Another question about the Genesis flood?

Question

Were there young children and babies that died in this flood? You see, this is one of the few things that makes me want to believe that this is just a moral story meant to teach people how to act, as opposed to being fact. If the flood really did happen, surely there WOULD have been young children and infants that died. Surely a powerful God would have higher reasoning than I do, but I really can't fathom much justification in this. Maybe everyone else was evil, but those kids and babies wouldn't have had a chance to sin yet.

Once again, I'm not saying that the flood didn't happen, and I'm not saying it did happen. Also, I'm not trying to be blasphemous or antagonistic to anyone. And I'm not looking to bash anyone's belief systems. I'm just looking for honest, serious answers.

Peace.

Darryl: Where did I say that I was judging God? I was asking a question about this particular story.

I know that we are generally discouraged from "chatting" on this site, but I have to add some more details.

Some of you are saying that God took out the children because he knew that they would grow up to be sinful and ruin the world with their sin. But doesn't that just go against the free will to choose that God gives us? And if He did take them because He knew they would be sinful, why didn't He do the same with Stalin, Hitler, Ted Bundy, Manson, etc?

And while it is an interesting analogy, I'm afraid the rats-in-the-house comparison does not apply to this. In that case, I would know that the rats were going to cause trouble--all of them--because that is precisely what rats do when they get into your house, cause trouble. We could argue that God knew the kids would grow up to cause trouble, but that would bring us right back to where we started (why he doesn't take out other people who grow up to cause trouble).

Answer 1

An honest, serious answer to a sincere question that I have asked too:

The Bible shows that God views the young children of true Christians as “holy.” (1 Cor. 7:14) It also reveals that in times past when God destroyed the wicked he likewise destroyed their little ones. (Num. 16:27, 32; Ezek. 9:6)

God is love (1 John 4:8) and does not want anyone to be destroyed (2 Pet 3:9), but he is a "lover of justice" (Ps. 37:28) and will cut off the unrighteous (2 Pet 2:9). Being so wicked, the lines of descent of the men of Noah's day were cut off. —Gen. 7:22, 23.

Now, at 2 Peter 2: 5 it is written that "he brought a deluge upon a world of ungodly people." This is because "the wages sin pays is death" (Rom 6:23). Psalm 51:5 reads "Look! With error I was brought forth with birth pains / And in sin my mother conceived me." There is no man that does not sin (1 Kings 8:46), because sin is an inherited thing from Adam, regardless of age (1 Cor. 15:22).

The Psalmist shed some light on the issue you brought up at 145:20: "Jehovah is guarding all those loving him, but all the wicked ones he will annihilate." So he requires people to love him. And how will children grow to love him if their parents don't bring them up to do so? According to Romans 14:12 "each of us will render an account for himself to God." The reason children of faithful Christians have God's favor is because they were "brought up from infancy" to do his will (2 Tim. 3:15).


I hope I've answered your question! Come to me with any more.

Answer 2

What will happen to young children at Armageddon?

The Bible does not directly answer that question, and we are not the judges. However, the Bible does show that God views the young children of true Christians as “holy.” (1 Cor. 7:14) It also reveals that in times past when God destroyed the wicked he likewise destroyed their little ones. (Num. 16:27, 32; Ezek. 9:6) God does not want anyone to be destroyed, so he is having a warning sounded now to benefit both parents and children. Would it not be wise for parents to pursue a course that would result in their children being looked on with favor by God both now and at Armageddon?

Is the love of God violated by destruction of the wicked?

2 Pet. 3:9: “Jehovah, is patient with you because he does not desire any to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance.”

Luke 18:7, 8: “Shall not God cause justice to be done for his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night, even though he is long-suffering toward them? I tell you, He will cause justice to be done to them speedily.”

2 Thess. 1:6: “It is righteous on God’s part to repay tribulation to those who make tribulation for you [his servants].”

Children come under the protection of the parents, parents would be doing their best to serve God in & approved way, if this is so, then children would be protected. Parents of children at the "flood" were not worshipping God the "right way" that's why they & their children were destroyed at the flood, only Noah & his family were survivors, Why? Because they listened & obeyed & worshipped him in the way that He accepted.

Children too young to make a dedication would be protected by a parent’s acceptable worship if that parent is striving to bring the children up to love God and if they are obediently responding. (1 Corinthians 7:14) Yet, if a child is intelligent enough to make a personal decision and has reached the point where he “knows how to do what is right,” do not presume that he will continue indefinitely under the merit of his parent’s “mark.”

Answer 3

Why do babies die?

Ps. 51:5, JB: “You know I was born guilty, a sinner from the moment of conception.” (See also Job 14:4; Genesis 8:21.)

Rom. 3:23; 6:23: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God . . . The wages sin pays is death.”

God does not “take” children from their parents, as some have been told. Although the earth produces ample food, selfish political and commercial elements often hinder its distribution to those most in need, resulting in death due to malnutrition. Some children die in accidents, as adults do. But all of us have inherited sin; we are all imperfect. We were born in a system in which everyone—both the good and the bad—eventually dies. (Eccl. 9:5) But Jehovah ‘yearns’ to reunite children with their parents by means of the resurrection, and lovingly has made provision to do so.—John 5:28, 29; Job 14:14, 15; compare Jeremiah 31:15, 16; Mark 5:40-42.

Answer 4

I'm still new at studying but I might be able to answer. Yes, babies and children died. The men and women of that time, other than Noah and his family, were told how to behave to one another, warned how to live. Because of their sins, their children died. This is a rather simple way to put it, but true enough. Please remember, this is not the only time in the history of the bible that children died because of their parents sin. Good question, I hope I helped.

Answer 5

To you, this seems terrible. To God, since He created each soul that died, good and bad alike (the children being the only good), He saw Himself as simply taking back the good ones unto Himself. The bad will face justice come the Judgement. Maybe you do not mean to offend with your statements, but you should ask yourself - Am I one to judge the Living God? He decided what He wanted to do. He repented of making man. Aren't you glad that He found something in Noah that He liked? Otherwise, He would have destroyed everyone. If it had been just a moral story, it would have said so.

Answer 6

There were young children and babies that died in the flood. Innocent children and babies are dying even in these days. And all their deaths are the result of OUR sin choice. Our sin has brought things into this world that has consequences even on the innocent. But, just because someone died in the flood doesn't mean they are condemned.

Answer 7

Yes. God killed innocent children. It doesn't sound like a supreme being to me either. It sounds like a megalomaniac who throws child-like tantrums on occasion. Rest assured though, the story of Noah's Ark is a myth.

Answer 8

Of course there were, EVERY LIVING THING died except what was on the boat. Just like in the city of Jericho, Sodom & Gomorrah.
And in Deut 20:16 But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth.

And children specifically in Egypt during the 10th plague.

Answer 9

There are plenty of instances, the flood being just one, in the Bible in which God kills children or commands them to be killed. For example...

Deuteronomy -

15:2 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.

15:3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and *** <--- (donkey)

WTF did the kids and the animals do?

Answer 10

To me the whole concept of original sin is unfair. Adam and Eve sinned, so all mankind has to die. Or we sin for 70+ years (our whole lives) but have to suffer punishment for all eternity! Where is justice and mercy in that? I've asked that one to different ministers but they just tell me believe so I don't have to worry about it. I truly don't get it.