The author was personally acquainted with a coal miner who firmly believed that he saw giant human footprints imbedded in the soft clay under a coal seam in Wheeling, West Virginia. The old miner steadfastly maintained that the person's footprints were 18" long and that he was wearing boots. He said he saw four footprints that were laid out like the stride of a giant man. He reasoned that the person who made the prints had to have lived before Noah's flood because the footprints were covered by a thick layer of coal which was laid down by the flood.
While many would disagree with the old miner, there are two types of strong evidence supporting the flood of Noah as recorded in Genesis 6. First there is the geological evidence. As one scholar says, "The visible marks of something catastrophic that must have happened long ago are found all over the globe. Everywhere are seen the results of enormous volumes of water in violent action, with signs of earthquake action and volcanic outbursts beyond comprehension. Every great mountain range contains various forms of ocean life, such as brachiopod shells, crinoids, or oysters, which were buried in sediments laid down by flowing waters on a large scale. Great numbers of these ancient marine deposits are now miles high above the present ocean level;" *
Second, there is the nearly universal distribution of flood stories around the globe. People in remote locations, with no links to outside civilization have amazing flood-type stories as part of their legends.
"...it must frankly be recognized that Flood stories are very numerous, and that they are found among nations scattered far and wide over the world." Hastings, p.546
Among the American Indians, "George Catlin...stated that among 120 tribes there was not one which did not relate some distinct or vague tradition of a Flood, and, in fact, a very considerable number of these stories have been preserved." ibid p.557.

"Most, if not all, of the incidents of the Noachians deluge are duplicated in one or other of the American deluge-myths - the raft containing the hero and surviving animals, the sending out of a succession of animals to discover soil or vegetation, the landing on a mountain, even the subsequent building of a ladder to heaven, the confusion of tongues, and the dispersal of mankind. There is no reasonable question but that these incidents are aboriginal and pre-Columbian, although in some instances later colored by knowledge of the Bible tale;" Gray, p.299-30.
The missing link to complete the puzzle would be finding the ark upon the mountains of Ararat. While that has yet to happen, one wonders if it would really make a difference. Evidences are all around us, and as everyone who has gone before us, one must accept by faith that the Bible and its message of hope is true.
* SDA Bible Commentary, Volume 1, p. 65

For Further Study
Encylopaedia of Religion and Ethics, 1926, James Hastings Editor, Volume 4, p. 545, Scribners, New York.
Mythology of All Races, Louis Herbert Gray Editor, Volume 10, Cooper Square Publishing, p.299, "The Deluge."
Encylopaedia Britannica, "The Gilgamesh Epic"
524 Words

Blessings in your study of God's Word!

Marvin Hunt

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Marvin Hunt

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