Summer Rain Trivia Quiz

According to Genesis 6:5-7, God observes the pervasive wickedness and corruption of humanity, noting that every inclination of their hearts is continually evil. Anthropomorphized as having feelings and depicted as deeply troubled by this, God expresses regret at creating humans and feels profound sorrow over their moral decline. Consequently, God decides to cleanse the earth by wiping out humanity along with the animals, birds, and other creatures, expressing a feeling of regret for having made them.

This passage highlights God's deep disappointment and the severity of the impending judgement due to human wickedness.

According to Genesis 6:13-22, God instructs Noah to build an ark. Observing the earth's corruption and violence, God announces a plan to destroy all flesh with a flood. He commands Noah, a righteous man, to construct an ark of cypress wood, specifying its dimensions and design, including compartments, a roof, and three decks. The dimensions were required to be 300 cubits by 50 cubits and the height of the entire structure was to be 30 cubits.

This highlights God's intention to preserve Noah, his family, and a remnant of all living creatures from the impending flood. It emphasizes Noah's obedience to God's will and the meticulous preparation for the salvation of life.

According to Genesis 6:19-21, God instructs Noah to bring pairs of every kind of living creature, male and female, into the ark to keep them alive during the flood. Of the clean animals (meaning, animals that can be given as an offering and eaten), Noah is required to bring seven pairs. Additionally, Noah is commanded to gather and store all kinds of food that will be eaten by both his family and the animals. These instructions emphasize the detailed preparation required to preserve life through the impending destruction of the deluge.

The significance of this passage to the story of Noah and the flood is deep. It highlights God's intention to preserve all living creatures and to ensure the continuity of life after the flood. This act of preservation underscores the themes of mercy and provision despite the ultimate destruction that will come. Coming in the first book of the Bible, this story sets a precedent for God's relationship with humanity and the natural world, emphasizing that even in times of judgement, God's ultimate plan is one of restoration and hope.

In Genesis 7:11-12, the scripture describes the onset of the flood and its duration. These verses provide a detailed account of how the flood began and the cataclysmic nature of the event.

The specific date, "in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month", underscores the precision and historicity within the Biblical narrative, offering a clear chronological marker for the flood's commencement. Also, the description of the springs of the great deep bursting forth and the floodgates of the heavens opening emphasizes the overwhelming and divine power behind the flood. This dual source of the waters, both from the earth and the heavens, illustrates the totality of the deluge, indicating that it was an act of God's judgement encompassing all creation.

Forty is a significant number in the Bible. Often, periods of testing or trial have some relationship to that number. Moses, going up Mt. Sinai to receive the commandments, was gone for the same period of time, for example. This number underscores the judgement that was cast upon mankind and the impact of God's personal involvement in the event.

According to Genesis 8:4, Noah's ark came to rest atop the mountains of Ararat. The sudden appearance of land and the grounding of the ark carry significance. The rains are over and the waters have begun to recede, and only the top of the mountains are above water. However, this allows Noah and the rest of the survivors some hope that their judgement (and, also that of the Earth) is over and things have the potential of returning to normal.

The grounding of the ark upon the mountains is a symbol of stability. After floating uncertainly for days and weeks, the physical grounding of the ark shows its inhabitants that they can be grounded in their belief in God and that restoration of the Earth has begun. Also, the mention of the mountains of Ararat provides a geographical anchor to the narrative. Ararat, often associated with a mountain range in present-day Turkey, situates the story in a real-world context, linking the Biblical account to a tangible location, further grounding the story. Finally, the precise date given also shows an element of grounding, marking it like it was planned to be exactly five months after it began.

When we read Genesis 8:6-7, it's after the waters from the flood have begun to recede. Noah decides to open the window of his ark and he then sends out a raven. The raven flew back and forth, until the waters had dried up from the earth.

The significance of this passage is twofold. First, it demonstrates Noah's proactive approach to determining the state of the Earth following the flood. By sending out the raven, Noah begins the process of assessing whether it is safe to leave the ark and whether there's land to walk upon. Second, the raven's flight indicates that the waters are still present, but starting to diminish, as eventually the bird finds places to land and feed as the waters recede.

