon them. God knows best what is in their innermost thoughts. (If I did this,) I would be a transgressor."
[Quran 11:32] They said, "O Noah, you have argued with us, and kept on arguing. We challenge you to bring the doom you threaten us with, if you are truthful."
[Quran 11:33] He said, "God is the One who brings it to you, if He so wills, then you cannot escape.
[Quran 11:34] "Even if I advised you, my advice cannot benefit you if it is God's will to send you astray. He is your Lord, and to Him you will be returned."
[Quran 11:35] If they say, "He made up this story," then say, "If I made it up, then I am responsible for my crime, and I am innocent of any crime you commit."
[Quran 11:36] Noah was inspired: "No more of your people are going to believe, beyond those who already believe. Do not be saddened by their actions.
[Quran 11:37] "Build the ark under our watchful eyes, and with our inspiration, and do not implore Me on behalf of those who have transgressed; they are destined to drown."
[Quran 11:38] While he was building the ark, whenever some of his people passed by him they laughed at him. He said, "You may be laughing at us, but we are laughing at you, just as you are laughing.
[Quran 11:39] "You will surely find out who will suffer a shameful retribution, and incur an everlasting punishment."
[Quran 11:40] When our judgment came, and the atmosphere boiled over, we said, "Carry on it a pair of each kind,* together with your family, except those who are condemned. Carry with you those who have believed," and only a few have believed with him.
[Quran 11:41] He said, "Come on board. In the name of God shall be its sailing, and its mooring. My Lord is Forgiver, Most Merciful."
[Quran 11:42] As it sailed with them in waves like hills, Noah called his son, who was isolated: "O my son, come ride with us; do not be with the disbelievers."
[Quran 11:43] He said, "I will take refuge on top of a hill, to protect me from the water." He said, "Nothing can protect anyone today from God's judgment; only those worthy of His mercy (will be saved)." The waves separated them, and he was among those who drowned.
[Quran 11:44] It was proclaimed: "O earth, swallow your water," and "O sky, cease." The water then subsided; the judgment was fulfilled. The ark finally rested on the hills of Judea. It was then proclaimed: "The transgressors have perished."
see also
ReplyDelete[Quran 7:59] We sent Noah to his people, saying, "O my people, worship God; you have no other god beside Him. I fear for you the retribution of an awesome day."
[Quran 7:60] The leaders among his people said, "We see that you are far astray."
[Quran 7:61] He said, "O my people, I am not astray; I am a messenger from the Lord of the universe.
[Quran 7:62] "I deliver to you the messages of my Lord, and I advise you, and I know from God what you do not know.
[Quran 7:63] "Is it too much of a wonder that a reminder should come to you from your Lord, through a man like you, to warn you, and to lead you to righteousness, that you may attain mercy?"
[Quran 7:64] They rejected him. Consequently, we saved him and those with him in the ark, and we drowned those who rejected our revelations; they were blind.
See also
[Quran 10:71] Recite for them the history of Noah. He said to his people, "O my people, if you find my position and my reminding you of God's revelations too much for you, then I put my trust in God. You should get together with your leaders, agree on a final decision among yourselves, then let me know it without delay.
[Quran 10:72] "If you turn away, then I have not asked you for any wage. My wage comes from God. I have been commanded to be a submitter."
[Quran 10:73] They rejected him and, consequently, we saved him and those who joined him in the ark; we made them the inheritors. And we drowned those who rejected our revelations. Note the consequences; they have been warned.
See also
[Quran 23:23] We sent Noah to his people, saying, "O my people, worship God. You have no other god beside Him. Would you not be righteous?"
[Quran 23:24] The leaders who disbelieved among his people said, "This is no more than a human like you, who wants to gain prominence among you. Had God willed, He could have sent down angels. We never heard of anything like this from our ancestors.
[Quran 23:25] "He is simply a man gone crazy. Just ignore him for awhile."
[Quran 23:26] He said, "My Lord, grant me victory, for they have disbelieved me."
