The story of Noah and the flood is found in Genesis 6:1-9:1. “Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, and Noah’s wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, (went) into the ark.” (Genesis 7:13) Noah’s family was the only one left in the world that loved and worshiped the One True God. They did their best to live honorable lives and avoid the influences of the wicked people around them. “God saw that the earth had become corrupt and was filled with violence.” Genesis 6: 5, 11 These eight people were the only ones who had not been ruined and contaminated by the fallen angels and their offspring, the Nephilim. (Genesis 6:4)

So, what was Noah’s character like? Genesis 6:9 reads, “…Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God.” Additionally, he was a man of faith. It was his faith in God which helped him to build the ark, bring in all the animals, and save himself and his seven family members from drowning in the flood. (Hebrews 11:7, 1 Peter 3:20, Genesis 7:23)

Were people of dark descent in the ark? The Apostle Paul explains that all races, people of dark and light descent, came from Adam. Acts 17:26, “And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on the face of the earth.” Therefore, all people were within the genes of Noah and his family when they left the ark.

Men did not inhabit the whole earth until after their attempt to build the Tower of Babel. Prior to its construction, people said, “Come, let us build…a tower that reaches to the heavens… and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” Genesis 11:4. But after God confused their language, then “the LORD scattered them over the face of the whole earth.” Genesis 11:9 It is reasonable to conclude that people who came to inhabit the equatorial regions slowly developed a darker skin pigment as a response to the climate. Similarly, people who migrated farther from the equator developed lighter skin pigments.

This story has a happy ending. God promised Noah; “I will never again destroy every living thing as I have done”. Genesis 8:21  Later on, Abraham was given the added promise (covenant): “. . . in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed”. Genesis 12:1-3  That same promise was passed on to his son, Isaac (Genesis 22:16-18), then to Isaac’s son, Jacob (Genesis 28:13-14) on down to Jesus and his followers. Galatians 3:27, 29, “…If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Soon, all men, women and children of every skin pigment will rejoice when Christ reigns on earth. “Who will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:4-6  All mankind will be resurrected in Christ’s kingdom, “For as all in Adam die even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:22)