Meaning of Genesis 7:20

Genesis 7:20 describes the peak of the global flood narrative, asserting that the waters of the deluge reached an astonishing height, covering even the highest mountains to a depth of over fifteen cubits (approximately 22-25 feet). This verse is crucial for understanding the immensity of God's judgment and the totality of His cleansing of the earth. It signifies a complete obliteration of the pre-flood world and the establishment of a new beginning under divine preservation. The sheer scale of the inundation underscores the radical nature of God's intervention, highlighting the absolute necessity of Noah's ark as the sole means of survival.

Context and Background

This verse immediately follows the description of the waters continuing to rise (Genesis 7:19). The preceding chapters detail God's sorrow over humanity's wickedness and His decision to destroy all living creatures by flood, sparing only Noah and his family, along with pairs of every animal, within the ark. The construction of the ark and the gathering of the animals were acts of obedience by Noah, guided by God's specific instructions. Genesis 7:20 marks the point where the ark is fully submerged and floating, a direct consequence of the rising waters that covered the entire antediluvian landscape.

Key Themes and Messages

The primary themes conveyed by Genesis 7:20 are:

• Divine Judgment: The verse powerfully illustrates the comprehensive and overwhelming nature of God's judgment upon a rebellious world. The covering of the highest mountains signifies that no refuge on earth was beyond the reach of God's decree.
• Sovereignty of God: It demonstrates God's absolute power and control over creation. The waters, a force of nature, are entirely subject to His command.
• Total Destruction and Cleansing: The flood serves as a cataclysmic event that wipes the slate clean, destroying the corrupt world to make way for a renewed creation.
• Salvation through Obedience: While highlighting judgment, the verse implicitly points to God's provision for salvation through the ark, a testament to the obedience of Noah.

Spiritual Significance and Application

Spiritually, Genesis 7:20 can be interpreted as a profound metaphor for God's judgment on sin. Just as the waters covered all earthly heights, sin can threaten to engulf and overwhelm individuals and societies. The verse calls for a recognition of the seriousness of sin and the need for a divine solution. Furthermore, it emphasizes that salvation is not found in human efforts or earthly defenses but in obedience to God's prescribed means of deliverance. For believers, it underscores the concept of spiritual cleansing and renewal through Christ, which can be seen as a new covenantal "flood" that washes away sin and ushers in a new spiritual life.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

This event is a foundational narrative in the Old Testament, setting the stage for God's covenantal relationship with humanity. It establishes a precedent for divine intervention and judgment, but also for divine faithfulness and preservation. The flood narrative serves as a backdrop for the Abrahamic covenant, emphasizing God's promise never to destroy the earth by flood again, symbolized by the rainbow (Genesis 9:11-17). It also foreshadows the ultimate cleansing and redemption found in Jesus Christ, who is presented as the ark of our salvation.

Analogies

• A Divine Reset Button: The flood can be likened to a cosmic "reset button," where God wipes the slate clean to initiate a new phase of His redemptive plan.
• An Overwhelming Storm: The rising waters can be compared to the overwhelming power of sin and its consequences, which can feel insurmountable without divine intervention.
• The Ark as a Symbol of Salvation: The ark, floating above the submerged world, serves as a potent symbol of Christ, through whom believers are saved from the destructive power of sin and judgment.

Relation to Other Verses

• Genesis 6:11-13: These verses describe God's observation of the earth's corruption and His decision to bring a flood. Genesis 7:20 is the direct result of this decision.
• Genesis 8:1-3: These verses describe the receding of the waters, signifying the end of the judgment and the beginning of the new era.
• Isaiah 54:9: This verse directly references the flood, stating, "For this is like the days of Noah to me, as I swore that the waters of Noah should never again go over the earth." This highlights the uniqueness and significance of the flood event.
• 1 Peter 3:20-21: This New Testament passage draws a parallel between the flood and baptism, where the waters of judgment are contrasted with the saving power of baptism through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It states, "...when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ."