17 The flood continued forty days on the earth. The waters increased and bore up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. 18 The waters prevailed and increased greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the face of the waters. 19 And the waters prevailed so mightily on the earth that all the high mountains under the whole heaven were covered.

20 The waters prevailed above the mountains, covering them fifteen cubits deep. 21 And all flesh died that moved on the earth, birds, livestock, beasts, all swarming creatures that swarm on the earth, and all mankind. 22 Everything on the dry land in whose nostrils was the breath of life died. 23 He blotted out every living thing that was on the face of the ground, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens. They were blotted out from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those who were with him in the ark. 24 And the waters prevailed on the earth 150 days.

Genesis 7:17- 24 (ESV) 

Lots of water

Noah and his family and the selected animals and birds are all on the ark. The door is shut. Now comes forty days and nights of steady, heavy rain. It was the first flood on earth. It was so deep that it covered the mountains by twenty-two feet above the highest peaks! How could it be so deep?

“If the earth were a perfect sphere, the oceans would cover the land to a depth of two-and-a-half to three miles. Before the cataclysmic flood, the earth may have been much nearer to a perfect sphere.” (enduringword.com) It’s also possible the mountains pre-flood were not as high as they are now. And/or the flood caused forces that raised new / higher mountains. Maybe it’s a combination of all the above. 

All dead

Judgment was meted out on everything with the breath of life in it, but especially mankind who’s sin and corruption moved the Lord to destroy them. Four times it mentions everything died, was blotted out. Only creatures that live in the water could survive. Even if an animal or man got on a floating log, it was useless – especially since the water lasted 150 days. There was another 150 after this (see tomorrow) for a total of a year.

Water or Blood washing

This flood is symbolic of believers’ baptism (1 Peter 3:20–21). The blood of Jesus washes our sins away and baptism in water is a physical sign of the inward, spiritual work. This flood account also shows the literal washing of sins away by water through a different kind of baptism, a baptism to death for all who perished in it. 

Sin has to be punished. “All for fall have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) and “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Noah, by faith, trusted God and got on the Ark and was “baptized” (saved). All who trust in Christ alone today are washed by Christ’s blood – which is symbolized by baptism, saved through the water. Those who reject God are washed away in death, eternal separation from God which will be torment and suffering.

RЯeflection

• The prospects for those who repent and believe are quite good. In fact, they are wonderfully awesome!
• The prospects for those who reject God are not. How will you choose to have your sins washed away?