This is the transition period, moving from judgement and destruction to hope and rebirth. The use of a raven, a meat-eating bird, is not a reliable choice by Noah, as it does not rely on the ark for survival since it can survive on carrion and also has the endurance to fly for long periods.

According to Genesis 8:8-12, Noah sends out a dove from the ark to see if the floodwaters have receded from the surface of the earth. The first time the dove returns to the ark because it finds no place to rest. After waiting seven more days, Noah sends the dove out again. This time it returns in the evening with a freshly plucked olive leaf in its beak. This indicates that the waters have receded, at least enough for the tops of trees to be exposed. Noah waits another seven days and sends the dove out once more, and this time it does not return. This signifies that the earth is now dry and suitable for habitation.

Noah exhibits practicality in sending out the dove three times, and for waiting
a week in between attempts. The dove, a symbol of peace and new beginnings, brings back an olive leaf which signifies the restoration of the Earth. From the judgement of the flood, Noah, his family, and all the creatures in the ark can now find hope that they are being allowed to start anew. The olive branch also signifies the power of the resilience of nature, as a green sprig of new life.

In Genesis 8:20-22, after Noah, his family, and the animals leave the ark, Noah builds an altar to the Lord and offers burnt offerings of clean animals and birds. This is why seven pairs of these were brought aboard the ark. God is pleased with the aroma of the sacrifice and makes a promise to Noah and all living beings: God vows never again to curse the ground because of humans, despite their inclinations for evil, nor to destroy every living creature as was done with the flood. God further declares that as long as the earth endures, the cycles of seed time and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, day and night will never cease.

The significance of this passage is in the creation of a new beginning, while also restoring the relationship between God and humanity. Offering a sacrifice shows Noah's commitment to the rebirth of the world and an honest attempt at redemption. God's response highlights a commitment to sustaining life and maintaining the natural order.

In Genesis 9:8-17, God establishes a covenant with Noah and his sons after the flood. God promises never again to destroy all life with a flood, making this covenant with Noah, his descendants, and every living creature on earth. As a sign of this everlasting covenant, God sets a rainbow in the sky. He declares that whenever a rainbow appears, it will serve as a reminder of the covenant between God and all living beings, ensuring that the waters will never again become a flood to destroy all living things.

The significance of this passage is profound, as it marks the first explicit covenant between God and humanity in the Bible. This is an example of God's mercy and a commitment to preserving life. Despite humanity and their imperfections, God agrees to look past these and to value redemption. The rainbow as a sign of this promise serves as a symbol of hope and reassurance for future generations. The rainbow, a beautiful sight, is chosen as the sign because of the beautiful covenant.

According to Genesis 9:22-23, the story of Noah concludes with an incident involving Noah and his sons after the flood. Noah, having planted a vineyard, drinks some of its wine, becomes drunk, and lies uncovered inside his tent. Ham sees his father's nakedness and hurriedly tells his two brothers outside. Shem and Japheth, instead of gawking, take a garment, walk in backward, and cover their father, ensuring they do not see his nakedness. Their respectful behavior contrasts sharply with Ham's actions.

The significance of this passage lies in the themes of respect, honour, and family dynamics. Ham's behavior is often interpreted as a serious insult towards his father. This leads to Noah cursing Ham's son, Canaan, a sin of the father being visited upon the son. This curse has far-reaching implications, affecting the descendants of Ham and establishing a narrative foundation for future conflicts and relationships among nations. In contrast, Shem and Japheth's respectful actions earn them a blessing, underscoring the importance of honour and propriety in familial and social relationships. This incident highlights the values of respect and the consequences of dishonouring one's family, a theme that will be revisited pretty often throughout the Bible.

Finally, this shows the full circle of man's wickedness, that even the destruction of the evil humans was incomplete, and that the evil resides within our hearts. Ham's choice highlights the fact that we are always faced with a decision. One can chose to be wicked, often the easier route. On the other hand, one can chose to be good and, thus, make the world a better place.

Choose good.