We begin our study of Big Stories from the Old Testament with a look at the Big Flood. However, before exploring Noah and the flood itself we need to look at the concept of “myth.” In our culture the term “myth” implies something that isn’t true like the myth of unicorns or that the earth is flat. However, a myth by definition is nothing more than a story. Quite often ancient myths contained supernatural elements and more often provided explanations of how certain things came to be. Creation myths abound in ancient history and they are often accompanied by flood myths – stories of world-wide floods and those chosen to survive them. Of course we have our Creation Myth (capitalized intentionally) and we have our own Great Flood Myth.
The difference between our Biblical “myths” and the myths of other cultures lies in the distinction between two Greek concepts embodied in the Greek words “mythos” and “logos.” In the centuries just prior to Jesus’ incarnation discussions among the Greeks revolved around stories which were simply stories – mythos – and stories which were verifiable, rational, statements of truth – logos. In John 1:1 the apostle removes all doubt as to where the “stories” of Jesus fall in the discussion of mythos vs logos. He said that in the beginning was the Word (logos) and the Word (logos) was with God and the Word (logos) was God. In other words, the Biblical “Myth” is the True Myth – the True Story – of God’s creation and redemption of the world.
So yes, the Creation as recorded in Genesis is a myth – a story or account – but it is the True Myth or story of how the world began. Furthermore, the Great Flood myth, also seen in Genesis, is the True Myth of the how the world was cleansed by a world-wide flood in which Noah, his family, and the animal kingdom were saved in an ark. And in Jesus we find the Logos – the Word – who is the verifiable truth of God who not only confirms the True Myth, but also provides salvation through the cleansing of His blood – blood shed on an ark we know as the Cross.
Therefore, we see in the Great Flood and the Ark of Noah a type for the salvation we know in Jesus. In Biblical interpretation a type is an Old Testament person, thing, or event which is divinely created and established by God as a direct foreshadowing of a New Testament reality. Peter compares the flood to the cleansing waters of baptism. The ark is where Noah and his family found salvation from the flood just as we who are “in” Christ find salvation in Him. God said in the True Myth of the Great Flood that One would come who would bring salvation to the world.
In the 9th Chapter of Genesis we find God’s promise to never destroy the world by flood again. However, floods – not wordwide, but localized – are very much a part of our world. However, the same God who provided salvation in the Great Flood also provides salvation in the floods of the life; in the storms of life; in the wildfires of life. In Isaiah 43:1b-3a we read:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name; You are Mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
When you pass through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.
For I am the Lord your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”
He is still our ark of Salvation!
This Bible study was presented to the Agape Life Bible Study Class of the First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, on Sunday, September 14, 2025. It is part of a series in a Bible study curriculum called Connect 360, published by the GC2 Press of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The overall title of the current set of lessons is How Great Is Our God: Passing the Faith Along. You can find print and digital versions of this series online at https://gc2press.org/how-great-is-our-god-old-testament-digital-study-guide/. Handouts with class presentation content can be requested at: fromthebackporchintexas@gmail.com . Handouts are also available at: fromthebackporch.org .
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