[Quran 23:27] We then inspired him: "Make the watercraft* under our watchful eyes, and in accordance with our inspiration. When our command comes, and the atmosphere boils up, put on it a pair of every kind (of your domesticated animals), and your family, except those condemned to be doomed. Do not speak to Me on behalf of those who transgressed; they will be drowned.
[Quran 23:28] "Once you are settled, together with those who are with you, on the watercraft, you shall say, `Praise God for saving us from the evil people.'
[Quran 23:29] "And say, `My Lord, let me disembark onto a blessed location; You are the best deliverer.' "
[Quran 23:30] These should provide sufficient proofs for you. We will certainly put you to the test.
[Quran 23:31] Subsequently, we established another generation after them.
[Quran 23:32] We sent to them a messenger from among them, saying, "You shall worship God. You have no other god beside Him. Would you not be righteous?"
[Quran 23:33] The leaders among his people who disbelieved and rejected the idea of the Hereafter - although we provided for them generously in this life - said, "This is no more than a human being like you. He eats from what you eat, and drinks as you drink.
[Quran 23:34] "If you obey a human being like you, then you are really losers.
[Quran 23:35] "Does he promise you that, after you die and turn into dust and bones, you will come out again?
[Quran 23:36] "Impossible, impossible indeed is what is promised to you.
[Quran 23:37] "We only live this life - we live and die - and we will never be resurrected.
See also
ReplyDelete[Quran 26:105] The people of Noah disbelieved the messengers.
[Quran 26:106] Their brother Noah said to them, "Would you not be righteous?
[Quran 26:107] "I am an honest messenger to you.
[Quran 26:108] "You shall reverence God and obey me.
[Quran 26:109] "I do not ask you for any wage. My wage comes from the Lord of the universe.
[Quran 26:110] "You shall reverence God and obey me."
[Quran 26:111] They said, "How can we believe with you, when the worst among us have followed you?"
[Quran 26:112] He said, "How do I know what they did?
[Quran 26:113] "Their judgment rests only with my Lord, if you could perceive.
[Quran 26:114] "I will never dismiss the believers.
[Quran 26:115] "I am no more than a clarifying warner."
[Quran 26:116] They said, "Unless you refrain, O Noah, you will be stoned."
[Quran 26:117] He said, "My Lord, my people have disbelieved me.
[Quran 26:118] "Grant me victory against them, and deliver me and my company of believers."
[Quran 26:119] We delivered him and those who accompanied him in the loaded ark.
[Quran 26:120] Then we drowned the others.
[Quran 26:121] This should be a lesson, but most people are not believers.
[Quran 26:122] Most assuredly, your Lord is the Almighty, Most Merciful.
See also
ReplyDelete[Quran 54:9] The people of Noah disbelieved before them. They disbelieved our servant and said, "Crazy!" He was persecuted.
[Quran 54:10] He implored his Lord, "I am oppressed; grant me victory."
[Quran 54:11] We then opened the gates of the sky, pouring water.
[Quran 54:12] And we caused springs to gush out of the earth. The waters met to effect a predetermined decision.
[Quran 54:13] We carried him on a watercraft made of logs and ropes.
[Quran 54:14] It ran under our watchful eyes; a reward for one who was rejected.
[Quran 54:15] We have set it up as a lesson. Does any of you wish to learn?
[Quran 54:16] How terrible was My retribution after the warnings!
[Quran 54:17] We made the Quran easy to learn. Does any of you wish to learn?
See also Chapter 71 - Noah in Quran
[Quran 71:1] We sent Noah to his people: "You shall warn your people before a painful retribution afflicts them."
[Quran 71:2] He said, "O my people, I am a manifest warner to you.
[Quran 71:3] "To alert you that you shall worship God, reverence Him, and obey me.
[Quran 71:4] "He will then forgive you your sins and respite you for a predetermined period. Most assuredly, God's appointment can never be delayed, once it is due, if you only knew."
[Quran 71:5] He said, "My Lord, I have invited my people night and day.
[Quran 71:6] "But my invitation only increased their aversion.
