Genesis 7:18Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Observe how the Scriptures vividly describe the immense force of the waters, which increased steadily each day.

With spiritual insight, I beheld paradise. The peaks of every mountain pale in comparison to its elevation. The towering waves of the Deluge scarcely reached its base; rather, these mighty waves danced around its foundation only to return and devastate the summits of mountains and elevated places. The heel of paradise was the only part that the flood struck, which annihilated every high place.

Let us reflect on the significance of these forty days, a sacred period that marks new beginnings. In the Old Testament, we find that during Noah's time, when sinfulness plagued humanity, the heavens opened for forty days, flooding the entire earth. This deluge, in a profound sense, serves not merely as a flood but as a baptism. It symbolizes a cleansing that eradicated wickedness from those who sinned while safeguarding the righteousness of Noah. Similarly, our Lord has ordained a forty-day fast for us, so that during this consecrated time, streams from heaven may cascade upon us, pouring out divine love and mercy. This life-giving rain is meant to illuminate us with the purification of baptismal waters, allowing the torrents to wash away our transgressions while preserving the virtuous.

After the relentless rain from the heavens paused, which lasted just 40 days, the floodwaters continued to rise, ultimately submerging the tallest mountains. This leads us to conclude that the primary source of the Flood was not merely the rain, but rather the subterranean waters that exerted greater power and persistence.