Several news reports yesterday announced that a team of explorers from Noah’s Ark Ministries International claimed that they may have found Noah’s Ark. There has been a slew of reactions from both believers and skeptics. There is also an interesting video online which shows researchers inside of a wooden structure, presumably high up on Mt. Ararat.
I have been asked whether or not I believe this is truly Noah’s Ark. Although I definitely believe the Biblical account of the worldwide Flood and Noah’s Ark, I have typically been skeptical when I hear the Ark has been found. This time is no different.
I have my doubts as to whether or not the Ark still exists. After all, it was (is) a wooden structure built approximately 4,400 years ago. It served its purpose of keeping Noah, his family, and the animals alive. Following the Flood, it wouldn’t surprise me if much of the Ark was torn apart for shelter, firewood, etc. At the same time, it’s hard to imagine that 8 people would use that much wood for those purposes. So as long the Ark was enveloped in ice and preserved then it’s possible that it could be found in modern times.
It will be interesting to see what follow up expeditions to the site yield. I would love it if this truly is the Ark and would have a desire to take a trip there myself.
The skeptics would be squirming to find an explanation. They have already dismissed it as impossible because they think it’s simply a fairy tale and they claim there never was a worldwide flood. Although it would easily be the greatest archaeological find, many skeptics and critics would still mock God’s word. The truth is that their unbelief is not a result of a lack of evidence, because there’s plenty of evidence which supports the Bible. The fact is that their unbelief is due to an unwillingness to acknowledge their Creator and they suppress the truth in unrighteousness (Romans 1:18).
Christians already have the greatest evidence they need in the pages of Scripture. Since the Bible is God’s inspired word, and God cannot lie, then the Bible cannot be wrong. So when it talks about Noah’s Ark and a worldwide Flood, then we can be sure these things are factual.