I — Inondation

Was there ever a time when the globe was entirely flooded? That is physically impossible. The sea may have covered every region in succession, one after another; and this can only have happened by slow progression over a prodigious multitude of centuries. In five hundred years the sea has withdrawn from Aigues-Mortes, Fréjus, and Ravenna, which were great ports, leaving about two leagues of land dry. At this rate it would clearly take two million two hundred and fifty thousand years to make its way around our globe. What is very remarkable is that this period comes very close to the time required for the earth’s axis to rise and coincide with the equator: a very probable movement, first suspected in the last fifty years, which can take place only over two million and more than three hundred thousand years.

The beds and layers of shells discovered everywhere, sixty, eighty, even a hundred leagues from the sea, are incontestable proof that it gradually deposited these marine products on ground that once formed the ocean’s shores. But that water should have covered the entire globe all at once is a physically absurd fantasy, proved impossible by the laws of gravitation, the laws of fluids, and the insufficient quantity of water. Not that we intend the slightest attack on the great truth of the universal flood related in the Pentateuch. On the contrary: it is a miracle, therefore it must be believed; it is a miracle, therefore it could not have been brought about by physical laws.

Everything in the story of the flood is miraculous. A miracle, that forty days of rain flooded the four parts of the world and the water rose fifteen cubits above all the highest mountains; a miracle, that there were floodgates, doors, openings in the sky; a miracle, that all the animals came into the ark from every part of the world; a miracle, that Noah found enough to feed them for ten months; a miracle, that all the animals fitted into the ark with their provisions; a miracle, that most of them did not die there; a miracle, that they found food on leaving the ark; and another miracle, though of a different kind, that a man named Pelletier believed he had explained how all the animals could naturally have fitted into Noah’s ark and fed there.

Now, since the story of the flood is the most miraculous thing ever heard of, it would be senseless to explain it. It is one of those mysteries believed through faith; and faith consists in believing what reason does not believe, which is yet another miracle.

Thus the story of the universal flood is like that of the Tower of Babel, Balaam’s she-ass, the fall of Jericho at the sound of trumpets, the waters changed to blood, the crossing of the Red Sea, and all the prodigies God deigned to perform for the elect of his people. These are depths the human mind cannot fathom.

Could a flood once have covered the entire earth? Physics makes that impossible. The sea could have reached every piece of land in turn. But it could only do so little by little, across countless centuries. Take the former great ports of Aigues-Mortes, Fréjus, and Ravenna. In five hundred years, the sea has receded from them, leaving about two leagues dry. At that pace, a circuit of our globe would clearly need two million two hundred and fifty thousand years. Now here’s something striking. Nearly that much time is needed for the earth’s axis to rise into line with the equator. Such a movement is very likely. People began suspecting it within the past fifty years. It could take place only over more than two million three hundred thousand years.

Beds and layers of shells turn up everywhere. Some are sixty leagues from the sea, others eighty, others even a hundred. The sea gradually left these marine products on land once bordering the ocean. The shells prove that beyond doubt. But the idea that water covered the entire globe all at once is physically absurd. There isn’t enough water. The laws of gravity and the laws of fluids rule it out too. We don’t mean to cast the slightest doubt on a great truth: the worldwide flood described in the Pentateuch. Quite the opposite. It’s a miracle, so we must believe it. It’s a miracle, so physical laws couldn’t have brought it about.

The flood account contains nothing but miracles. Take the forty days of rain: they flooded all four parts of the world. Water reached fifteen cubits above even the tallest mountains—a miracle. The sky had floodgates, doors, and openings: another miracle. Every animal came from every region to the ark: a miracle. Noah got food for them for ten months: a miracle. There was room for every animal and its supplies: a miracle. Most stayed alive there: a miracle. Once outside, they found food: a miracle. And here’s a miracle of a different sort. Someone called Pelletier believed he’d explained how Noah’s ark could naturally hold and feed all the animals.

The flood story is the most miraculous thing anyone has ever heard of. So trying to explain it would be foolish. It’s one of those mysteries we believe through faith. Faith means believing what reason doesn’t believe. That’s yet another miracle.

So the worldwide flood is like the Tower of Babel or Balaam’s donkey. It’s like Jericho falling at the sound of trumpets, water turning to blood, or the Red Sea crossing. It’s like all the wonders God chose to perform for the chosen ones among his people. These are depths the human mind can’t explore.