One Generation After the Flood

Genesis 8:11
“And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.”

Many listeners will recall the volcanic eruption that rocked Washington State as Mount St. Helens exploded in May of 1980. Fortunately, there was plenty of warning and the event was recorded in detail. Since that time, many studies have been made by the Park service and by creationists, including Creation Moments, on the rate of recovery. In 2005, a generation after the eruption, scientists took a close look at the area to get an idea of how the earth might have recovered a generation after Noah’s flood.

The volcano destroyed 230 square miles of forest. Much of that area was literally sterilized by hot pyroclastic flows. Twenty-five years later, 150 species of plants had established themselves in this area. This included five species of conifers such as the Western hemlock and Pacific silver fir. This was contrary to current ecological theory since these trees are supposed to sprout only after generations of other plants had improved the soil. Many trees were already 15 feet tall. In addition, birds, frogs, toads, mammals and even elk had returned. Again, many of these species were not expected to have returned to the area for a long while yet.

The Bible mentions the appearance of green plants within two months of the rain stopping at the end of the Flood. Mount St. Helens illustrates such a speedy recovery after the Flood.

Prayer:
Thank You, Father, for making the living world that is so resilient and for preserving it for our good.

Notes:
Smithsonian, 5/05, David B. Williams, “Phenomena and Curiosities: Rising from the Ashes.”