[Quran 71:7] "Whenever I invited them to be forgiven by You, they placed their fingers in their ears, covered themselves with their clothes, insisted, and turned arrogant.
[Quran 71:8] "Then I invited them publicly.
[Quran 71:9] "Then I proclaimed to them loudly, and I spoke to them privately.
[Quran 71:10] "I said, `Implore your Lord for forgiveness; He is Forgiving.
[Quran 71:11] " `He will then shower you generously with rain.
[Quran 71:12] " `And provide you with money and children, and orchards, and streams.' "
[Quran 71:13] Why should you not strive to reverence God?
[Quran 71:14] He is the One who created you in stages.
[Quran 71:15] Do you not realize that God created seven universes in layers?
[Quran 71:16] He designed the moon therein to be a light, and placed the sun to be a lamp.
[Quran 71:17] And God germinated you from the earth like plants.
[Quran 71:18] Then He returns you into it, and He will surely bring you out.
[Quran 71:19] God made the earth habitable for you.
[Quran 71:20] That you may build roads therein.
[Quran 71:21] Noah said, "My Lord, they disobeyed me, and followed those who were even more corrupted when blessed with money and children.
[Quran 71:22] "They schemed terrible schemes.
[Quran 71:23] "They said, `Do not abandon your gods. Do not abandon Wadd, Suwaa`, Yaghouth, Ya`ooq, and Nasr.'
[Quran 71:24] "They misled many. Therefore, let the wicked plunge deeper into loss."
[Quran 71:25] Because of their sins they were drowned and assigned to the hellfire. They found no helpers to protect them from God.
[Quran 71:26] Noah also said, "My Lord, do not leave a single disbeliever on earth.
[Quran 71:27] "For if you let them, they will only mislead your servants and give birth to nothing but wicked disbelievers.
[Quran 71:28] "My Lord, forgive me and my parents, and anyone who enters my home as a believer, and all the believing men and women. But do not give the disbelievers anything but annihilation."
Dear BLog,
ReplyDeleteSo, coming back to the movie - the ground and general state of the planet could not have been black, dark and dreary....and the sky could not have been cloudless and stark blue. I wonder though how it must have been, with a ceiling of water over head....what kind of plants could there have been? Was the humidity uncomfortable? If longevity is connected to the atmospheric conditions of that time, could that explain why they each lived over 900 years?
How exciting to imagine this...
Oh Blog, the expression on the people's faces when the 'springs of the great deep burst forth', what would they have thought? Did they run up to the geysers to stare in amazement? Was the water hot or cold? Did the children splash in the puddles formed, like children everywhere today do in their innocence...or did they run in terror, screaming at the unexpected spewing of water from great fissures in the ground? Then as their amazement settled for acceptance of the unexplained, their feet up to their ankles in swirling water,,,,what did they think when it started to rain...surprise at first, a tentative finger testing the first raindrop, unbelief that water was falling on them; confused faces staring at the sky...would they have realised that the sky was leaking?
Then there is Noah and his family..stuck inside the ark they had built. The 1st day would have been exciting, but as the 3rd, 4th and 5th day dragged on and the neighbors stopped shouting, and everything seemed just as normal as the previous day...did Noah and his family wonder? Did they doubt their Great Commission? By the dawn of the 7th day...they might have even been wondering if they had somehow, maybe made a mistake...the lowing, the bleating, the cries and calls of the hundreds of animals waiting on three tiers of space; the chirping, the fluttering, the swishing of wings, feathered and otherwise, would have been endless and constant; the beings of the night taking over when the animals that are awake by day go to sleep...
And then the sudden silence.
The pin-drop silence when the animals suddenly sense something the humans cannot...Noah and his family, startled by the noiselessness, run to the only window of the ark to peer out. Nothing. And then, it is as if all hell breaks loose. The slow rumble of the earth beneath them, echoed by the agitation of the animals. Noah and his sons run to keep them calm. A shout from his wife brings him back and the little family watch in disbelief at the first geysers bubbling out, then shooting up higher than their boat!
Now, that is a movie worth making!