Abel and Cain were the eldest of Adam's children. However, Cain's descendants were displeasing to God, due to their wickedness
and evil ways. But God was pleased with
Noah, and instructed him to make an Ark (of wood) three stories tall, to survive the coming floods. He was further instructed to enter into the Ark, along with his sons and their wives, and a pair of all living creatures.
God was pleased with Noah because of his righteousness - this was the reason that Noah was spared. And Noah did as God commanded him.
It
rained continuously upon the earth for forty days and forty nights. It rained from the heavens, it rained upon the high hills, and it rained upon the mountains. And the
waters of the deep (the sea) surged forth upon dry land. These flood waters prevailed upon the Earth for a period of hundred and fifty days. At the end of this period, the Flood waters began to subside.
The Old Testament records that, after the coming of the
Flood, the waters increased upon the earth by about fifteen cubits. As a cubit is about eighteen inches long, this corresponds to an increase in the sea level of about twenty-two feet.
After the end of forty days, Noah opens the window (of the Ark) to the outside world, and sends forth a raven to dry up the waters from the earth. After the ground was dry, Noah then proceeded to build an altar to the Lord, and made an offering to Him.
God blessed Noah and his sons - Shem, Ham and Japheth - and told them to be fruitful and multiply, and to replenish the earth once again. And all the living creatures of the earth were delivered into their hands (because they had saved them). This, in essence, was the covenant or pledge that God made with Noah and his sons for perpetuity. And the sons of Noah went forth from the Ark...