Many researchers were interested in investigating whether the Noah’s Ark was seaworthy or not. It could be recalled that God gave certain dimensions to Noah to build the Ark measuring 300 cubits long; 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high.
Introduction
When he used the Nippur Cubit at 20.4 inches, he came about a vessel about 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, and 51 feet high.
He accounted for a 1% reduction in volume due to the hull curvature that the Ark had about 1.88 million cubic feet of space and the equivalent of 450 semi-trailers of cargo space.
When you examine the sizes of the ship, you will conclude that it is a massive one and also measured twice as long as a Boeing 747 and stretching over one-and-a-half football fields. You can read more similar posts on our Bible page of the site.
Meditate
God knew was deliberate as He gave Noah the specific dimensions of the Ark. That was the reason Dr Seon Won Hong conducted a scientific study to investigate the seaworthiness of the Ark at the renowned ship research centre KRISO (now Known as MOERI) in South Korea in 1993.
He evaluated the seaworthiness of over 10 various ship dimensions and the research showed that the Ark dimensions given as recorded in the Bible were capable of handling any highly turbulent sea that could be thrown at the Ark and made it balanced for inhabitant safety. The study also showed that the Ark could handle 100-foot waves.
A previous study carried out in the 17 Century by Peter Jansen of Holland gave the result that the length-to-width ratio of the Ark (about 7-to-1) was capable of such a massive, non-powered sea vessel.
Application 1
You can see also some oil tankers still have a 7-to-1 ratio. He demonstrated using replica models of the Ark how tough it was to capsize.
Application 2
Another look is that God instructed Noah to coat the inside and the outside of the Ark with pitch. God also instructed that a thick gooey substance should be secreted by trees as a means of protection against infection or insect attack.
Meditate
It’s also interesting that when you examine the pitch today, you will discover that it has been the most effective and widely-used ship waterproofing substance in history. For many centuries now, tar, made from pitch, has been among Sweden’s most exports, which are peaking at over a quarter million barrels per year in the late 1800s
Pitch is used to protect waterproof shells, very identical to how epoxy or fibreglass is used in shipbuilding today. The hardened pitch still adds to both strength and waterproofing that is above the natural capability of the wood. The “divine shipbuilding instructions” given to Noah are still relevant today.
Noah’s Ark vs. the Gilgamesh Ark
Research has it that in 1853, archaeologists found a series of 12 tablets dated to around 650 BC, although parts of the story existed in earlier, fragmentary versions. People compared Noah’s Ark and the Gilgamesh Ark.
The sceptics believed that Gilgamesh preceded the Biblical account. They negate the Genesis account as just a spin-off. There are major clues for Christians that accurately point to the Biblical account. Here are the reasons:
Meditate
The Gilgamesh version of the Ark was feasible and described as a massive, unstable cube. It was about 200 feet on each side with six decks being divided into seven parts. Gilgamesh built this vessel—which was over three times the size of the Biblical Ark, in just a week with the help of craftsmen.
As we can see, Gilgamesh cannot withstand catastrophe during the global flood. It would glaringly tumble, kill, or maim its passengers. The biblical Ark which had a 7-to-1 length-to-width ratio is different from that one.
Research has it that the biblical ark is similar to many of today’s ocean barges which makes it a feasible design for staying afloat during the global flood. Scripture provides treatises on the years that Noah and their helpers had to build the Ark, probably between 55 and 75 years.
Meditate
The second key to use for determining the account of a flood is the duration of the Flood provided by each. The Gilgamesh flood lasted for a mere six days, but the Biblical flood lasted for 371 days. It is a wrong notion as some researchers say that Gilgamesh covers the earth.
The question is how is possible for the flood of six days to cover the earth? Can we have a sense between a floating, 200 X 200 X 200-foot cube and six days for worldwide inundation?
Meditate
The next consideration is traced to the Genesis account, where God’s judgment is just. God was patient with wicked mankind for 120 years he effected the flood to destroy the wicked people and showed mercy to the righteous family.
In the Gilgamesh account, the flood was artificially initiated by many, self-centred squabbling ‘gods’. These two are quite different!
Meditate
Scholars were anti-Bible biased to state that the Gilgamesh account was known first. The story of Gilgamesh was written 800 years after Genesis.
The story describes a cube-shaped Ark 200 feet on each side tumbling around in the ocean, in a 6-day flood put on by the “angry, fighting gods” that sent it.
The two accounts about the Ark have a God or “gods. These two accounts describe a worldwide inundation and have the Arks built to specific dimensions.
The account of Noah and the second coming of Jesus
Today, the account of the Ark of Noah Jesus taught about a real flood. This was compared to what the end times would be like.
Jesus warned that of the day and hour, no one can say and know, even the angels of heaven. He said, only my Father knows it. What is sure is that as the days of Noah were, the coming of the Son of Man will be.
In the days before the flood, they were eating, drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage. The same is happening now. Many people have forgotten about the things of God. They have forgotten that Jesus Christ is coming back.
Meditate
During the time of Noah, entered the ark, but people did not know until the flood came and took them all away. This is how the second coming of Jesus Christ will be.
He will come suddenly and people of God and holy one will be in rapture while the wicked people will end in peril.
When you read Mathew 24: 36-44, we can see that God was firm about the historical account of Noah. That is the way the second coming of Jesus Christ will be.
Meditate
We may not understand and believe the foundation of what Jesus Christ is saying if there is no account of Jonah in Genesis.
As Christians, are ready for the coming of Jesus Christ? Have you read the account of Jonah with understanding?
When you look back, through history, you can observe that some accounts begin with a true life story, but then get embellished over time and become more and more mythical.
Prayers
- Oh My God, prepare me for the second coming of Jesus Christ in the name of Jesus Christ.
- O Lord, do not allow me to perish in this perishable world in the name of Jesus Christ.
- Eternal God, cleanse all my iniquities and immoral acts from today in the name of Jesus Christ.
- My Lord, let me life proclaim your kingdom of God from now on in the name of Jesus Christ.
- My God, count me worthy when come and gather your saints in the name of Jesus Christ.
