Bible Studies, Inspired by Faith and Science

Noah’s Ark and the Tower of Babel 1. Which came first, Noah’s flood or the Tower of Babel? 2. Which came first in Noah’s flood, the rain or the rising waters? 3. Where might Noah’s flood have taken place? 4. How many of each animal did Noah take into the ark? 5. How long did the flood last? 6. What is the first incidence of drunkenness in the Bible? 7. When did God tell man not to eat meat with the blood in it? 8. Who was Methuselah? 9. Who was Enoch? 10. Where was Babel? The Bible records early people living to great ages (Genesis 5). Adam is recorded as dying at age 930, his son Seth at 912, grandson Enosh 905, etc. with Methuselah (Noah’s grandfather) reaching the grand old age of 969—a Biblical record! Some traditions describe the miracle of God’s giving us long life. Others suggest that the patriarch’s name is used throughout the existence of the tribe, not just the man. Non-Biblical documents seem to record great ages as proof of great wisdom and power. For myself, I s...

Lesson 5: Nations and Peoples (Genesis 10-19) What if… faith and science agree on how we lived in ancient times? The lists in Genesis 10 contain 70 names of nations and people (or peoples). It reads like a relational list, not complete list of peoples. And 70 may well be a symbolic number—7 for God’s plan times 10 for something countable for man. (There are lots of sevens in the Bible, and lots of tens; most significantly God resting on the seventh day, and ten commandments.) Note, the ages of parents become more “normal” over time, possibly representing increased numeracy; possibly a change in lifestyle and health; or possibly more attention paid to the distinction between father, grandfather, tribal elder, etc., reflecting more words as the language develops. The Tower of Babel: What if… humanity really did spread out from the Fertile Crescent? Read Genesis 11:1-9: Genesis 10 told of Noah’s descendants spreading throughout the known world. In chapter 11, the Tower of Babel gives an...