Genesis 7:12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

God sent the flood for a duration of forty days and nights, which serves as a profound testament to His mercy. In His immense compassion, He desired that at least some individuals would heed the signs and avoid total destruction, bearing witness to the demise of their neighbors and the impending disaster surrounding them. It is plausible to assume that by the end of the first day, a significant portion of the population had already perished, with numbers increasing on the second day and so forth. This is why the flood was ordained to last for forty days and nights; it was meant to eliminate any excuses for their actions. Had He chosen to, God could have caused their demise in an instant, yet out of consideration for human nature, He extended the duration of the flood.

Let us examine how it can be demonstrated that the years reflected in the extensive lifespans of these individuals were not so brief that ten of their years equated to one of ours, but were instead equivalent in length to our years, governed by the annual cycle of the sun. According to Scripture, the flood took place in the six hundredth year of Noah’s life. If those years were indeed so short that ten of them equaled one of ours—meaning each year had only thirty-six days—then why does it say, "After seven days the waters of the flood came upon the earth"? In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month (Gen. 7:10-11)?

The deep waters of the abyss and the portals of heaven were unleashed for a duration of forty days and nights, while the ark navigated the currents for one hundred and fifty days. (Gen. 7:24)

What transpired next? The Scriptures inform us that the sources of the great deep were unleashed, and the heavens were opened; as a result, rain fell on the earth for forty days and forty nights (Gen. 7:11-12). It is also recorded that all living creatures on the earth lost their life (Gen. 7:21). Ultimately, only Noah and those with him in the ark were spared (Gen. 7:23). Thus, I pose a question to those who believe that God is indifferent to human affairs: can they not see that during that time, God was deeply invested in the matters of the world and rendered judgment upon them?

For a period of forty days, relentless rain cascaded upon the earth, not confined to a single region but encompassing the whole world. Given the current humidity levels, such an event seems implausible without the re-emergence of moisture from seas and rivers, which would be unlikely during intense rainfall. Moreover, the condition of the atmosphere at that time cannot be accurately compared to our present understanding. We can contemplate that the Lord, in His omnipotence, anticipated the fulfillment of the wicked's judgment long before the Flood. He preserved water reserves from falling freely upon the earth, allowing for the accumulation of enough water for a sustained deluge that would cover the entire surface of the earth for those forty days.