06 West – The Ark
James & Dixie Wyatt – Donors
Early Christian and Jewish writers believed that Noah’s Ark existed, and unsuccessful searches for Noah’s Ark have been made since the second century; literal believers in the Ark continue to search for it in modern times, but no confirmable physical proof of the Ark as described in the Bible has ever been found. More significantly, there is also no evidence of a global flood, and most scientists agree that such a ship and natural disaster would both be impossible. Some researchers believe that a real (though localized) flood event in the Middle East could potentially have inspired the oral and later written narratives; a Persian Gulf flood, or a Black Sea Deluge 7,500 years ago have been proposed as historical candidates. But, those quests are in pursuit of, “How?” while the question most often posed in meaningful Biblical study is, “Why?”
The “Why?” behind the story of the flood seems to be that humankind felt the need for a relationship with God, and God responded through Noah with a covenant – a promise that God would always be with us, flood or drought, feast or famine. (See also: 06 East – The Ark)
“When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.” –Genesis 9:16-17