After Cain killed Abel, Adam and Eve had more children. Men lived to a great age in those days. Some lived for hundreds of years. Men became very wicked, and the earth was filled with violence and all kinds of evil.
But Noah was a just man and walked with God.
God told Noah He was going to bring a flood of water upon the earth to destroy all that evil generation. He told Noah to build an ark of wood and that he and his wife and family would be saved from judgment.
After a long time the ark was ready. Then God told Noah to take with him into the ark two of every living thing — birds, animals and all creeping things.
Noah obeyed God and went into the ark. Then God shut them in.
God waited seven more days, but no one else entered the ark. Then it began to rain. It rained for forty days and forty nights. Besides, the flood waters came up from beneath. All the high hills and even the mountains were covered. The ark floated safely on the water, but all other people were drowned.
Only Noah and his family were kept alive. They were safe in the ark. Those who trust in the Lord now, like Noah, are safe too, from judgment.
ML-12/26/1976