From this time, men had the choice to serve God or to walk in the sins of pride and selfish desire. We read in the Bible of men of God like Seth, Enoch (Idris), Jared and others who lived for many years and who started great families to fill the earth with people (Genesis Chapter 5). However, after many years, the people of the world turned itself to even more sinful ways. God could not allow things to continue without a great act of judgment.
The LORD saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. So the LORD said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. Genesis 6.5-8
Praise be to God that at least one man was pleasing to him! This was Noah (Nuh), who became a prophet of righteousness. Noah called the people to change their hearts and submit to God. God told Noah to build a great boat (called an ark). God had decided that a terrible flood would be used to clean the earth of sin and its corruption.
I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish. But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark, you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you. You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you. Genesis 6.17-19
The Torah (Taurat) of Prophet Moses records for us how Noah prepared the ark according to God’s instructions. It tells us how animals of all kinds were put on the ark along with Noah’s family for protection from the flood waters that poured over the whole earth. For one year, Noah and his family lived on that great boat until the flood waters went away. God’s judgment changed the face of the earth. It also changed the weather. This change gave a fresh beginning to the earth and the whole world of mankind. However, sin was still in the heart of men.