When the LORD saw how great was man’s wickedness on earth,
and how no desire that his heart conceived
was ever anything but evil,
he regretted that he had made man on the earth,
and his heart was grieved.
and how no desire that his heart conceived
was ever anything but evil,
he regretted that he had made man on the earth,
and his heart was grieved.
The story of Noah’s Ark has been given new life in Kentucky recently as a group called Answers In Genesis plans to build a life-size replica of the original. They hope to demonstrate to the general public the plausibility of the story. It will be big enough for small giraffes and other adolescent animals. There is more at http://www.nytimes.com/2010/
But Catholics are not required to believe the historicity of the story in order to understand its importance. The story was apparently a vast improvement on an ancient mid-eastern legend of a catastrophic flood. (Mesopotamia is prone to floods to this day.) The Gilgamesh epic contains one variant on the story:
The gods had a riotous party in which they devised a game to see who could create the most monstrous human being. Sobering up the next morning they were appalled at what they had done. So they appealed to another god who flooded the world and drowned the wretched creatures.
Apparently the Hebrews liked the story well enough to make it fit their own religious beliefs. There could be only one God, of course, who is all powerful; and the heinous crimes were due to human wickedness. In Jewish lore, the human race is never a victim of divine stupidity or vindictiveness. If we are victims it is by our own choice. But a single just man (Noah) proves that God’s plans cannot be frustrated even when there are serious setbacks.
Like any true story, it doesn’t end with the flood waters receding. Noah is not so wise after all, and his family disintegrates under the burden of his alcoholism. The attempt to eliminate sin by killing sinners failed.
The story is also one in a four-part history of sin. First there is the Fall, then the Murder of Abel, the Flood, and the Tower of Babel. This ever-worsening trajectory prepares us for the story of Salvation History.
If anyone ever asks why does God allow sinners to live in our world, Noah’s Flood provides an answer. Evil abides in every human heart. It is a tradition that infests every human institution. Neither wars nor massacres can eliminate sinners. Laws, punishment and threats of punishment barely scratch the surface of sin.
If we are to be saved it must be done by one of our own, within our own world and with our ready compliance. Justice cannot come down from above in a fit of divine rage. Nor will his superabundant mercy help us if we are not changed from within. We might be terrified of God but we will have no Fear of God until we discover his beautiful Divine Spirit deep in our own grateful hearts.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.