**What Events Marked the Beginning of the Flood?

A Detailed Study of Genesis 7**

The biblical story of Noah and the Flood unfolds with a precise sequence of events that signal the beginning of God’s judgment on the earth. These events are not random; they demonstrate divine intention, order, and timing. Genesis 7 presents a clear timeline, describing what happened immediately before and at the moment the Flood began.

This article explores each of these events in detail to show exactly how the Flood started, according to Scripture.

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1. God’s Final Command for Noah to Enter the Ark

The onset of the Flood begins with God’s direct instruction:

“Go into the ark, you and your whole family.”
— Genesis 7:1

This command marks the transition from preparation to action. Noah had already:

• Built the ark

• Gathered animals

• Prepared food

• Organized his family

But he did not enter until God told him the moment had come.

Key Insight:

The Flood’s beginning was timed by God—not by Noah’s judgment or natural signs.

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2. The Gathering of Animals into the Ark

As part of the final preparations, the animals arrived at the ark:

“Pairs of clean and unclean animals, of birds and all creatures… came to Noah and entered the ark.”
— Genesis 7:8–9

This was a miraculous migration, not something Noah had to orchestrate. It served as a clear signal that God’s warning was becoming reality.

Animals entered:

• Seven pairs of every clean animal and every bird

• One pair of every unclean animal

• Male and female pairs to preserve each “kind”

This event marked one of the final steps before the judgment arrived.

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3. The Seven-Day Waiting Period

After Noah, his family, and the animals entered the ark, a notable pause occurred:

“After seven days the floodwaters came upon the earth.”
— Genesis 7:10

This seven-day waiting period serves several purposes:

• It represents a final period of grace before judgment

• It evokes themes of divine completeness

• It gives Noah time to settle into the ark before chaos begins

Symbolic Significance:

Seven days often mark a divine period of transition (creation, consecration, rest). Here, it marks the transition from the old world to the new.

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4. The Breaking Open of the “Fountains of the Great Deep”

The physical beginning of the Flood starts with a dramatic geological event:

“All the fountains of the great deep burst forth…”
— Genesis 7:11

This refers to subterranean waters or deep reservoirs beneath the earth. The phrase indicates:

• Violent rupturing of the ground

• Catastrophic release of underground water

• Geological upheaval

This is more than rain—it suggests a massive reshaping of the earth’s foundations.

Impact:

• Tidal surges

• Tsunami-like waves

• Destruction of land structures

• Rapid flooding of low-lying regions

This was one of the two primary sources of the Floodwaters.

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5. The Opening of the “Windows of Heaven”

The second major event marking the Flood’s beginning is meteorological:

“…and the windows of the heavens were opened.”
— Genesis 7:11

This describes:

• Torrential rainfall

• A dramatic shift in the earth’s atmospheric conditions

• Rainfall far beyond any natural storm

Duration:

The rain continued 40 days and 40 nights, a number associated with testing and judgment throughout Scripture.

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6. The Day the Flood Began Is Precisely Dated

Genesis gives a rare chronological marker:

“In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month…”
— Genesis 7:11

This level of detail emphasizes:

• The historical seriousness of the event

• The exact moment when judgment began

• That the Flood was divinely timed, not accidental

This timestamp also highlights Noah’s age—he was 600 when the old world ended and the new one began.

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7. The Lord Shut Noah In

After Noah and the animals entered the ark, Scripture says:

“Then the Lord shut him in.”
— Genesis 7:16

This act symbolizes:

• God’s protection

• God’s sealing of the ark

• The irreversible moment when judgment would begin

• God’s final act of mercy for Noah’s family

Once God shut the door, the rest of the world was locked out, and the Flood began.

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8. The Waters Begin to Rise and Lift the Ark

Immediately after the fountains burst forth and the rain began, the waters rose:

“The waters increased and lifted the ark, and it rose high above the earth.”
— Genesis 7:17

This signified:

• The total loss of stability on the former land

• The transition of the ark from resting to floating

• The beginning of global inundation

The Flood was no longer a warning—it had fully begun.

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Summary: Events Marking the Beginning of the Flood

Here they are in order:

1. God commands Noah and his family to enter the ark

2. Animals arrive and enter the ark in divinely ordered pairs

3. A seven-day waiting period begins

4. The fountains of the great deep burst open

5. The windows of heaven open and rainfall begins

6. The exact date of the Flood is recorded

7. God shuts Noah in the ark

8. The waters rise and the ark begins to float

These events mark the shift from divine warning to divine judgment.

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Conclusion: A Carefully Ordered Beginning to a World-Changing Judgment

The beginning of the Flood in Genesis is marked by:

• Precision

• Symbolism

• Divine timing

• Environmental upheaval

• The faithful obedience of Noah

Far from being chaotic or accidental, the Flood’s beginning demonstrates that God’s judgment unfolds with clarity and purpose, while His salvation—through the ark—is offered with the same intentional care.